Hygienic Resin Flooring for Master Gourmet Meats in Watford
In a meat-packing and food-production environment, the floor is a critical part of maintaining a clean, safe and hygienic workplace. It must withstand constant use, frequent cleaning and the demanding conditions found around food-processing equipment.
Master Gourmet Meats appointed Shier Coatings to refurbish approximately 130 square metres of flooring at its facility in Watford, Hertfordshire, near London.
The project required two flooring specifications: a heavy-duty polyurethane screed for the intensive washdown area and a 100% solids epoxy coating for the remaining production, office and toilet areas.
The Problem: Worn and Failing Existing Flooring
The existing floor coating had deteriorated significantly. Large sections had worn away or detached from the concrete, leaving exposed areas and an inconsistent surface that was becoming increasingly difficult to clean and maintain.
The washdown area faced an additional challenge. Regular equipment cleaning exposed the floor to water, cleaning products and rapid changes in temperature. A standard thin-film coating would not provide the level of protection required for these demanding conditions.
The client needed a long-lasting resin flooring solution that would improve hygiene, simplify cleaning and create a safer, more professional working environment.
Full Mechanical Floor Preparation
Successful resin flooring depends on proper preparation. The existing floors were fully mechanically diamond-ground to remove loose and failing coatings, expose the underlying concrete and create the correct surface profile for the new systems.
Industrial vacuum extraction was used throughout the grinding process to control and remove dust. Damaged sections and localised defects were repaired before being ground flush with the surrounding floor.
This ensured that the new flooring systems bonded directly to properly prepared concrete rather than relying on the remains of the failing existing coating.
Polyurethane Screed for the Washdown Area
The washdown area required a heavy-duty flooring system capable of withstanding intensive cleaning and thermal shock.
Thermal shock occurs when a floor is repeatedly exposed to hot washing water before cooling again. These rapid temperature changes cause the flooring and underlying concrete to expand and contract. If an unsuitable system is installed, this movement can contribute to cracking, softening or loss of adhesion.
Following mechanical preparation, the washdown area received a specialist epoxy primer. The wet primer was fully blinded with kiln-dried aggregate to create a strong mechanical key for the polyurethane screed.
A heavy-duty PU screed was then installed throughout the washdown and drainage area. The polyurethane system was selected for its ability to withstand repeated washing, thermal shock, heavy use and the demanding cleaning routines associated with meat-packing and food-production environments.
The completed PU screed created a robust, textured and seamless surface that can be thoroughly washed while providing long-term protection for the concrete beneath it.
100% Solids Epoxy Flooring for the Remaining Areas
The main production areas, offices, toilets and connecting spaces required a durable and easily cleanable finish without the same level of thermal resistance needed in the washdown area.
Following mechanical preparation and repairs, these areas received a 100% solids epoxy flooring system finished in mid-grey.
The seamless epoxy coating covered the previously worn and patchy concrete, creating a brighter, cleaner and more professional appearance. Its hard-wearing and easily maintained finish is well suited to the daily requirements of a busy commercial food facility.
The Finished Result
By installing two different resin flooring systems, Shier Coatings provided each area with the protection it required.
The polyurethane screed delivers heavy-duty performance within the intensive washdown area, including improved resistance to repeated cleaning and thermal shock. The 100% solids epoxy coating provides a durable, seamless and cleanable finish throughout the remaining production, office and toilet areas.
The completed installation transformed a badly worn and difficult-to-maintain floor into a cleaner, safer and more professional working environment.
This project demonstrates the importance of selecting flooring systems around the actual demands of each area rather than applying one standard coating throughout an entire facility.
Commercial Resin Flooring in Watford and London
Shier Coatings installs epoxy resin flooring, polyurethane screeds and hygienic commercial flooring systems throughout Watford, Hertfordshire, London and across the UK.
If your food-production, meat-processing, commercial kitchen or packing facility requires durable flooring capable of handling intensive cleaning and demanding working conditions, contact Shier Coatings to discuss the right system for your premises.
