Floors in commercial kitchens undergo some of the harshest treatment. When installed in commercial kitchens, flooring is exposed to thermal shock from high temperatures and damage from corrosive chemicals.
Frequent washing, constant exposure to hot oil, grease and moisture make kitchen floors extremely vulnerable to degradation and cracks.
How do you select the best flooring system for your commercial kitchen? It’s important to first understand this unique environment’s considerations.
Environmental Considerations
Understanding the needs and environment of commercial kitchens is important to selecting the best flooring system that will withstand day-to-day operations. Keep the following in mind when considering a concrete epoxy flooring system for a commercial kitchen.
Sanitation
An appropriate flooring system for a commercial kitchen must ensure maximum sanitation. More than being food-grade flooring, the best flooring system should be seamless to avoid mold, germs and bacteria from growing in cracks and seams.
Moisture Resistance
Commercial kitchens operate long hours and are often spray washed or power-washed on a daily basis. An anti-microbial moisture-resistant floor coating is necessary to prevent mold, and dangerous microbes from building up.
Slip & Skid-Resistance
Grease, oil and water pose a constant slip hazard in commercial kitchens. A flooring system that offers customizable slip-resistance is important for the safety of your employees.
High Temperatures
Ovens, fryers, broilers and the like require floors to withstand high temperatures. Floors not designed to withstand high temperatures often disintegrate easily and require frequent replacement.
Thermal Shock
Kitchens with coolers, sub-freezers and meat lockers require floors that can withstand thermal shock from regular steam cleaning. Otherwise, these extreme conditions can easily destroy typical floors.
Our Best Options for Commercial Kitchen Flooring
A commercial kitchen environment is one of the harshest any floor can meet. The best flooring system must be seamless, sanitary and antimicrobial, USDA approved, moisture resistant, skid-resistant, and be able to withstand chemicals, high temperatures and thermal shock.
Dramatic commercial kitchen floor renovation by Industrial Applications, Inc., of TN.
Though the term “epoxy flooring” is often used to generically describe all types of seamless, resinous, flooring systems, in fact, fluid-applied flooring systems comprised of epoxy resins are not appropriate for commercial kitchens. They cannot withstand the extreme environment over time.
Urethane Mortar Flooring
In contrast, urethane mortar (cementitious urethane) flooring is the ideal flooring for commercial kitchens, as it can stand up to the harsh environment of a commercial kitchen.
FloroCrete SLX Urethane Mortar Flooring FloroCrete RT Urethane Mortar Flooring Florock Hybrid Floors – FloroCrete with decorative topping
Not sure which one is best for you? Talk to us and we can help you find the best floor for your kitchen!