In order to meet specified standards and improve growth, greenhouses need good flooring. The floors in your greenhouse impact health and safety, the quality of the products, and production costs. Greenhouses can benefit from floor coatings in a variety of ways. From cost-effectiveness to controlled climates, here is what you need to know about how a floor coating could improve your greenhouse.

Types Of Greenhouse Flooring

There are many different options available when it comes to selecting a flooring material for greenhouses. Many people opt for gravel or mulch, while others prefer the strength and durability of concrete. If you choose to have concrete floors, you should have them coated for optimal strength, durability, and sanitation.

When you decide on the type of flooring you want for your greenhouse, you will want to keep your budget and specifications in mind. You will also want to consider long-term costs. A material that is cheaper upfront could end up being more expensive in the long run than one that is more costly upfront, but lasts much longer. 

For instance, mulch can degrade quickly. While concrete is a more expensive material, it’s also among the most durable. For optimal performance, you will want to have your concrete floor coated.

Why Greenhouses Need Coated Concrete Floors

Concrete in and of itself is a very durable material. However, you can run into problems with concrete floors in greenhouses due to the conditions of the space. Many of these problems can be resolved by installing floor coatings over your concrete.

Some of the issues a greenhouse can have with uncoated concrete floors include:

• • Bacterial growth. Concrete is porous, so it is easy for it to absorb moisture and bacteria to grow. This not only damages the concrete, but can also create risks to employees and the plants.

• Moisture vapor transmission (MVT). This is when moisture from under the concrete permeates upwards through it. This can cause problems like bubbling, blistering, and more.

• Safety risks. Concrete can be slippery when wet, which can cause slip-and-fall injuries. It can also crack, which can trip people. 
• Failed inspections. Certain facilities, such as cannabis facilities, must adhere to specific guidelines. If you have slippery, porous concrete floors, you may not pass health inspections.

These are but a few of the issues you may run into when using concrete floors in greenhouses. However, when you have a floor coating installed, you can enjoy the strength and durability of concrete along with the specifications you need to pass inspections and create an exceptional flooring system.

Ways Greenhouses Can Benefit From Floor Coatings

One of the best flooring options for greenhouses is coated concrete floors. We talked in the above section about some of the various problems you may experience with uncoated concrete. Here’s how getting a floor coating can resolve these issues and improve greenhouses.

#1. Antimicrobial

Floor coatings can have antimicrobial components which prevent the growth of bacteria, fungi, mildew, and more. This increases the sanitation of the facility. 

#2. Damage Resistance

Coated concrete floors are damage resistant in a variety of ways: from moisture, from chemicals, from impact, and more. This makes them safer for the facility and easier to maintain, as you can minimize repairs.

#3. Improved Safety

Since a floor coating can prevent damage by forming a protective barrier on top of the concrete, they can also improve safety. They are not only antimicrobial, but also remarkably easy to maintain, which is especially important with the dirt and the like common in greenhouses.

#4. Long-Lasting Durability

A floor coating can give greenhouses anti-slip floors with exceptional durability. They can last for years on end before you need to have them replaced.

#5. Sloping

Your greenhouse will need good drainage. Concrete coatings can be sloped in order to direct water to drains. 

#6. UV Resistance

This applies to polyaspartic coatings. A common concern with using epoxy coatings in greenhouses is how epoxy can turn yellow with prolonged exposure to UV rays. While this is an issue with epoxy, polyaspartic coatings give you all the benefits of epoxy, and then some, such as not turning yellow with UV resistance.

Do You Need Floor Coatings?

Solid Garage Floor Coatings of Virginia is here to help! We provide professional coating services for residential and commercial projects. We provide free quotes, so if you would like to get an idea of how much your project will cost, please do not hesitate to contact us today. We cannot wait to help you take your floors to the next level.

Floor coatings are exceptional ways to transform your floors and provide them with the necessary protection they need in order to last as long as possible. However, while some types of materials, like concrete, are often associated with floor coatings, others aren’t. As such, you may wonder if there are any floors that shouldn’t get a floor coating.

Technically, floor coatings can be applied to all sorts of different surfaces. However, applying them to unapproved surfaces could result in you losing your warranty or struggling with issues you wouldn’t otherwise. So, yes, there are indeed floors that shouldn’t get a floor coating.

How Do You Know If You Shouldn’t Get A Floor Coating?

If you’re ever considering getting a floor coating, it’s best to contact a professional floor coating company for a consultation. They will be able to provide you with specific information for your unique case. 

This is because professionals may be able to apply floor coatings to floors you wouldn’t think they could. Different materials are better suited for different purposes. For instance, some people may not know that you can get floor coatings on vertical surfaces, like stairs. Others may not know that driveways need special types of floor coatings, otherwise, it isn’t safe to coat them.

So, in short: if you want to know whether you should or shouldn’t get a floor coating, consult with the professionals. Don’t try to DIY a floor coating, especially if you’re guessing that it’s okay, as you could end up needing expensive repairs to fix a botched job or floors that shouldn’t have been coated in the first place.

What Floors Shouldn’t Get A Floor Coating?

Floor coatings are typically used for concrete surfaces. In some cases, they can be applied to other surfaces. However, this involves a specific process and specialized care, otherwise the results can end up not worth it. In other cases, you can’t apply a floor coating to a surface at all.

Here, we’ll go more into detail about what floors shouldn’t get a floor coating.

Damaged Concrete

A floor coating is only as good as the surface it’s applied to. If you try to apply a floor coating to a damaged surface, the floor coating isn’t going to repair the issues. Rather, the issues are going to impact the quality and durability of your floor coating.

If you have damaged concrete, it will need to be repaired prior to floor coating application.

Wood

Applying floor coatings to wood typically results in losing your warranty. This is because wood isn’t well-suited for the installation of typical floor coatings. They can have adhesives and chemicals that can interfere with the coating. 

If you want to apply a floor coating to wood, the condition, age, type, and construction of the wood surface will need to be evaluated. In many cases, it’s best to finish wood, rather than put a floor coating on it.

Tile

Tile is tricky. In some cases, tiled floors shouldn’t get a floor coating, while in others, you may be able to have a floor coating installed. Depending on the type, age, and condition of the tile, you may or may not be able to have a floor coating applied overtop. 

Whether or not the tile is ceramic plays an important role here. Floor coatings need a porous surface to bond with, which is why floors are diamond-ground or acid-etched prior to application. If it is possible to apply a floor coating to your tile, it will need to have the slick surface removed.

Vinyl

Vinyl is used in many different applications, including flooring. If you have vinyl planks or tile or another type of vinyl flooring, it may not be suitable for a floor coating. This is because the makeup of vinyl may not be compatible with floor coatings.

Typically, if you want a floor coating, experts will recommend that you remove the vinyl flooring first. As always, you’ll want to consult with the professionals for personalized input on your specific case.

Do You Want A Floor Coating?

Solid Garage Floor Coatings of Virginia is here to take your home to the next level with our top-quality floor coatings. Floor coatings greatly improve the appearance, strength, and durability of your floors. If you’re unsure if your floors can get a floor coating or not, simply contact us. We’re more than happy to help you however we can.

Here on the East Coast, sump pumps are commonly found in basements, in order to prevent flooding from all the groundwater. If you’ve been considering installing a basement floor coating, you may wonder how to go about this process with a sump pump. Are there special considerations for going around it? Certainly, the two should work together in harmony, shouldn’t they? Or could something bad happen if you try to get a basement floor coating with a sump pump?

Here is what you need to know about basement floor coatings and sump pumps so that you can better plan for how to protect your house from water damage.

Is It A Good Idea To Get A Basement Floor Coating With A Sump Pump?

Both basement floor coatings and sump pumps are made in order to keep moisture out of your home. Sump pumps do this by pumping groundwater out of your basement with a mechanism that detects when the levels are getting too high. Basement floor coatings help to mitigate moisture with their moisture-resistant properties. 

It seems like a match made in heaven to combine the two, does it not? 

In truth? It could be a great idea! You will need to consult with professionals before proceeding with any projects of this magnitude, of course. They will be able to advise you on aspects specific to your home, your environment, and your budget. But if you’re looking for optimal moisture protection, having both a basement floor coating and a sump pump is a good option.

Should You Choose One Over The Other?

Are you wondering if you should opt for a basement floor coating or a sump pump? For optimal moisture protection, combining the two would be a better option. This is because both sump pumps and basement floor coatings have their individual pros and cons. 

About Sump Pumps

Sump pumps are very effective at removing water from your basement. They’re an active system that kick into gear when they sense that the groundwater levels are getting too high. They pump the water out of your home before it gets the chance to floor your basement and cause disastrous damage.

That said, for all their benefits, sump pumps have their cons. They need electricity in order to run. If the power goes out and you don’t have a backup power source, you can end up with water problems in your basement. 

Plus, while sump pumps keep water from rising up into your home, they cannot totally moisture-proof your basement.

About Floor Coatings

Floor coatings are moisture resistant and can protect your floors from water damage. They can prevent water from entering your home, as well as stand up to any water that does.

They are no substitute for a sump pump, though. They cannot force water away from your home. Over time, they can also weaken and crack, which leaves your home susceptible to moisture damage.

Using Floor Coatings With Sump Pumps

In order to keep your home in good condition and protect it from water damage, having a moisture-resistant coating implemented in your basement along with your sump pump is the ideal way to go. The two work in tandem in order to put moisture in its place and to make your basement (and your home as a whole) a more comfortable place to be.

Are There Special Considerations For Coating The Floor Around A Sump Pump?

This is a job that you will want to leave in the hands of experienced professionals. While many people like to try to DIY their floor coatings, you don’t want a mistake to impact the functionality of your sump pump or your floors. 

If you’re considering having a floor coating installed in your basement, even if you don’t have a sump pump, the best thing to do is to contact a floor coating professional to do the job for you. That way, you can rest assured that the coating itself will be high-quality, that all the appropriate safety measures will be taken, and that the job will be done correctly the first time.

Solid Garage Floor Coatings Of Virginia provides floor coating services for both the interior and the exterior of your home or business. Whether you need a basement floor coating, a garage floor coating, a commercial floor coating, or something else, please don’t hesitate to contact us to schedule your free consultation. We’re happy to help you elevate the beauty and functionality of your home or business with our top-of-the-line floor coatings.