Temperature swings and hot washdown
Urethane systems are often selected where floors see hot water cleaning, cold rooms or rapid temperature changes.
Flooring & Coating Systems
Urethane and Polyurethane Flooring Systems
Pacific Coast Contracting installs urethane (polyurethane) flooring systems for facilities that need flexibility, abrasion resistance, chemical resistance and resistance to thermal shock.
How urethane flooring differs from epoxy
Polyurethane floor systems use a different chemistry from epoxy. They are more flexible and are known for high abrasion resistance, and many urethane systems offer increased chemical resistance, durability and resistance to thermal shock, the stress a floor takes when temperatures change quickly. Urethanes are also UV stable, so they resist the yellowing and color shift that can occur with epoxy over time.
The term covers a range of products, from thin urethane topcoats used over other systems to thick, heavy-duty urethane mortars. Performance depends on the specific product and thickness, so PCC matches the system to the conditions of each area.
Where urethane flooring is used
Urethane systems are well suited to food and beverage processing, commercial kitchens, and pharmaceutical and biotech facilities, along with other areas that see washdown, temperature swings or heavy wear.
Facility Problems
Problems Urethane Flooring Systems Can Help Address
Results depend on the system selected, surface preparation, exposure and maintenance.
Heavy wear and abrasion
The flexibility and abrasion resistance of urethane can help floors hold up in high-traffic production and kitchen areas.
Yellowing in light
Urethanes are UV stable and resist the color shift that can occur with some epoxy floors.
Cleaning and process chemicals
Many urethane systems offer increased chemical resistance. The right product depends on the chemicals and concentrations involved.
Selection considerations and limitations
- Thickness matters. A thin urethane topcoat and a thick urethane mortar perform very differently under impact and heat. Heavy-duty areas may call for a troweled urethane mortar.
- Chemical exposure varies. Increased chemical resistance is not the same as resistance to every chemical. Provide a list of chemicals, concentrations and temperatures.
- Texture versus cleanability. Wet areas often need a slip-resistant texture, which should be balanced against how the floor will be cleaned.
- Moisture and substrate. Slab moisture and concrete condition still need to be evaluated before installation. See moisture vapor control.
- Drainage. In washdown areas, slope to drains is part of the floor design, not only the coating.
How PCC approaches urethane flooring projects
Pacific Coast Contracting provides turn-key service for urethane flooring projects, starting with a review of how the area is used and the condition of the existing surface, then recommending a system and scope.
PCC's turn-key process: consultation and site assessment, testing, project management, tear-out and disposal, surface preparation and installation, followed by final clean-up under PCC's 0 Punch List Program. About PCC.
Industries
Industries That Use Urethane Flooring
Food and Beverage Facilities
Seamless, impervious floors with anti-slip finishes and slope to drains for food and beverage plants.
Food & Beverage flooringCommercial Kitchens, Restaurants and Cafeterias
Seamless floors with cove base and slope to drains for safe, sanitary food service.
Commercial Kitchens flooringPharmaceutical Facilities
Seamless epoxy and urethane floors with integral cove base for manufacturing plants, compounding labs, clinics and pharmacies.
Pharmaceutical flooringIndustrial and Manufacturing Facilities
Durable, slip-resistant floors for production areas, plus kitchens, locker rooms, mechanical rooms and more.
Industrial & Manufacturing flooringHealthcare Facilities
Seamless floors with cove base and anti-microbial additives, plus wall and ceiling coatings for hospitals and clinics.
Healthcare flooring
Common Questions
Urethane Flooring FAQ
Is urethane flooring better than epoxy?
Neither is better for every space. Urethane flooring is more flexible and is often chosen for abrasion resistance, thermal shock resistance and UV stability. Epoxy bonds very strongly to concrete and suits many commercial and industrial floors. Pacific Coast Contracting installs both and recommends a system based on chemicals, temperatures, traffic and cleaning.
Is urethane flooring a good choice for commercial kitchens?
Urethane systems are well suited to commercial kitchens because kitchens see hot water, grease, cleaning chemicals, spills and heavy foot traffic. The final system also needs the right texture for slip resistance and a design that slopes to drains. Pacific Coast Contracting evaluates each kitchen before recommending a system.
Will a urethane floor turn yellow?
Urethane floor systems are UV stable and resist the yellowing and color shift that can happen with some epoxy floors exposed to sunlight or certain lighting. For that reason, urethane is sometimes used as a topcoat over other systems. Ask Pacific Coast Contracting about color stability for areas with daylight exposure.
Can urethane be applied over an existing epoxy floor?
In some cases a urethane topcoat can be applied over a sound existing coating after proper preparation, but compatibility and bond have to be confirmed first. Failing or delaminating coatings usually need to be removed. Pacific Coast Contracting assesses the existing floor before recommending an overlay.
Ready to get started?
Request a Quote for Urethane Flooring Systems
Tell us about your facility, the area involved and your schedule. Pacific Coast Contracting provides consultation, testing and free quotes for commercial and industrial flooring and coating projects.