from Tobias Klein · Updated on 17.11.2022
Whether for an industrial warehouse or a car workshop, the floor always plays an important role in large halls. It should be easy to clean, withstand heavy loads and have a long service life. Unlike the other alternatives, PVC tiles meet all these requirements.
Anyone who wants to repair an industrial floor first better think about what kind of repair is really worth it for him. It is not only about the price, in the game are much more important aspects. A concrete floor can be renovated in several ways, among the most common of which are laying PVC tiles and epoxy painting.
Production halls are used for forklift trucks, heavy machinery and goods are often stored on the floor. Therefore, when choosing PVC tiles, it is necessary to choose the variant for high loads, which can withstand more than ten years in heavily loaded factories without any problems. Most companies produce such a variant, terramondi also has tiles for enormous loads, namely the terramondi industrial flooring series. These tiles do not change their color, namely the polymer structure is resistant to most oils and acids. It is enough to clean the floor from time to time with water and a detergent.
Completely different properties, in terms of resistance, have epoxy floors, which are so popular in many establishments. Compared to other types of floors, these are inexpensive and can even be customized with a company logo. However, they are not particularly suitable for businesses where forklifts or even cars travel. With forklifts, the narrow tires are a nuisance, and with cars, their heavy weight and hot tires create abrasion on the floor, chemicals then cause color changes. If you do not choose a non-slip surface, this will also become a problem. This is not a problem with the PVC tiles, which are always made with a rough surface.
The larger the hall, the higher the cost of laying - not only from the point of view of the material, but also from the point of view of labor. The time required for laying affects how long it will be necessary to interrupt the operation of the particular hall. Epoxy floors usually require three coats to be applied (penetrating resin, leveling compound, and then epoxy). The first layer should dry for 24 hours, and a similar amount of time should be waited after the final layer. As soon as cracks appear in the coating anywhere in the hall, the entire floor must be renovated.
Laying PVC tiles, on the contrary, is much easier. The tiles should be stored for 24 hours in the room where the installation is carried out, so that the temperature can equalize and the tiles do not expand or contract. Uneven surfaces must be leveled with a leveling compound, holes and cracks should be filled, and in damp rooms a cement screed should also be applied. Leveling is dry in a few hours. Then the tiles are already used, which are only laid and not glued, the whole process is very fast. This procedure does not require drying time. And if by chance a tile breaks, it is necessary to replace only this one piece.
The freely laid PVC tiles are used more and more often in industrial halls. The advantages are clear, and there is practically only one drawback - the higher price. Each person must determine for themselves whether the investment is worth it for them.
Tobias Klein
Tobias Klein writes for terramondi technical articles about PVC tiles. You have questions? Feel free to contact us.