3 Types of Resin Flooring Explained

Resin flooring is a popular choice for a range of commercial and industrial buildings, thanks mainly to its hard-wearing and safety features. You will find resin flooring laid in various sectors, including restaurants and industrial kitchens, automotive factories and warehouses, and different manufacturing plants. This post introduces the three main types of resin flooring, with a brief explanation of how to choose the right kind of resin flooring for your property.

What is Resin Flooring? 

Resin flooring utilises a mixture of materials that are applied to a pre-prepared floor surface in its liquid form. Once hardened, the resulting resin floor is exceptionally hard-wearing and ideal for properties that experience high volumes of vehicle and foot traffic. 

How Thick is Resin Flooring? 

The thickness of resin flooring largely depends on its intended usage. In some instances, certain resin floorings can be just 2mm thick, but they can often be laid at a thickness of up to or in excess of 5mm, depending on the requirements of the commercial or industrial property in which it is applied.

3 Types of Resin Flooring

The three main types of resin flooring are PMMA, polyurethane, and epoxy, and we introduce each of them in a little more detail below: 

PMMA

PMMA is an acronym that stands for polymethyl methacrylate, which is a type of synthetic resin. It’s a highly customisable resin flooring that can be laid to precise industrial needs and is chemical resistant. PMMA is favoured thanks to its rapid laying and curing time, and while it’s the most expensive type of resin flooring, it’s also the most durable. 

Polyurethane 

The most significant advantage of polyurethane flooring is that it withstands high temperatures, which makes it ideal for commercial settings where ovens or cookers are used for whatever purpose. As a thermoset resin, polyurethane floors take longer to cure than PMMA floors, which means increased downtime during installation and any subsequent repairs. 

Epoxy

Epoxy is perhaps the most widely used type of industrial resin flooring and is another thermoset material that ensures a floor surface of exceptional durability. Used in factories, commercial kitchens, and even in some residential properties, epoxy flooring is cost-effective, easy to maintain, and an excellent choice for commercial and industrial properties that experience high foot and vehicle traffic.

How to Choose the Right Type of Resin Flooring

You must consider more than just cost when deciding which type of resin flooring to lay at your commercial or industrial property. For instance, PMMA flooring cures in just one hour, whereas polyurethane and epoxy take five and seven days, respectively. In addition, PMMA can be easily repaired and upgraded, whereas polyurethane and epoxy flooring would need to be removed and replaced if a small section of the floor is damaged. 

Thanks to the fact that it’s fully customisable, rapid to lay and cure, and suited to the most hazardous industrial or commercial settings, PMMA is the standout choice for those looking for an extremely hard-wearing and durable floor surface.