Cove base
One of the most popular reasons for specifying a resinous flooring system is because they are impermeable to water. A resinous system can act as both a user-friendly flooring system and as a waterproofing system. One of the most important aspects of creating a floor that has a “bathtub effect” is to specify a cove/wall base.
Ninety per cent of projects will only need a 102 or 152 mm (4 or 6 in.) cove base. Most projects will need 102 mm (4 in.), while commercial kitchens and other wet areas will require 152 mm (6 in.). Depending on the finish, and the chemistry of the system, one may be able to specify that a product goes even higher up the wall.
Transitions and terminations
One important detail often overlooked in a specification is knowing what terminations and transitions to call out. This can vary based on the type of flooring the resinous flooring is adjacent to. For example, if meeting up with a polished concrete finish, the resinous system will need to finish at “zero” or flush with the concrete substrate that is going to be polished.
The most important consideration regarding transitions and terminations is the resinous system should not be placed thinner at these locations. If the thickness is not correct, or matching the rest of the system, the terminations will be a weak point in the flooring system and will be the first points of failure either by delamination or chipping. After this has occurred, it can spread to the rest of the system leading to more delamination. The correct way to install these terminations is to “key” them in. “Keying” the substrate means to remove a certain amount of concrete to create a void that is the correct thickness to accept the resinous system as it is poured in place.
With best practices established that do not vary by chemistries, it is important to also look at the pros and cons of the most common resinous flooring chemistries.
- Epoxy
Probably the most well-known chemistry in resinous flooring, epoxy is one specific class of polymers that contain epoxide groups, hence their name. There is an extremely large range of quality in epoxies, and most epoxy flooring and coatings typically fall in the middle of this range. While these are not the same high-end formulations the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) uses, the space agency sources the same base chemistry as flooring, paint, and adhesive manufacturers do.
The number of system designs using epoxy is endless and covers a wide spectrum of styles—from thin film all the way to trowelled down mortar systems. One advantage for using an epoxy system is its relatively reasonable material cost. Epoxy flooring systems usually have an attractive high-gloss finish and, depending on the formulation, can have zero volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Not all epoxies are formulated or produced with the same quality. For example, there is a difference in residential-grade versus industrial-grade epoxy. Typically, they all have a long cure time (eight to 12 hours) which only amounts to 95 per cent cure. Reaching 100 per cent cure usually takes between seven and 10 days. Epoxy is also not UV stable, which means it will eventually yellow and colour shift when exposed to UV light. This is especially important when using these flooring systems in an area exposed to sunlight or fluorescent light for extended periods such as grow houses or exterior applications. In these cases, it is rare one will find a manufacturer that will recommend finishing with an epoxy topcoat versus applying a urethane or polyaspartic topcoat.
Further, because of the wide variety of epoxy system designs and qualities available, it is important that a specification be very specific in the manufacturer’s system name or, at a minimum, the application method, finish selection for texture and colour, and a thickness be called out.
- Methyl-methacrylate (MMA)
Next on the list is a lesser-known chemistry, MMA. This organic compound is most commonly used in acrylic plastics such as plexiglass or airplane windows. Pharmaceutical grade MMA is even used as a cement or glue in joint replacements.
