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:
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- 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.
