When to use a seamless floor

Floors receive the most aggressive wear of any surface in a building. Selection of a flooring system is dependent upon, primarily, the conditions of use and, secondarily, aesthetics. Areas expected to experience harsh physical and/or chemical exposure will require a surface that will stand up to these conditions. The typical choice is a hard surface versus carpet, VCT or wood. Concrete alone is porous and will erode with mechanical abrasion. It is also porous and may not be the best surface for wet environments.

Tile is an excellent surface for these harsh environments, but in many cases the grout and underbed are generally weaker and provide a path for failure. Seamless systems can be designed with polymeric chemistry, such as epoxy or urethane, to meet the chemical environment and installation requirements. Addition of aggregates to these chemistries improves the physical performance of the systems.

Finally, after the conditions of use are satisfied, the aesthetic options can be considered. In some cases colored aggregates such as quartz, paint chips, or marble can be used to provide visual options or the color of the polymer can be varied. Combining color selections throughout the facility allows for patterns and designs.

Once the flooring system is selected, completing the installation correctly will depend upon the system chosen and the experience of the installation team. But that is another topic.