Airplane Hangar Floor Coating

When choosing the right airplane hangar floor coating, there are several factors to consider. The type of hangar that you have will greatly influence your options for the best flooring solution. 

Questions to Consider before Deciding on Airplane Hangar Floor Coating

• What is my hangar space going to be used for?
• Are you just storing the plane? 
• Will you be doing any maintenance on the plane? 
• Will you be washing the plane or other vehicles in the hangar?

With these questions answered, we’ll be able to decide the best approach for your airplane hangar floor needs, including what type, functionality, and colors of floor coating to choose.

Are Epoxy Floor Coatings a Good Choice for the Airplane Industry?

The term epoxy is used regularly to identify floor coatings.  Epoxies have many great uses, but urethanes provide great wear characteristics, are UV-resistant, and offer excellent chemical resistance to skydrol and various other chemicals used in the airline industry. Liquid Floors always install a urethane on top of our epoxy.

Types of Coating for Hangars

High Shine Coating

If the hangar is used specifically to store the plane, most customers install a high shine coating.  They want a coating that shines and looks pristine.  High shine coatings are beautiful and will look amazing as long as they are kept clean and no heavy maintenance is performed on them.

Matte Finish Coating

If the aircraft is going to be maintained in the hangar we highly recommend a matte finish coating.  The matte finish is due to an additive in the coatings that provide additional wear characteristics that will extend the life of the coatings.   

How do I make my epoxy floors less slippery?

No matter what you plan to use your hangar for, we ALWAYS recommend putting traction grit in your epoxy floors. The grit protects against slippery floors. The grit is broadcast before the final coat and back rolled to lock it in. 

This will protect passengers, pilots, etc.… with leather-soled shoes from slipping.  It will also protect maintenance workers from slipping in any oils, cleaners, etc.. that may be spilled.  Epoxy floors are typically not slippery if kept clean and dry.  

You may say we keep our hangar clean and dry,  but if your plane lands in the rain and is pulled into the hangar, your floor will get wet. This will create a hazard and any passengers getting off the plane have the potential to slip and fall. Unexpected circumstances can create a major safety issue which is why we always recommend traction grit to protect you, your employees, and your passengers.

What Colors are available for epoxy flooring systems?

Now what about color?  Most people want a very light, bright floor.  The main reason for the bright light floor is Foreign Object Debris (FOD).  

So why are hangar floors white?

White floors allow for high visibility of items you may have placed on the ground. It also makes any spills easier to see. The majority of our customers ask for a white floor.  I HIGHLY recommend NOT going with a white floor.  

White floors are more expensive to install because white is very translucent, and it is difficult to install it without seeing the concrete through the coatings.  To install it correctly, it takes additional coats and pigments. 

 This increases labor, material and extends the timeline of installation.  White is also difficult to touch up; I would say nearly impossible to touch up without being very noticeable.  Believe it or not, white has many shades!  If you want a light-colored floor, go for a light gray. The light gray will make it possible to see any safety hazards while reducing downtime for preventative maintenance.  

You can also choose other colors and even match your brand color palette. At liquid floors, we had the unique experience of installing a black hangar flooring system; it was beautiful!

Hangar Floor Coating Costs:

The final consideration that will help determine the best option for your airplane hangar floor coating are costs. While this is typically what drives most floor coating decisions, our primary considerations steer away from price as a focus. 

If you have a multi-million dollar plane and multi-million dollar hangar to store it in, you want the best and most durable flooring, not the cheapest. Functionality, safety, and usage needs are top of concern when choosing the best floor coating option. 

Hangar floor coating costs can vary greatly depending on size and how you use the space, so instead of focusing on cost, it’s best to narrow down the best product for your specific needs as a starting point. 

In Conclusion

These are just a few considerations on epoxy coatings in hangars.  Every hangar and individual customer is unique.  Each has their own needs, wants, and ideas for their hangar.  We are happy to discuss in detail your project and provide guidance on the best solution for your hangar.  Give us a call at 704-543-7565 or email us at info@liquidfloors.com