Did you know that your floors can affect your health? Probably not.

Buying eco-friendly “green” carpet not only benefits your health, but also the environment. We all rely on a healthy ecosystem, so why not start protecting it with your new flooring purchase?

If you have been looking to replace your old flooring, buying new carpet made out of safe materials is your best bet.

The production of eco-friendly carpeting is growing at a fast pace, giving you many different options to choose from. Along with the health benefits, these materials are durable, stylish and tend to cost less than your conventional flooring products.

Why Go with Green Carpet?

Many homeowners don’t know about the negatives that come with a quick and cheap carpet replacement. Some carpeting may be treated with toxic chemicals and take a while to dissipate. Nobody wants those chemicals floating around in their breathing space.

By installing a quality green carpet product in your home, all kinds of benefits can be gained including:

Non-toxic Finishes – Many green carpet finishes can be applied to eco-friendly materials. They are typically made out of insoluble water and odor-resistant chemicals, making them safe for your family and for the environment. Natural and Recyclable Fiber – Green carpet fibers are recyclable and safe for the ecosystem. An estimate of 1.8 millions tons of carpet and rugs are dumped into landfills. Eco-friendly materials can reduce waste build-up and be repurposed. Healthy Carpet Padding – The padding provided with these carpet products comes from recycled material as well, making it more desirable among many people. Asthma and Allergy Improvement – Many people believe that carpet is bad for those with breathing issues. This is in fact a misperception as studies have shown the opposite. Combined with a proper cleaning, carpet can actually help reduce symptoms (see DAAB Study and the Airmid Healthcare of Ireland Study for more information). Things to keep in mind

Finding the green carpet style that fits you best is just the first step. You’ll have to get it professionally installed for it to last.

Carpet can either be glued down or installed by tack strips. Tacking the carpeting removes any kind of chemicals that may come with the glue. Low-VOC glues are available as well if tacking is not suitable for your job. Just make sure to ask the installer you are working with if these glues are available.

If you have old carpeting that you need to get rid of, there are companies that can be found to recycle it for you. Be sure to explore this option to keep your old carpet out of the local landfills.

Don’t forget to have your carpet cleaned every twelve to eighteen months. Most manufacturers recommend a good cleaning from time to time to help it last longer and stay healthier.

Enhance your Way of Living with The Carpet Guys

For anyone considering green carpet products, book a free in-home estimate with us today. We guarantee you will love your new eco-friendly flooring for years to come.

Henry David Thoreau, an American author and philosopher once said, “What is the use of a house if you don’t have a decent planet to put it on?”

Let’s start making our homes and the environment better starting from the floors up.

Proper concrete substrate preparation is the foundation for all resinous flooring installation. An understanding of the basics can help facility managers make sound flooring decisions and assist building specifiers with effective design. For flooring professionals, concrete preparation is the foundation of company business.

Goals of Concrete Floor Coating Preparation

The purpose of concrete slab preparation is to ensure that the substrate is in optimal condition to receive application of the high performance flooring system primer and subsequent coats. To break it down, the goals of concrete preparation are to:

To “open the pores” of the slab surface to enable bond Remove any existing coatings or sealers Correct any existing contamination and/or moisture vapor issues Smooth protrusions, ridges, trowel chatter Key drains, cut in around stationery equipment, etc. Fill any voids in substrate, i.e. cracks, potholes, spalls, pinholes 

After proper concrete preparation, the result is a structurally sound concrete slab with no cracks, pock marks or unevenness, and an “open” surface that is uncontaminated by any material that could interfere with the bonding of new resinous flooring.

Careful cutting-in by Epoxy, Inc. of FL

Attention to detail around drains by Epoxy, Inc. of FL

Results of Improper Surface Preparation

Preparation of the concrete surface is perhaps the most important step in resinous flooring installation. Not taking the time to thoroughly prepare the concrete surface can result in:

Poor bond, resulting in flooring system delamination An inability of the coating to cure properly Flooring surface defects, such as fish eyes or craters

With a little diligence and attention to detail, the expensive consequences of improper surface prep can be easily avoided.

What Are Some Methods of Concrete Preparation?

Shot blasting, diamond grinding and scarification are some of the methods that can be used to prepare both new and existing concrete slabs. In addition to creating the right “open” surface profile, removal of surface contaminants is critical, since any concrete hardeners, chemicals, grease, oil, moisture, standing water, excessive alkalinity or acidity will prevent resinous primers from penetrating the concrete. Failing to eliminate surface contamination can result in an incomplete bond and flooring system failures.

Thorough mechanical prep by CIC of GA

Vacuuming of dust prior to coating by CIC of GA

How Can I Tell If the Surface Has Been Properly Prepared?

A quick and easy method to tell if the surface has been properly prepared is known as “the water drop test.” Simply sprinkle water droplets onto the concrete slab and observe. If the droplets quickly “wet out” the surface, absorbing into the concrete like a sponge, then a primer will do the same. In other words, barring other issues, it is then safe to proceed with the prime coat.

If, however, sprinkled water droplets remain beaded on the surface and do not penetrate the concrete, then a primer will do the same. This is a strong indication that a primer will not anchor well to the slab in its current condition.  In other words, further preparation steps are needed before priming can proceed.

In the end, proper preparation of the concrete slab prior to resinous coating installation helps ensure that the flooring system will look, perform and endure for years to come.

Flooring for cold storage rooms such as large walk-in freezers and coolers, laboratories, dairies and certain factory storerooms face unique challenges. Traditional flooring options cannot handle changes in temperature and can begin to crack or become severely damaged, compromising the flooring integrity over time. These cracks could also invite harmful bacteria, further compromising the safety and sanitation of the flooring. While typical commercial flooring cannot withstand the daily conditions cold storage rooms face, specific concrete floor coatings can. Urethane concrete, methylmethacrylate (MMA) and polyaspartic resin technology provide unique flooring alternatives that are among the best solutions for cold storage rooms.

Want to learn more about concrete coatings for cold storage rooms and warehouses? Follow our guide on the types of facilities and areas that can best utilize these special concrete coatings, as well as the advantages of these systems.

Facilities and Buildings Suited for Concrete Coatings

Uniquely- performing concrete coatings ideal for cold and freezer storage warehouses are also commonly utilized in cold processing plants, walk-in coolers, special science laboratories, cleanrooms, and other locations under mandate to operate in temperatures below what most consider to be comfortable “room temperature”. While typical epoxy floors will not cure or perform properly in such spaces, special low temperature-curing, high performance floors are available for the following types of facilities:

Biotechnology and pharmaceutical plants Food packing plants Bottling facilities Cafeterias and restaurants Grocery stores Food and beverage processing facilities Chemical laboratories Dairies Agricultural facilities Hospitals and nursing homes Schools and universities Manufacturing plants Benefits of Concrete Coatings for Cold Storage and Production

Concrete floor coatings help facilities meet various federal and local regulations and make agency inspectors smile. These floor coatings are:

USDA compliant—Areas that are storing or processing food, including frozen foods, such as cafeterias, dairies and walk-in freezers must adhere to stringent sanitation requirements. Concrete floor coatings for cold storage roomsare USDA compliant, helping to ensure that facilities are operating safely and hygienically. Slip resistant—Cold storage rooms could quickly become hazardous if appropriate slip protection isn’t in place to protect from the slick nature of cold floors as well as when the floors are being cleaned. Concrete floor coatings can be customized to various levels of friction for needed slip resistance. Easy to sanitize and clean—If a cold floor is to be cleaned with hot water or steam, then urethane concrete is the only way to go—it is the only type of floor coating chemistry with appropriate thermal shock resistance to endure this type of cleaning and rapid temperature fluctuations.

Non-staining and non-absorbing—Other flooring types, like tile, could absorb stains or odors from the freezer room. Concrete floor coatings, however, are seamless and resistant to damage. Fast curing—It is indeed the rare freezer room, cold storage or cold processing location that can be emptied and quickly warmed up to the temperatures required for standard epoxy flooring installation and cure properly. In contrast, MMA, polyaspartic and urethane concrete coatings are quick curing, even in cooler to very cold temperatures. The fast turnaround times of these special resin technologies help ensure that the cold storage facility or processing plantdoes not lose business waiting for floor coatings to cure. Formaldehyde and phthalate–free—Spaces housing food, beverages, agricultural products, pharmaceuticals and similar items must have flooring that supports the safety and sanitation of goods and processes, without exposing them to the toxic outgassing that can occur for months after installation of many other flooring types. Florock concrete floor coatings do not contain formaldehyde or phthalates, eliminating the risk of those chemicals adulterating facility production or products, and making this flooring a safer option for cold room storage and other facilities.

Before Professional Installation of Florock Flooring by MidAtlantic Industrial Services of NJ.

In the past, renovating a building often meant automatically replacing aging or cracked concrete slabs. The concrete would be broken up and hauled off to the landfill without consideration of alternatives, contributing to a system that is, overall, less than environmentally friendly.

Today, this all-or-nothing method is no longer acceptable. Local landfill and concrete recycling regulations now make concrete slab replacement a last resort, only to be utilized after all other options have been considered. Thanks to improvements in resinous flooring and polymer resurfacers, a majority of older concrete slabs can now be rejuvenated to the benefit of visitors, employees and facility owners.

Read on to learn more about how epoxy and resinous floor coatings can revitalize old concrete floors.

Reduce

After Professional Installation of Florock Flooring by MidAtlantic Industrial Services of NJ.

Epoxy and resinous floor coatings reduce the amount of construction waste going to landfills. Unlike carpet, tile or sheet goods, resinous flooring has no cut-off waste during installation. It also lasts far longer and requires much less frequent replacement than other floor covering options, reducing the amount of waste created.

Reuse

Reusing a greater number of existing old concrete floor slabs, as opposed to having to mine new gravel and ingredients for fresh concrete pours, further encourages the renovation and reuse of entire structures. Even if at some point a different type of floor covering is selected in place of existing resinous flooring, the new floor can typically go right over the resinous without creating removal waste.

Recycle

Resinous floor coatings are also available with recycled components and other options. Recycled glass aggregate blends, like FloroQuartz EcoBlend and FloroShop EcoBlend, can be utilized to create beautiful floors. For added sustainability, many resinous flooring liquids are now packaged in recyclable containers.

Other Benefits of Epoxy and Resinous Finishes

Epoxy and resinous floor finishes are the most desirable way to resurface old concrete floors — not only from an environmental standpoint, but also for many other reasons, such as:

Fostering a sanitary environment—Epoxy and resinous floor coatings are seamless by design and without any grooves, cracks or grout lines in which harmful bacteria and pathogens typically propagate. The floor coatings also withstand spilled liquids. Epoxy and resinous floor systems can be cleaned easily, even with harsh chemical cleaners, and are available with antimicrobial options as well. High level of durability—Resinous floor coatings have exceptional resistance to abrasions, scratches, stains, impacts, punctures, chemicals, ongoing foot and cart traffic, and more. They do not need to be frequently replaced or resurfaced, unlike many other flooring types. Creating an attractive appearance—Thanks to the growing selection of high performance toppings, floors can look better than ever before—and are now available for nearly every industrial and commercial application. Epoxy and other resinous floor finishes are available in a variety of colors, patterns and blends. Logos and other markings can also be added for additional floor customization.

Many people wonder what the differences between luxury vinyl sheet, or LVS, and epoxy flooring and other resinous finishes are, as well as which offers greater benefits.These flooring types claim to offer seamless, long-wearing and sanitary surfaces for commercial applications. Which is better? Review our five reasons why epoxy floors and other resinous systems generally prove to be more advantageous than luxury vinyl flooring for a variety of industries and applications.

1. Bonding & Adhesion

LVS relies on water-based adhesives and heat-welded seams. If presented with the alkaline moisture vapor issues frequently occurring in concrete slabs, the adhesives underneath can degrade, compromising the bond of LVS and causing bubbling, seam separation and other floor surface issues. Heat-welded seams can crack, allowing harsh cleaning fluids and other substances to leak underneath, further breaking down the adhesive.

Epoxy and other resinous options require no adhesives or heat welds. These fluid-applied floors bond directly and completely to the prepared concrete slab, eliminating the risk of cracked or separated seams. Superior chemical and moisture resistant options provide additional protection against alkaline substrate moisture vapor transmission.

2. Hygiene and Sanitation

LVS has heat-welded seams that are weak points in the flooring structure. The seams can crack and curl when frequently exposed to harsh cleaning fluids and disinfectants, changes in temperature or high traffic. Any breach in the floor surface is a magnet for microbes and pathogens seeking a place to proliferate. Pockets of moisture can develop between the concrete slab and LV sheeting, creating a perfect environment for harmful germs to colonize. During renovation, it’s not uncommon to see excessive mold growth on the underside of existing LVS that’s been removed.

3. Installation Convenience and Savings

LVS must be installed within a relatively narrow temperature range. Installation outside of these temperatures can cause poor results and void the manufacturer’s warranty. For new construction, where environmental controls may not yet be in place, LVS’s restrictions can impose excessive schedule, juggling, delays and result in higher installation costs.

Resinous flooring offers formulations that can be installed in a variety of temperatures, even well below freezing. This allows maximum jobsite flexibility and savings.

4. Environment Friendliness

Old LVS floors must be removed before a new surface can be laid. The new LVS installation results in cut-off material and waste—all of which ends up in local landfills, time and time again.  In addition, LVS flooring contains polyvinyl chloride, phthalates and formaldehyde, which can outgas for months after installation, contributing to poor indoor air quality (IAQ).

5. Maintenance

LVS flooring systems can appear to be low maintenance in the beginning. But, because the surface does not have a high performance finish, the top layer can wear away in high traffic areas, taking easy clean-ability with it. Managers then find themselves returning to waxing and other labor-intensive methods in an attempt to preserve the looks and performance of the floor. The chemical resistance of LVS flooring, as well as abrasion, puncture, tear and gouge resistance, is typically very limited.

On the other end of the spectrum, the indefatigable wear, scratch and puncture resistance, as well as superior chemical, acid and stain resistance of epoxy floors and other high performance resinous systems beats LVS every time. Decorative, fluid-applied industrial grade floors require no waxing or augmentation to maintain their beauty, luster and longevity. That means no waxing, stripping, harsh cleansers or specialized maintenance equipment training for personnel—and significant savings all around. The impressive lifecycle value of resinous and epoxy flooring in comparison to LVS is clear.