Old and slippery winery floor

The floor in question had been used for many years and subjected to the normal wine-making practices.

Some of the more extreme practices involved the spillage of high acid-content liquids, the dragging of hoses with metal fittings and the physical dropping of metal fittings.To add to this litany of problems, the floor in its original state did not have correct or sufficient drainage falls.

The long-term result was that of a floor that had become badly corroded with deep ruts with virtually the whole area showing exposed aggregate.

The floor had reached such a critical point in terms of safety that something had to be done.

Because it supported large wine tanks, the costs involved in removing these tanks would prove to be high and associated with this was the actual physical difficulty in removing the tanks and other equipment.

This was required so that the concrete could be cut out and removed to allow a new slab to be poured.

Originally this particular winery floor had insufficient drainage falls, and along with the now eroded surface, the floor pooled liquids and always remained damp and therefore hard to clean.

Because the winery not only had the staff working on the floor over a number of years but had the added burden of winery tours, there were a large number of underfoot safety issues as well as the ever-present potential for an accident to occur.

The uneven nature of badly eroded floors makes it a definite trip hazard, especially given the wide variety of footwear that the many visitors to the winery were known to wear.

The task was to deliver a new improved floor without having to disrupt the winery and its operations for an over-extended period.

What was required was a floor that reconstituted the eroded concrete surface as well as allowing for new and better drainage.

Other prerequisite features included a floor that provided for underfoot safety and that was easily cleaned and maintained and one that was designed to last in excess of ten years.

Preparation is a key factor in the installation of any type of flooring and especially important when it will be subjected to harsh treatment during its working life.

Drainage is also important in an environment where liquids are prevalent since liquids left lying about can create health issues as well as being hazardous under foot.

The Roxset Epoxy Flooring System was employed to correct the drainage falls using epoxy screeds, which are a blend of epoxy resin and aggregates that are trowelled out to create the drainage falls.

Once the screeds are cured, stands and floor wall intersections are formed with a radius cove, which allows for ease of cleaning and are a standard inclusion to meet health regulations.

The next step is the application of the flooring system, which is applied by trowel.

It is important to note that the degree of non-slip can be varied to suit different working environments.

After the work was completed, the end result gave a floor which is hard wearing but easy to clean and maintain, and more importantly, that gives under foot safety all of the time.