Built for ten years of traffic. Not for the handover photo.

The choice should be based on the way the car park is used.

Epoxy systems are widely used where hardness, abrasion resistance and a clean finish are priorities. Polyurethane systems can offer greater flexibility and can be better suited where movement, impact or more demanding service conditions are expected.

In many projects, the most effective specification is not about choosing one material for the entire car park, but selecting the appropriate build-up for each zone.

Not always.

Ramps, turning areas and driveways experience much higher tyre friction, braking forces and abrasion than parking bays.

These zones may require a heavier-duty build-up, greater texture or additional aggregate to withstand the higher mechanical stress.

A zoned specification can improve durability without unnecessarily over-specifying lower-stress areas.

Delamination is often linked to poor bonding with the concrete rather than to the visible topcoat itself.

Typical causes include inadequate surface preparation, weak concrete, dust or oil contamination, trapped moisture, unsuitable existing coatings or application over a substrate that has not been properly assessed.

A durable coating therefore begins with the condition of the floor beneath it.

The texture should match the area of use.

Ramps and vehicular zones generally need greater slip resistance, while parking bays and pedestrian areas can often use a smoother finish.

Too little texture can compromise safety; too much can make cleaning difficult and increase dirt retention.

The objective is to balance safety, durability and maintainability.

Downtime depends on the system, area condition and curing requirements.

In occupied buildings, the work can often be planned in phases so that sections of the car park remain operational while other zones are being prepared and coated.

Good phasing and traffic management are often as important as the coating itself when working in residential, commercial or institutional properties.

Sometimes.

If the existing coating is well bonded and the substrate is sound, rehabilitation may be possible with local repairs, mechanical preparation and a compatible new coating system.

Where there is widespread delamination, contamination or substrate weakness, more extensive removal may be necessary.

The existing floor should therefore be assessed before deciding whether to repair, overlay or replace.

Look beyond the final price.

Compare the proposed system thickness, surface preparation, treatment of cracks and joints, coating build-up, aggregate content, traffic-zone design, slip resistance, material consumption, application methodology and warranty conditions.

Two systems described simply as “PU flooring” or “epoxy flooring” may differ substantially in actual performance.

Cracks and joints should not simply be coated over without understanding their behaviour.

Static cracks, moving cracks and structural or construction joints may require different treatments. If movement is expected, the detailing needs to accommodate it rather than relying on the floor coating alone.

Ignoring these areas can lead to reflective cracking and premature failure of the finished surface.