There are certain floors in buildings that take more of a beating than others. It could be because of the types activities taking place there, the use of heavy equipment, or the amount of messes and spills. It may simply be a very busy space with excessive foot traffic, such as stairways, hallways, breakrooms, and lobbies.
Careful consideration of the commercial flooring product that is specified for these areas is critical. The challenge is identifying a solution that is durable and easy to maintain, yet still aesthetically pleasing.
Action’s commercial and industrial epoxy and urethane floor systems, Action Herculan IG with the color chip system, provide the functional advantages and design flexibility to create a variety of looks.
Of course, there are other choices. Let’s take a look so you can compare your options.
Common Commercial Flooring Products
Concrete Flooring
It’s certainly durable and its maintenance needs are minimal, but plain concrete flooring is generally used in industrial settings or in a business going for a minimalistic look. Concrete may, however, develop unsightly cracks over time, and if unsealed can be difficult to clean.
While finishing can give polished concrete a nice appearance, design options are quite limited. Plus, if a concrete floor is not finished properly, it can be susceptible to moisture issues. On the other hand, if it is highly finished and polished, concrete floors can be slippery.
Hardwood Flooring
Action Floors has a special place in its heart for hardwood maple flooring. It’s not just for sports, and it can look incredible in certain commercial applications. However, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Hardwood floors are easily damaged by moisture and require ongoing maintenance in order to keep them in top shape. Hardwood flooring needs to be refinished around every eight to 10 years, but an epoxy floor system can last 15 years or more. While hardwood works in particular settings, it probably isn’t the right choice for high-traffic areas.
Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl flooring often has a lower price point than other commercial flooring options, and it does provide design flexibility. Luxury vinyl tile (LVT), for example, often imitates the appearance of ceramic tile, hardwood, and stone. However, there are some significant downsides to using vinyl in high-traffic areas.
One problem is commercial vinyl flooring gets damaged easily. It requires regular cleaning and maintenance. Vinyl composite tile (VCT) has a wax coating meant to protect it, however that can wear off with constant foot traffic, causing the floor to get scratched and scuffed. End users will need to scrape off existing wax and apply a new layer on a regular basis. Seams in vinyl flooring can also create hygiene issues in some settings.
Commercial Carpeting
Speaking of hygiene concerns, unclean carpeting and carpet tiles are known for containing allergens and bacteria. End users will need to vacuum regularly and plan for regular deep cleaning. Carpet stains easily as well.
Carpeting may be the right aesthetic choice in certain spaces, but it certainly isn’t ideal for high-traffic areas as it will show obvious signs of wear and require replacement.
Ceramic Tile Flooring
Ceramic tile is aesthetically pleasing and somewhat durable, but it’s certainly not indestructible. Heavy impacts can crack the tiles. And, while a single tile is fairly easy to replace, an entire installation can be very labor intensive.
Compared to epoxy commercial floor systems, ceramic tile is more susceptible to damage and can become slippery when wet.
The Strength and Flexibility of Action Herculan IG Epoxy Flooring
Contractors and architects are discovering the many benefits of using commercial epoxy flooring. It’s especially useful in high-traffic areas including these settings:
- Schools (locker rooms, restrooms, classrooms, and hallways)
- Manufacturing/industrial
- Kitchens and cafeterias
- Commercial garages and workshops
- Healthcare facilities and laboratories
- Retail stores and warehouses
- Restaurants and coffee shops
Here’s why so many different industries find Action Herculan IG to be the perfect commercial flooring solution:
Easy to install: Action Herculan IG is suited for both new construction and renovations. It can be applied over most existing flat surfaces. As Action Floors dealer Mathusek, Inc. explains in an article listing reasons to consider Action Herculan IG, the easy installation of the epoxy flooring could “put your business back to work in less than two days.”
Low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs): A factor making installation of this commercial flooring product easy on business owners and end users is that it consists of low VOC epoxy. That means you won’t necessarily have to evacuate your business while it’s being applied. Fewer fumes means fewer headaches and better indoor air quality.
Extremely durable: Action Herculan IG is one of the toughest commercial flooring products you’ll find. It easily handles high traffic and heavy loads, making it perfect for areas where there are large machines, tables, or vehicles rolling across it regularly. Epoxy commercial flooring is much less likely to crack than any of the other options. It should last many years, but it can also be very easily and economically resurface when the time comes.
Easy to maintain: When keeping the floor clean is a priority, Action Herculan IG is a reliable choice. A regular cleaning process of sweeping and mopping is all the janitorial staff will have to worry about. When there are liquid spills in places like cafeterias, garages, restaurants, and labs, the end user doesn’t have to worry. Action Herculan IG is also highly stain-resistant.
Hygienic surface: The fact the Action Herculan IG is a seamless, non-porous commercial flooring system makes it ideal in areas where hygiene is a concern, such as schools, healthcare settings, and food preparation and processing. While carpeting and seams in tiled surfaces can harbor bacteria, an epoxy flooring solution works well in environments that should be germ-free.
Safer Surface: Creating a safe environment for workers (and customers) is on the minds of many types of commercial enterprises. “Same level falls,” which are slips and trips as opposed to falls that happen on a staircase or an elevated walkway, are the second most-common workplace injury. OSHA updated its walking-working surfaces standard in 2017, and the occupational safety firm New Pig summarizes some of the agency’s rules this way:
“All walking-working surfaces must be inspected regularly to ensure they are free of contaminants, defects or other imperfections that could contribute to a slip, trip or fall injury.”
Action Herculan IG’s durability helps companies avoid floor damage that could be hazardous. More importantly, it is slip-resistant. The finish of this commercial epoxy flooring can be smooth, or you can specify a more textured surface to further improve grip/traction.
Wide color selection: Action Herculan IG is more than a utilitarian commercial flooring option. End users and facility owners can choose from a number of color combinations. That means you can specify epoxy flooring with color chip blends that match a brand, school colors, or existing interiors.
Choose from eye-catching standard blends or create a unique combination from more than 45 options in the Action Herculan IG color chip system. Floor design can be further customized to feature accents, logos, and more using Action Herculan paint.
Find Out More About Synthetic Flooring from Action Floors
Besides our industrial grade epoxy floor system, Action Floors also offers a variety of synthetic sports floors with performance features that are useful in commercial applications. Check out our article listing seven practical uses for Action Herculan flooring.
Want to see how Action Herculan IG solves real-world problems? View our case studies section to learn more. There’s a story about using epoxy flooring in a doggie daycare as well as a school that replaced carpeting with Action Herculan IG.
If you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact Action Floors, and we’ll help you get the information you need for your next project.
