Built for the way you actually use the space.
PU (polyurethane) systems are the go-to where temperature shock, aggressive chemicals or constant wet conditions would defeat a standard epoxy. Used in food production, breweries, kitchens and chemical processing.
Chemical-resistant polyurethane flooring designed for demanding environments.
Polyurethane is what you specify when a standard epoxy won't survive the environment. Steam cleaning, aggressive food and dairy chemistry, constant wet processing, freezing cold stores, hot production kitchens. In conditions that would crack, blister or delaminate an epoxy, a heavy-duty PU screed simply keeps working.
We install PU flooring across the West Midlands in food and beverage production, commercial kitchens, breweries, dairies, chemical processing, cold stores and wet-process manufacturing. Because PU is not a one-recipe product, every specification is written around the operating conditions: temperature, chemistry, cleaning regime and loading.
Key benefits
- Resists thermal shock from steam cleaning and hot spills
- Excellent chemical resistance across food and process chemistry
- Suitable for wet, oily and cold environments
- HACCP-friendly hygienic finish with integral coving
- Available in 4 mm, 6 mm and 9 mm build-ups
- Fast turnaround — trafficable in 24 hours in most cases
Our installation process
Every pu flooring systems project follows the same disciplined sequence. Skipping steps is where floors fail — we don't skip.
- Step 01
Survey and specification
We survey the space, identify chemical exposure, temperature range, wash-down regime and loading. From that we specify a system thickness (4 / 6 / 9 mm), slip rating and top coat chemistry.
- Step 02
Preparation
Captive shot-blasting to CSP 4–5 for heavy PU screeds — a much more aggressive profile than epoxy needs, because a PU screed is thicker and needs a strong mechanical key.
- Step 03
Cove upstands
Where hygiene requires it, we form integral resin coving up the wall to eliminate the floor-to-wall dirt trap. Coves are formed before the main pour and blended in monolithically.
- Step 04
Primer or scratch coat
PU screeds are typically self-priming but heavily contaminated or damp substrates get a purpose-designed epoxy scratch coat or moisture-tolerant primer first.
- Step 05
PU screed pour
The PU screed is trowel-applied to the specified thickness — 4 mm for standard duty, 6 mm for wet process and 9 mm for heavy thermal shock. Aggregate is integral to the screed so slip resistance is built through the full depth, not just at the surface.
- Step 06
Seal coat
A pigmented PU seal coat is applied to close the surface, deliver the colour and finalise the slip rating. HACCP-critical areas get a chemically bonded seal coat.
- Step 07
Sign-off
Snag, aftercare, guarantee. Back in production in 24–48 hours in most cases.
Where it works, where it doesn't
We're honest about specification. A system installed in the wrong environment will fail no matter how well it's laid.
Suitable for
- Food and beverage production
- Commercial and industrial kitchens
- Breweries, distilleries and wineries
- Dairies and cold stores
- Chemical processing and pharma
- Wet-process manufacturing
Not suitable for
- Aesthetic-first designed interiors (PU is a functional finish)
- Areas requiring high-gloss decorative sheen
- Sound substrates where a standard epoxy build would meet the spec more cost-effectively
Advantages and trade-offs
Advantages
- Handles conditions that would destroy an epoxy floor
- Full chemical, thermal and mechanical resistance
- Integral coving for full hygiene compliance
- Very fast return to service
- Extremely long service life — 15–25 years in food production
Trade-offs
- •Higher up-front cost than epoxy
- •Functional finish — not the finish for a designed retail interior
- •Requires specialist installation (heavy trowel-applied screed)
Durability and lifespan
PU screeds are among the longest-lasting industrial floors available. In a normally operated food or beverage plant we regularly see 20–25 years of service before anything beyond a top-coat refresh is needed. That's despite daily steam cleaning, chemical wash-downs and constant wet loading — conditions that would break most other floor finishes down in 5 years.
The screed itself is monolithic — the aggregate, pigment and binder are integral through the full thickness, so surface wear simply exposes more of the same material underneath. There is no thin decorative layer to wear through.
Curing times
Cure schedule at 20°C. Colder conditions extend times; heated cures accelerate them.
| Stage | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Foot traffic | 6–12 hours | PU screeds cure fast — foot traffic is usually possible the same working day. |
| Light equipment | 24 hours | Racking, trolleys and light equipment back in. |
| Full production | 48–72 hours | Wash-down, chemical exposure and full production loading. |
| Full chemical cure | 7 days | Peak chemical resistance and full cross-linking. |
Maintenance and aftercare
PU floors are designed for constant heavy cleaning — that's the whole point. Daily wash-down with rotary machines, alkaline degreasers and hot water is fine. The one thing to watch is very concentrated acid or bleach dwelling on the surface for long periods; even PU has limits.
Because the screed is monolithic, maintenance is minimal beyond routine cleaning. A visual inspection annually and a professional deep-clean every 12 months is usually all the plant will need for 15+ years.
Aftercare checklist
- Daily wash-down as per your HACCP schedule
- Alkaline degreasers are fine — pH 9–11 range
- Rinse aggressive acids and bleach after use
- Annual visual inspection of coves and drain edges
- Professional deep-clean every 12 months
Colour, finish and customisation
PU is a functional-first system but colour is still specifiable within a practical range. Zoning by process area is standard practice — red for raw meat, blue for dairy, green for vegetable prep, and so on. Coving is always colour-matched to the main floor.
Slip rating is genuinely tunable — R11, R12 or R13 profiles are all standard, chosen against the wet / greasy conditions in the specific zone.
Available finishes
- ◆4 mm standard-duty PU screed
- ◆6 mm wet-process PU screed
- ◆9 mm heavy thermal-shock PU screed
- ◆Integral coved upstands
- ◆R11, R12 and R13 slip ratings
- ◆HACCP-compliant colour-zoned layouts
Share your process, chemistry and cleaning regime — we'll write a spec that survives the environment.
PU Flooring Systems — frequently asked
Why PU instead of epoxy?+
PU handles thermal shock (steam cleaning, boiling spills, cold rooms), aggressive food chemistry and constant wet conditions. Epoxy will crack or delaminate in those conditions. PU won't.
How thick is a PU floor?+
It depends on the duty: 4 mm for standard food prep, 6 mm for wet process, 9 mm for heavy thermal shock like meat plants and bottling lines.
Is it HACCP compliant?+
Yes. With integral coving up the wall and a chemically bonded seal coat, PU screeds meet UK and EU food-hygiene requirements.
How fast can we be back in production?+
PU cures quickly. Foot traffic in 12 hours, light equipment in 24, full wash-down and production loading in 48 to 72 hours.
Will it survive high-pressure steam cleaning?+
Yes. PU is specifically engineered for daily steam and hot-water wash-down. That is its primary use case.
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ReadAvailable across the West Midlands
We install pu flooring systems across:
Call 07756 971 165 for a free quotation, or email admin@epoxyguys.co.uk.
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