With loaded forklifts, heavy hand trucks or dollies and a consistent flow of traffic in and out of their doors, loading docks tend to see it all. Preparing your dock with a high quality and durable coating is essential to ensure the longevity and sustainability of your warehouse and manufacturing facility.
Concrete is the go-to solution when it comes to flooring in warehouses and plants. But the floor coating that’s put on top of the concrete is an important step that shouldn’t be overlooked. There are several options that will be best for the loading dock in your warehouse, but first let’s look at some of the elements you should consider prior to installation.
- Traffic Volume. A busy loading dock sees varying amounts of traffic throughout the day. With trucks delivering materials, forklifts transporting product to and from the trucks and delivery vehicles taking away the final product, the amount of foot and vehicle traffic the loading dock sees can sometimes be underestimated. Evaluating your flooring requirements based on the level of traffic it sees is paramount before installing your flooring solution.
- Durability and Strength. Flooring and floor coatings are an investment. You want to make sure the coating you select will survive all it endures. Similar to the level of traffic a loading dock will see, deciding on the level of strength a floor needs is also important. Many coatings come with impenetrable barriers as well as strong materials that don’t dent, buckle or crack.
- Low Maintenance. Finding a flooring solution that you can install and not have to worry about is just as important as its other qualities. The need to reseal, wax or constantly maintain a floor should be the least of your worries. Many coatings require very low maintenance and can be mopped with low-grade cleaning supplies, yet they maintain their luster and strength over years.
It’s important to make sure you evaluate the level of traffic and the necessary level of durability and strength your floor requires prior to installing the floor. Once you have those qualities decided, it’s time to choose the concrete coating you’ll use.
Epoxy Coatings and Urethane Coatings
Epoxy coatings are an excellent option for many loading dock areas. It can withstand almost any environment. The material is high quality, tough and is very low maintenance.
An epoxy coating is a strong material that can endure whatever comes its way – whether it’s forklifts, truck ramps, or any heavy load. If a slip resistant surface is needed for your flooring solution, minuscule pieces of quartz can be added to the materials prior to installation to create a slip-free floor.
Another quality option for your loading dock is to install a urethane coating over your epoxy base coat. This coating has the components listed above as well as additional wear characteristics that will increase the life of your coatings. This coating is also very easy to clean and maintain.
Installing an epoxy floor with a urethane coating on your loading dock floor will provide a durable surface that will last for years to come.
Finding a flooring solution that works for your loading dock will save you loads of time and worry in the future. Liquid Floors can help you choose the right coating system for your space. Call us today for a free consultation.
