How to Choose the Right Coating System for Different Commercial Environments

Choosing the right commercial coating system requires assessing environmental exposure, operational demands, and substrate condition. What is the UV exposure, moisture, and chemicals being used on the area, and traffic density are some of the few questions that you will need to answer prior to shopping around for your desired coating. Establishing desired results post-coating application is also another question you will need to determine. In this blog, we will take you through the steps to choosing the best system for your business needs and budget, as well as cover the different types of coatings available, their common uses, and areas that they will work best in.

5 Steps to Choosing the Right System:

1. Define the Problem - is it corrosion, floor wear, chemical contamination, or water ingress that is causing the issues on your current flooring or structure?
2. Evaluate Life Cycle Cost - High -Performance coatings cost more initially but will require fewer repairs, offering an overall better value in the long term.
3. Verify your Key Selection Factors - We will give you a full breakdown in the next section of this blog.
4. Check Compatibility - Ensure that the new coating system will bond securely to the existing substrate or old coating. If not, this may require additional and costly steps in surface preparations or require a different system altogether.
5. Consult Industry Experts - Contact the coating manufacturers or specialized professionals for site-specific advice on current coatings and coatings you may be considering. Don't be afraid of comparing pros and cons with them.

Key Selection Factors: This section will cover Step 3 in the previous excerpt that covered the "5 Steps to Choosing the Right System":

1. Environment and Exposure - You will need to evaluate if the area is interior or exterior. Once that is established, consider if the area will be subjected to high humidity, UV exposure, or even chemical cleaners or unplanned exposures.
2. Physical Stress - This is the determination of the level of abrasion, impact, or thermal shock (caused by sudden or rapid temperature fluctuations). Will you be coating a high-traffic or machinery traffic area? Will the coated area be in a climate-controlled structure or open to the elements? If Open to the elements - what is the seasonal climate in the area being applied? Is it a walk-in freezer or cooler wall? Is it Warehouse flooring with forklifts being used?
3. Substrate Material - Identify if the surface is concrete, structural steel, steel decking, or aluminum, as this will dictate your primer adhesion.
4. Operational Requirements - You will need to factor in cleaning frequency, skid resistance (a safety issue), and whether it will be aesthetically pleasing to the customer and their consumers.

6 Types of Coating Systems:

• Polyurethane Coating - This type of commercial coating is often used as a topcoat over epoxies for superior UV resistance and gloss retention in interior settings. Polyurethane-based coatings are highly durable and have a versatile protective finish that can be used on wood flooring or furniture, concrete, or fabric. It is scratch, chemical, and water resistant as well, which makes it a great selection as an industrial space option, but also if you need a HACCP-compliant flooring system, but do not have the budget for an entire flooring renovation.
• Epoxy Coatings - This commercial coating is ideal for high-traffic, durable interior concrete flooring. It offers excellent chemical and abrasion resistance. Heavy - Duty Epoxy Coatings are designed for industrial-grade protection on concrete floors and are resistant to heavy traffic, chemical spills, and abrasions. Another common Epoxy is the Fast Curing Epoxy, which can drastically reduce your project time and has the benefit of low odor and VOC's as they are solvent-free.
• Ploysiloxane Coating - This commercial coating is a high-performance, silicone-organic hybrid system that offers superior UV resistance, extreme durability, and excellent color/gloss retention in comparison to traditional polyurethane topcoats. These coating systems are ideal for harsh environments such as bridges, marine vessels, and tanks. It offers the ease of acting as both the primer and the finished coats.
• Zinc Rich Primer and Coating - This commercial coating provides galvanic protection to steel and is crucial for industrial or potentially corrosive environments. They are high-performance rated primers and coatings, and have the perk of typically being a single-coat application. This will protect in harsh or corrosive environments by corroding first to ultimately protect the substrate. Best use - repairing damaged hot-dip galvanized surfaces.
• Acrylic Coating -This type of commercial coating is suitable for less harsh environments that still require good and affordable protection. It is often used on concrete or exterior walls. Acrylic coatings are versatile as they are water-based. They provide UV protection solutions for commercial, industrial, and roofing applications, and can also be applied as a flooring coating finish. Acrylic Coatings have the perk of being able to be applied as a DTM Enamel (Direct to Metal), which has a high performance rating in industrial settings and offers flash-rust resistance and high reflectivity. This is a low-VOC and low-maintenance coating.
• Elastomeric Coating - The type of commercial coating is excellent for waterproofing! Elastomeric coatings can bridge small cracks or gaps in masonry work or concrete. It is a high-performance, elastic, and durable coating system commonly made from acrylic, silicone, or urethane. It is specifically designed to protect surfaces like roofs, concrete and stucco. Elastomeric Coatings have the ability to expand and contract with structural movement while providing a waterproof, UV-resistant, and high-energy-efficient membrane. This is a long-lasting coating with a high reflectivity rating, resulting in reduced energy costs by physically reflecting heat away from your structure. 

CHECK OUT OUR FULL LINE OF COATING PUMPS AND SPRAYERS

We hope this blog has answered some of your basic questions regarding the discovery of the best industrial coating systems for you. From Commercial Kitchens to Massive Warehouses and all the in betweens, Trial Sprayer is here to guide you along your path to choosing the best Commercial Coating System for your professional environment. Give us a call today to speak with one of our industry experts to answer any questions you may have! (330)720-2966