Commercial applications
Commercial kitchen flooring
Kitchen floors face high temperatures, hot oil, grease, moisture and constant washing. We install seamless systems made for those conditions.
Overview
One of the most demanding places for a floor
Commercial kitchen floors are subjected to some of the most challenging conditions a floor can face. They see high temperatures and corrosive chemicals, and frequent washing combined with hot oil, grease and moisture leads to deterioration and cracking.
Seamless, moisture-resistant floor systems avoid the joints and grout lines where problems start. Urethane cement is designed for environments with hot oils, animal fats, alkalis and thermal shock, and epoxy quartz systems are another common choice for commercial kitchens.
Application at a glance
- Common floor needs
- High temperatures, hot oil, grease, moisture and constant washing
- Best for
- Seamless, moisture-resistant systems without joints and grout lines
- Relevant systems
- Urethane cement, epoxy quartz, epoxy flooring and concrete repair
Kitchen zones
Where kitchen floors work hardest
A commercial kitchen is several floor conditions in one room. The cooking line, dish area, walk-in coolers and prep areas each put different demands on the floor, so the system and the details are planned zone by zone.
| Zone | What the floor faces | What to plan for |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking line | Hot oils, grease and animal fats, heat from equipment and hot-water cleaning | A system designed for hot oils, fats and thermal shock, such as urethane cement |
| Dish and washdown areas | Standing water, constant moisture, detergents and regular hosing | How the floor meets drains and walls, so water runs off instead of sitting at edges and seams |
| Walk-in coolers and freezers | Low temperatures and repeated temperature changes at the doors | A system designed for thermal cycling, and a planned transition at the door threshold |
| Prep areas | Food spills, cleaning chemicals and frequent wet cleaning | A seamless, easy-to-clean surface: urethane cement or epoxy quartz, depending on conditions |
| Storage and receiving | Carts, dollies and deliveries moving in and out | A hard-wearing surface and smooth transitions for wheeled traffic |
Every kitchen layout is different. The zones are confirmed on site, together with the drains, equipment bases and the condition of the slab.
Project considerations
Questions to ask before choosing a kitchen floor
A kitchen cannot afford to shut down for floor repairs, so these points matter when choosing a contractor and a product.
- Is the system chemically and thermally resistant?
- Can it handle constant moisture?
- How does it handle expansion and contraction?
- How does the floor meet the drains?
- Does the installation time fit your schedule?
Systems
Systems for commercial kitchens
Urethane cement is designed for the hot oils, animal fats, alkalis and thermal shock of a commercial kitchen, and epoxy quartz is another common choice. Both are seamless, moisture-resistant systems without the joints and grout lines where kitchen floor problems start.
Choosing a system
Urethane cement or epoxy quartz for a kitchen?
Both are used in commercial kitchens, and the right one depends on the zone. Urethane cement is usually considered first where heat, hot oil and temperature changes are most severe; epoxy quartz suits areas where a durable, textured quartz finish fits.
Urethane cement
A three-component polyurethane-concrete mortar, typically installed 1/8 to 3/8 inch thick. It is designed for heavy-duty environments with chemical exposure, abrasion, thermal shock and thermal cycling.
- Cooking lines with hot oils and animal fats
- Dish and washdown areas
- Walk-in coolers, freezers and cold storage
- Bakeries and food production
See urethane cement.
Epoxy quartz
Multiple layers of 100% solids epoxy combined with colored quartz aggregate, for wear and abrasion resistance and a textured, decorative finish. It is stain- and chemical-resistant and helps hide imperfections in the slab.
- Prep and service areas
- Restrooms and locker rooms
- Break rooms and cafeterias
- Stairs
A kitchen can use more than one system, matched to each zone. Planning a dining room as well? See restaurant flooring for front-of-house options.
Water and washdown
Planning for drains, edges and washdown
In a kitchen, most floor trouble starts where water collects: at drains, along walls and around equipment. A seamless system helps, but the details at those edges matter just as much.
Drains and slope
Washdown water needs a clear path to the drains. Before installation, the existing slope and drain locations are checked, and the new floor is finished cleanly into each drain so water does not sit at the edge.
Low spots and uneven areas are dealt with during preparation, because standing water is where grease and dirt build up.
Walls, joints and equipment
Where the floor meets walls, equipment bases and door thresholds, the edge detail decides whether water and grease can get underneath. Cracks and open joints in the old slab are repaired during preparation so they do not become places for moisture to collect.
Ask how the floor will cope with expansion and contraction from heat and cold, and how each edge will be finished.
Existing floors
Replacing tile and preparing a kitchen slab
Old quarry tile in kitchens is often replaced with seamless epoxy and urethane systems, because grout lines are where moisture and grease collect. Whatever is there now, the concrete underneath decides the preparation.
Removing tile or an old coating
Existing tile, grout or a failing coating is removed so the new system goes down on sound concrete. Tell us what is on the floor now, and we will talk through what removal involves.
Old coatings are taken off by grinding, which also removes weak surface material.
Getting the concrete ready
- Grease and oil that have soaked into the concrete are removed, because contamination can stop a new system from bonding
- The surface is prepared mechanically; shot-blasting is usually used for heavier mortar systems such as urethane cement, and grinding for most others
- Chipped and damaged areas are rebuilt; see concrete repair
- Moisture in the slab is checked before the system is confirmed
See concrete grinding and our process.
Care
Cleaning and caring for a kitchen floor
Seamless kitchen floors are built for frequent cleaning. Daily care is simple, but the cleaners you use matter.
Daily cleaning
Sweep up debris, then clean with a diluted, neutral cleaner. A very dirty floor can be hosed down and squeegeed toward the drains.
Grease and spills
Clean up oil and grease promptly. Use harsh degreasers or stripping agents only if the coating manufacturer approves them.
Small damage
Small chips and worn spots can usually be repaired by recoating the area with a compatible material, before they spread.
FAQ
Commercial kitchen flooring questions
Why do tiled kitchen floors cause problems?
Grout lines and joints hold moisture and grease, and frequent washing with hot water and chemicals wears them down. That is where kitchen floor problems usually start, which is why seamless systems without grout lines are used instead.
What is thermal shock, and why does it matter in a kitchen?
Thermal shock is a sudden temperature change, such as hot oil or hot cleaning water reaching a cooler floor. Thermal cycling is repeated heating and cooling, such as at cooler and freezer doors. Urethane cement is designed for both, which is one reason it is used on cooking lines and in cold storage.
What floor works in walk-in coolers and freezers?
Cold rooms add low temperatures and repeated temperature changes at the door. Urethane cement is designed for thermal shock and thermal cycling and is used in cold storage, and the threshold where the cooler floor meets the kitchen floor is planned as part of the installation.
How is a kitchen floor installation scheduled?
A kitchen cannot afford long shutdowns, so the installation is planned around your operating schedule to interfere as little as possible. Cure and return-to-service times depend on the product, the system and site conditions, and we give you a schedule for your project with your estimate.
Areas served
Serving homes and businesses across Southern California
- San Diego County
- Orange County
- Riverside County
- Los Angeles County
Free estimate
Ready to transform your concrete floor?
Share a few details about your space and the finish you have in mind, and we will help you choose the right system for your home or business.
- (619) 870-8308Call for a free estimate
- info@concretepolishingsolutions.proEmail us about your project
- Southern CaliforniaSan Diego, Orange, Riverside & Los Angeles counties