Technical FAQ'S

Flowcrete UK only provides flooring solutions for industrial and commercial projects. We do not manufacture systems for small domestic projects.

Epoxy plastics belong to a group of substances called polymers. They are manufactured from two components: a base component consisting of epoxy resin, and a hardener component consisting of different types of amines.

In addition there are also various additives in the base component and hardener, such as reactive thinners, pigments, fillers and other additives.

These additives modify the epoxy plastic to suit the application in question. When the base and hardener are mixed there is a chemical reaction which forms a transverse structure: epoxy plastic.

Resin based floor coatings can be installed on a wide-range of substrates and surface materials including concrete, cementitious Isocrete Floor Screeds, tongue and groove chipboard and marine ply as well as various type's of tile and pre-existing resinous material.

Surfaces are installed by well-trained personnel recommended by Flowcrete UK who have been trained and are familiar with our products.

This guarantees a high level of quality and ensures selection of a preferred functional and aesthetic solution can be made with complete confidence.

For information about preferred Flooring Contractors, please contact ukweb@flowcrete.com

Yes, resin systems from Flowcrete can be applied to stairs if a wooden baton or retaining strip is fitted as a stair nosing to the front of each step to enable our approved contractors to flood each stair tread with resin.

We can install a resin floor in almost any colour. We have a range of standard colours available for each of the products that we supply.

If the colour you would like is not available as standard we can have a colour specially blended to match as close as practicable any colour sample that you provide.

Non-standard and specially blended colours are more expensive than standard colours, but create a more individual floor.

We would require the new substrate to be in place prior to the arrival of our approved application team.

All other surface preparation is completed by the applicator using a system build-up of products from Flowcrete UK.

Flowcrete UK prides itself on being able to offer the complete  Floorzone solution - building up the surface of the floor from substrate to finish.

As the Polygiene® can be found throughout the flooring system, deep within the resin matrix. it is present at the surface when installed and as the system wears over time it reveals more of the additive which does not degenerate with time.

The Polygiene® is ingested by the bacteria and therefore disrupts the internal DNA of the bacteria, destroying the cell wall.

As the bacteria decays it releases the Polygiene® back to the surface, which in turn works in conjunction to that which is already there at the surface.

Our normal recommendation is the Peran STB "wet area" system, which is anti-slip in wet conditions, impervious to spills and hard-wearing, but also has a decorative finish. If speed of installation is of the essence we would recommend the Flowfast Quartz "Trowel and Scatter" system.

Flowfast Quartz - this can be applied down to minus 40°C and can be accelerated so the floor can be back in service within 3 hours.

Flowshield Quartz - this has a dense smooth surface with an attractive speckled finish. It is impervious to spills and easy to clean.

Two coats of Flowcoat LXP HD with a sand blind on the first coat to give an anti-slip finish. Flowcoat LXP HD is flexible and will accommodate the flexing of suspended structural elements.

Flowcoat SF41 HCS. This is formulated for resistance to Skydrol (aviation hydraulic fluid). The best color for light reflectance would be Light Gray.

Mondéco gives a good combination of pleasing appearance and hard wear. Flowfast Terrosso should also be considered if the downtime is limited.

Epoxy self-levellers are typically 2-5mm thick but will still follow the contours of the slab. They will only achieve FM2 if the slab is laid to FM2.

High-build coatings are self-priming, but the substrate may vary in porosity, so two coats are recommended to achieve a consistent appearance.

Self-levellers will stick well on their own, but a primer is still essential to seal the substrate. Otherwise air in the substrate may rise through the self-leveller and cause air bubbles.

A screed or mortar topping will need a primer to ensure a good bond with the substrate, the exception being some water-based polyurethane screeds, which can be applied to cementitious substrates (concrete or screed) without a primer.

This largely depends on what the warehouse is storing, but for the majority of facilities the floor will need to be flat, durable and slip resistant.

Surface evenness is vital to making sure that lift trucks can easily move around and that racks are level. The point where the racks meet the floor also needs to be considered to ensure that the pressure won’t crack the finish. In fact, any place where heavy objects are being placed must have a coating underneath that can withstand the weight and point loading stress.

Other considerations include the use of colour and demarcation for zoning, being able to easily clean away spillages, being resistant to any chemicals that might come into contact with the floor and UV resistance for areas with high levels of exposure to sunlight.

The thickness of the coating or screed system needs to be duly considered in terms of providing sufficient thickness of cover in order to prevent it from being damaged under both impact and loading.

Frequency of wheeled trafficking is an important factor for the correct specification of resin based coating finishes in terms of providing adequate levels of abrasion resistance over a defined period of time.

To reduce the risk of slips in the workplace, aggregates can be incorporated into the floor to provide greater traction underfoot.

This could be applied on walkways or in packaging areas where the likelihood of dropped or spilled substances is higher.

The nature and type of liquid spillages will have a direct bearing on the appropriate degree of slip resistance required, the geological and mineralagy based nature of the aggregate, along with type, particle size and shape of the slip resistant aggregate incorporated in the resin coating finish should be carefully selected and considered for the purposes of providing a robust slip resistant profile.

Seamless resin floors are available in almost any colour, and it’s possible to blend bespoke colours and apply resin systems in floor designs tailored to a specific client or facility.

Using colour can help to zone a space, highlighting walkways and areas of increased danger. Choosing corporate colours is also a great way to reflect brand identity within a warehouse.

The floor of a food processing facility is subject to a wide variety of food by-products such as fats, oils, blood, sugar solutions and natural food acids. These substances can cause untold damage to an uncoated substrate, bringing the hygienic and structural integrity of the facility into question.

Resin flooring systems are available in a wide range of shapes, sizes and chemistries, including antibacterial enhanced cementitious polyurethane systems, fast curing methyl methacrylate (MMA) systems and versatile epoxies.

A key consideration should be hygiene. Some systems offer clients an enhanced hygiene performance due to a combination of a seamless, easy to clean finish with the addition of antibacterial additives within the floor.

Slip resistance should also be considered, especially in wet processing areas or areas where regular cleaning is a priority. Flooring should be laid to falls that lead to efficient drainage systems. Resin floors can be installed in a range of textures to provide the right balance between cleanability and slip resistance.

Polyurethanes are often the most suitable option for the challenging production areas of an F&B facility due to the ability of this resin chemistry to combine impressive durability, hygiene and safety properties.

Floors with HACCP International certification have been specifically tested to make sure that they provide all the hygienic properties required for intensive, large-scale food production sites to ensure that they will meet all the necessary legislation and best practise standards.

This is typically described as the breaking down of the floor’s polymer structure such that it is no longer able to fulfil its function. This is particularly common in food processing facilities where there is exposure to hot oils, sugars, acids and fats coming into contact with a floor that does not have the necessary chemical resistance properties.

Thermal shock occurs when the ambient temperature changes significantly and almost immediately, which can lead to floor failure if the material has not been specified correctly.

Thermal shock can occur for several reasons, such as steam cleaning, the opening of hot ovens or of doors to cold storage rooms.

The origins of seamless terrazzo date back centuries to when discarded chips from marble slab processing were set and submerged in clay to create smooth and decorative surfaces.

Now, terrazzo is available in an unlimited resin colour palette with the scope to include a range of decorative aggregate material including mother-of-pearl, marble, granite, flint, recycled glass and mirror glass amongst others.

Typically, 17% of a seamless terrazzo floor is made up of processed epoxy resin binders whilst the remainder includes naturally occurring or recycled aggregates. Recycled aluminium strips can be used to complete any design work.

The low maintenance aspect of the terrazzo material can also lead to significant energy savings over time.

Seamless resin terrazzo is non-porous and gap-free, meaning that moisture is unable to penetrate the surface. This eliminates microbial growth and creates a finish that is quick and easy to clean.

The greatest advantage of MMA flooring over epoxy or polyurethane alternatives is the material’s speed of installation and cure, often reaching full cure within only one to two hours. This minimises downtime and the associated production and profit losses for the client.

Other installation advantages include the fact that MMA can be applied directly onto many substrates, including previous MMA coatings, avoiding the need to take up and prep the floor during a refurbishment.

MMA flooring can also be flow applied, allowing large areas to be installed at a significantly faster rate whilst ensuring a quality finish free of trowel marks.

MMA flooring can be installed within a wide temperature range and in conditions as low as -30°C, which makes it ideal for unheated construction sites or back-of-house cold stores, coolers and blast freezers.

MMA is available in either non-slip or smooth textures to meet changing slip resistance requirements. The material is also resistant to a wide range of chemicals including most organic and mineral acids, alkalis, salt solutions, natural oils and fats.

The aesthetic possibilities, quick turn around and durability of this resin chemistry has made it a popular choice with large-scale commercial venues.

MMA flooring is laid in situ to avoid pinholes, which can harbour dirt and spores. They also exhibit high UV resistance and will not become brittle with age, as is the case with epoxies.

It can also be easily cleaned with a damp mop, with no requirement for labour intensive or costly steam cleaning methods. This ensures low long-term lifecycle costs to the client.

Screeds are often used on uneven substrates as a way to help level out the surface in preparation for the final flooring layer. As well as being this levelling layer, screed also aids the bond between the substrate and the floor finish.

It is required when a colourful or functional floor is needed rather than a bare concrete surface.

Most screeds are used for internal purposes, often covering heating systems, acoustic or thermal insulation. Polymer-modified screeds can be installed in external locations as they are hard-wearing, water resistant and able to withstand a more rigorous environment.

This depends on a number of factors such as the screed type, how it is installed and the load requirements of the floor. Other factors such as whether there is insulation within the flooring, or if underfloor heating is present also need to be considered.

With this depending on a number of factors, speaking to flooring experts is the sure way to find the ideal screed type for an installation.

All screeds will shrink as the moisture leaves the system. Stress control joints can be put into the screed to control this and prevent random cracking during the shrinkage stage. These joints can be filled once the screed has dried.