The Differences Between Epoxy and Urethane Concrete Flooring

There are many floor coverings available for industrial surfaces –two primary options are epoxy and urethane concrete (also referred to as cementious urethane). Both are durable and can be applied in aesthetically pleasing ways. Here’s how to know which is right for your needs.

Epoxy Flooring

The resins and hardeners of epoxy flooring bonds with the concrete slab. Epoxy flooring and coatings are popular in auto shops, retail stores, pharmacies, manufacturing facilities , schools, and aerospace facilities.

The benefits of epoxy include:

Wear resistance in heavy traffic areas.
Seamless layout making it easy to clean.
A wide range of color and other aesthetic options, including custom logos.
Availability in gloss, semi-gloss, and matte finishes.

Epoxy also is formulated to withstand intense chemical exposure, easily shrugging off the harshest spills and cleaning materials. Epoxy flooring systems can be a thin mil coatings system all the way up to 3/8” mortar floors.

Urethane Concrete Flooring

Like epoxy, urethane concrete flooring can be applied seamlessly, making it easy to clean. It also bonds with the concrete slab chemically. Urethane Concrete or Cementious Concrete resurfacers have cement in them and so does concrete. This enables the resurfacer to move more like concrete and therefore enabling a similar movement. This flooring technology is needed in areas where the floor will see water, impact and chemical attack such as commercial kitchens, food and beverage facilities as well as heavy industrial environments.

The two biggest advantages of urethane concrete flooring are its long lifespan as well as its unique properties for special circumstances, which include:

Formulations for low VOC to assist in air quality control during installation.
Thermal shock and thermal cycling resistance.
Impact Resistant

Urethane Concrete flooring has noise-reducing properties, so it’s often the first pick for trauma wards, libraries, and educational facilities. It’s also can be stain-resistant and antimicrobial, which helps prevent bacteria and mold that flooring can sometimes otherwise collect.

[Infographic] Urethane Concrete vs. Epoxy

See the full infographic.

Case Study: Pharma Research Facility

During the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown, this central Indiana pharmaceutical research facility took the opportunity to install an industrial epoxy coating. Surface Solutions is considered an essential business and continued to work throughout the shutdown.

It took just 11 days to totally transform 6,500 square feet of space. We applied 2 coats of Koster MPE epoxy in a shade called Oyster. Not only did we cover the floor, but also concrete walls, ceilings, and a pit area.

This project was completed ahead of schedule and allowed our client to come back from the shutdown to enjoy fresh, hygienic, safe, and durable floors.

See the full case study.

Case Study: Meat Processor

Every holiday season, this large Indiana meat processor shuts down for a few days to give their employees a break. For Surface Solutions, this is the perfect time to install new Ucrete Iron Filled flooring. This client likes to add new Ucrete floors to their facility whenever possible and Surface Solutions has had a great relationship with them for many years.

Within a period of just 4 days, Surface Solutions installed Ucrete IF in the 3,500-square-foot meat processing area, including 150 linear feet of curbing and a 2-inch cant cove. The project also involved extensive prefill of Ucrete UD200 with troweled mortar.

The facility’s finished floors still look terrific today, long after the installation. They hold up to constant abrasion from steel-wheeled carts, heavy foot traffic, and daily cleaning with high-temperature water and cleaners.

See the full case study.

Ucrete Flooring Solutions

Does your industrial facility need a flooring upgrade to something that’s extremely tough and easy to clean? Ucrete is designed to be a superior alternative to acid brick, quarry tile, and industrial coatings.

It offers unparalleled resilience, withstanding the harshest abuse of temperatures, chemicals, and traffic. We invite you to learn more about Ucrete and to contact Surface Solutions to talk about installing a smooth and strong new floor.