Urethane cement Installation Services
Looking for a durable flooring solution that can withstand moisture, chemicals, and thermal shock? Look no further than cement urethane!
This industrial floor coating combines the strength of concrete with the resilience of urethane, making it an ideal choice for manufacturing facilities and commercial kitchens.
Plus, in some municipalities, it’s required by health codes. In this blog post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about cement urethane – from its composition to its pros and cons and typical applications.
Why Choose Craftsman Concrete Floors?
At Craftsman Concrete Floors, we specialize in commercial flooring installations. With nearly 25 years of experience installing commercial coatings, we’re the preferred installer of countless general contractors and facilities managers.
- No Square Footage Minimums
- All in-house, W-2 labor
- Servicing Texas since 1999
What is Urethane Cement?
Urethane cement is a type of flooring material that’s made by combining modified urethane, Portland cement, and other additives, resulting in a high-performance floor coating. Unlike epoxy floor systems that are created through a chemical reaction of two liquids, urethane cement is a viscous, cement-like mixture. When we install urethane cement, we make it much thicker than epoxy, usually around 1/8th of an inch. Because of this added thickness, urethane cement is highly resistant to thermal shock, abrasion, and wear.
Modified Urethane
The most common ingredient in urethane cement is a modified urethane. Urethane is used as the thermal plastic binder in urethane cement systems due to its outstanding adhesion, flexibility, and durability. Urethanes are resistant to chemicals, moisture, and thermal shock, providing a strong foundation for this industrial flooring installation.
Portland Cement
Portland cement, the other primary component of urethane cement, is a widely used cement type known for its durability, strength, and resistance to weathering and chemical attack. It is composed of hydraulic calcium silicates and calcium sulfate, with the calcium silicates responsible for the cement’s strength and the calcium sulfate aiding in moderating the rate of hydration.
Unlike concrete, Portland cement provides a strong and durable base for urethane cement flooring, ensuring the final product’s longevity and performance.
Additional Additives
To further enhance the properties and performance of urethane cement flooring, additional additives such as pigmented topcoats, primers, and functional additives can be incorporated. These additives provide increased durability, strength, and resistance to moisture, chemicals, and thermal shock, making urethane cement even more suitable for various applications and industries.
To learn about urethane cement floor costs, visit our ‘epoxy floor cost‘ guide
Where is Urethane Cement Used?
Because of its extreme durability, urethane cement is used in many manufacturing settings. These include:
- Food Manufacturing
- Pharmacudical Manufacturing
- Beer and Alcohol Manufacturing
- Chemical Plants
- Airport Hangers
- Automotive Manufacturing and Repair
Want to Learn More About Commercial Flooring?
We’re happy to provide a free urethane cement estimate. A Concrete Floor Specialist will get in touch with you within 1 business day.
Advantages of Urethane Cement Flooring
One of the most significant benefits of urethane cement flooring is its superior durability and strength, which makes it an ideal choice for industrial settings and high-traffic areas. Additionally, its resistance to moisture, chemicals, and thermal shock allows it to perform exceptionally well in environments where traditional epoxy floors might struggle.
Durability and Strength
Research has shown that urethane cement flooring is four times stronger than conventional epoxy, providing exceptional durability and strength. Its high resistance to impact, thermal shock, abrasion, chemicals, and moisture vapor transmission contributes to its long-lasting performance.
In fact, urethane cement flooring can endure for up to 30 years, making it a reliable and cost-effective choice for various applications.
Versatility in Applications
The versatility of urethane cement flooring is evident in its wide range of applications across various industries. Its superior chemical, impact, abrasion, and thermal-shock resistance allows it to endure impacts from high traffic, heavy machinery, and harsh chemicals, making it suitable for food manufacturers, production plants, R&D labs, warehouses, and many other industrial floors.
This makes urethane cement flooring an ideal choice for a variety of industrial settings. It is easy to install, requires minimal maintenance, and is highly durable, making it a cost-effective option.
Common Applications of Urethane Cement Flooring
If you’re looking for a strong and reliable flooring option for your industrial or commercial setting, urethane cement flooring is a great choice. Its robustness, chemical and moisture resistance, and ability to withstand heavy machinery and extreme temperatures make it a versatile option suitable for various industries.
Whether you’re a food and beverage manufacturer, production plants, R&D lab, or warehouse, urethane cement flooring is an excellent choice due to its durability and resistance to harsh conditions.
Food and Beverage Industry
In the food and beverage industry, urethane cement flooring provides enhanced durability, chemical resistance, anti-microbial properties, and simplified cleaning and maintenance. Its resistance to moisture, chemicals, and thermal shock makes it an ideal choice for food processing areas, where frequent washing and sanitization are necessary.
Additionally, urethane cement flooring is certified by the FDA and NSF as a food-safe coating, ensuring compliance with industry regulations.
Manufacturing Plants
Urethane cement flooring is a reliable and chemical-resistant flooring option suitable for industrial and manufacturing settings, including those with heavy machinery and chemical exposure. Its nonporous surface is easy to clean and capable of enduring frequent washing and sanitization, making it a preferred choice for manufacturing plants where cleanliness and durability are paramount.
This flooring option is also highly resistant to abrasion, impact, and temperature changes, making it a great choice for areas with heavy foot traffic or machinery. It is also easy to install and maintain, making it a cost-effective solution.
Warehouses and Distribution Centers
Warehouses and distribution centers benefit from the durability, strength, and resistance properties of urethane cement flooring. Its ability to withstand heavy machinery, frequent foot traffic, and exposure to harsh chemicals makes it an ideal choice for industrial floors in these environments.
Customization options, such as pigmented topcoats, additives, and decorative broadcast media, further enhance the flooring’s performance and appearance, catering to the specific needs of each warehouse or distribution center.
Customizing Urethane Cement Flooring
One of the many advantages of urethane cement flooring is its ability to be customized to suit individual preferences and requirements. Pigmented topcoats, additives, and decorative broadcast media can be incorporated into the flooring to create a tailored solution that not only performs exceptionally but also looks visually appealing.
Customizing urethane cement flooring can enhance its characteristics and functionality, offering a distinctive and aesthetically pleasing appearance while providing additional resilience and protection against moisture, chemicals, and thermal shock.
Pigmented Topcoats
Pigmented topcoats are a finishing solution that provides a durable and moisture-resistant coating for hardwood floors, available in various options, including clear or pigmented, gloss or satin finish. These topcoats offer a resilient and water-resistant coating, as well as a glossy or satin finish, making them a popular choice for customizing urethane cement flooring.
The application process is straightforward, involving surface preparation, topcoat application, and curing time, ensuring optimal results when following the manufacturer’s instructions.
Additives
Additives, such as silica, calcium carbonate, and other minerals, are incorporated into the primary resin of urethane cement during compounding or processing to enhance the polymer’s processability, performance, or characteristics.
These additives bolster the strength and durability of the flooring, providing extra protection against moisture, chemicals, and thermal shock.
Decorative Broadcast Media
Decorative broadcast media is a flooring system that involves manually tossing quartz or other aggregate onto a floor coated with wet epoxy to create a slip-resistant and aesthetically pleasing finish. This monolithic epoxy resurfacer is designed to restore moderately worn or pitted concrete floors, providing a robust and resilient flooring system that is resistant to moisture, chemicals, and thermal shock.
The installation process for decorative broadcast media, like other urethane cement customization options, involves surface preparation, application techniques, and curing time, ensuring optimal results when following the manufacturer’s instructions
Frequently Asked Questions about Urethane Cement Flooring
Urethane cement typically takes four hours to cure before any foot traffic is allowed on it, with full curing continuing for days afterwards. For maximum effectiveness, it is best to wait at least 12-18 hours before driving on freshly installed urethane cement.
Urethane cement is installed between 1/8″ and 1/4″ in thickness as a concrete topping and up to 6″ for concrete repairs.
Most urethane cement floor installations cost between $9 and $12 per square foot.
