Resin flooring
Resin flooring produces a hard-wearing 'plastic' surface. Its highly durable finish means that it is a popular design choice for heavy-use environments such as pharmaceutical, chemical, storage and logistics areas, commercial and public areas.
Typically, resin floors comprise a primer which penetrates and reacts with a substrate layer (usually concrete), creating a high-strength bond. A body coat of resin is then applied on top of the primer, and this creates the bulk of the floor thickness, the decorative finish and key performance characteristics such as impact resistance. Typically, 1-3 seal coats will then be used to encapsulate the body coat and provide additional performance characteristics, such as resistance to chemicals and wear.
The main types of resin used are:
- Epoxy.
- Methyl methacrylate (MMA).
- Polyurethane (PU).
Other ingredients can be added, such as; aggregates, decorative chips/flakes, pigments, cement powder, specific chemical resistance additives and so on. This may increase the thickness of the body coat.
As well as being tougher in compression than concrete, resin flooring can have some stress flexibility, which makes it durable under impact and thermal shock. In addition to its greater compressive strength, resin can dissipate loading and increase the base concrete’s weight-bearing limit.
Other advantages of resin flooring include:
- Ease of maintenance.
- An impervious barrier is created enabling the flooring to be easily cleaned and meaning they don’t harbour bacteria.
- Slip-resistant versions can be created by adding graded aggregates within the base layer, creating safer environments.
- Design flexibility is possible due to a huge range of available finishes.
- There do not need to be joints in the surface layer.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
A case study and a warning to would-be developers
Creating four dwellings for people to come home to... after half a century of doing this job, why, oh why, is it so difficult?
Reform of the fire engineering profession
Fire Engineers Advisory Panel: Authoritative Statement, reactions and next steps.
Restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster
A complex project of cultural significance from full decant to EMI, opportunities and a potential a way forward.
Apprenticeships and the responsibility we share
Perspectives from the CIOB President as National Apprentice Week comes to a close.
The first line of defence against rain, wind and snow.
Building Safety recap January, 2026
What we missed at the end of last year, and at the start of this...
National Apprenticeship Week 2026, 9-15 Feb
Shining a light on the positive impacts for businesses, their apprentices and the wider economy alike.
Applications and benefits of acoustic flooring
From commercial to retail.
From solid to sprung and ribbed to raised.
Strengthening industry collaboration in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Institute of Construction and The Chartered Institute of Building sign Memorandum of Understanding.
A detailed description from the experts at Cornish Lime.
IHBC planning for growth with corporate plan development
Grow with the Institute by volunteering and CP25 consultation.
Connecting ambition and action for designers and specifiers.
Electrical skills gap deepens as apprenticeship starts fall despite surging demand says ECA.
Built environment bodies deepen joint action on EDI
B.E.Inclusive initiative agree next phase of joint equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) action plan.
Recognising culture as key to sustainable economic growth
Creative UK Provocation paper: Culture as Growth Infrastructure.
Futurebuild and UK Construction Week London Unite
Creating the UK’s Built Environment Super Event and over 25 other key partnerships.
Welsh and Scottish 2026 elections
Manifestos for the built environment for upcoming same May day elections.
Advancing BIM education with a competency framework
“We don’t need people who can just draw in 3D. We need people who can think in data.”