Floor Coatings for Public Restrooms

Public restroom floors endure constant moisture, heavy foot traffic, and frequent cleaning with harsh chemicals making the flooring you choose to install quite important. The right flooring choice balances durability, hygiene, and maintenance requirements. Selecting a flooring system that stands up to these demanding conditions while remaining easy to clean is essential for any commercial facility. Let’s take a look at some common options and which is right for your commercial restroom floor. 

Common Flooring Options for Public Restrooms

Assuming you have used many public restrooms in your life, it is likely you haven’t noticed too many variations in the flooring. That’s because there are really only a few options that make sense to be placed in a restroom used by hundreds of people per day. 

Porcelain Tile

Porcelain tile has been a traditional choice for public restrooms for decades. The material itself is water-resistant and durable under normal conditions. However, grout joints between tiles create maintenance challenges and hygiene concerns.

Grout absorbs moisture, stains, and bacteria over time. Even sealed grout requires regular maintenance and eventual replacement. These seams become collection points for dirt and germs that are difficult to sanitize completely.

The cost to install porcelain tile can range quite a bit, but a mid-range tile with installation in a commercial setting will run between $17-$25/square foot, but can be as high as $50/square foot for a more premium tile and depending on your location. 

Installation is relatively quick, typically taking 1 to 2 days. However, the long-term maintenance costs and hygiene issues offset the installation speed. Many facilities are moving away from tile for these reasons. 

Vinyl Tile

Vinyl tile offers a more affordable alternative to ceramic, but with that savings there are some drawbacks.

Like porcelain tile, vinyl tile has seams between individual pieces. These seams collect dirt and moisture over time. Adhesive can fail in high-moisture environments, causing tiles to lift or shift.

Durability is limited compared to other options. Heavy traffic and frequent cleaning wear down the surface. Replacement is often needed every 5 to 10 years in busy public restrooms.

Vinyl is a good choice for less trafficked bathrooms where install speed and cost are priority over durability and longevity. 

Grind and Seal

Grind and seal provides a seamless flooring surface using your existing concrete floor. The process involves grinding the concrete smooth and applying a protective sealer. This creates an improved appearance over bare concrete.

The seamless surface is easier to clean than tile options. No grout joints means fewer places for bacteria and dirt to hide. The system works well for moderate traffic restrooms with good drainage.

If you are looking for a concrete look, something easy to clean, and durable, at an affordable price tag, then a grind and seal of your current concrete floor could be a good choice for you. 

Grind and seal services will run between $2-6/square foot. 

Epoxy Coating

Epoxy flooring creates a completely seamless, waterproof surface with the ability to cover up concrete if that isn’t the look you want. The coating bonds directly to concrete and eliminates all grout joints. This provides superior hygiene and ease of maintenance compared to other options.

Epoxy systems are highly customizable with various colors and finishes. They withstand constant moisture exposure and harsh cleaning chemicals. The durability far exceeds tile or vinyl in demanding restroom environments.

Professional installation takes 2 to 3 days depending on the system. Cove base installation adds approximately one day to the project timeline. The investment provides decades of service with minimal (if any) maintenance.

The cost for epoxy flooring in commercial bathrooms will typically range between $7-$15/square foot. Making it fairly affordable for the longevity it will provide. 

Importance of Cove Base Flooring

Cove base extends the epoxy coating 4 to 6 inches up the wall. This creates a waterproof seal between the floor and wall. The seamless transition eliminates the vulnerable joint where water typically penetrates.

This feature is particularly important in public restrooms with frequent water exposure. Mopping and cleaning water can't seep behind the flooring system. The cove base protects the drywall and wall structure from moisture damage.

Cleaning becomes easier with coved edges. Mops can run right up the wall without leaving gaps. There are no corners or edges where dirt and moisture accumulate.

Benefits of Epoxy Floors for Public Restrooms

If you couldn’t tell by what you have read thus far, epoxy is likely the best bet for your bathroom floors unless you are looking to keep the concrete look, then a grind and seal would be a sufficient option. Here are some of the reasons most businesses and organizations choose epoxy for their bathroom floors. 

Ease of Cleaning

The seamless surface of epoxy flooring makes cleaning simple and effective. There are no grout joints where dirt, bacteria, and moisture can accumulate. A single pass with a mop covers the entire floor without obstacles.

Commercial cleaning equipment works efficiently on smooth epoxy surfaces. The non-porous coating prevents liquids from penetrating into the substrate. Spills and accidents wipe away completely without leaving stains or odors.

Harsh cleaning chemicals and disinfectants don't damage properly installed epoxy. This allows facilities to maintain strict sanitation standards. The easy cleaning process reduces labor time and costs significantly.

Durability

Epoxy flooring handles the constant abuse public restrooms endure. Heavy foot traffic, dropped objects, and rolling carts cause minimal damage. The coating maintains its integrity for 20+ years if not more.

Chemical resistance is exceptional with quality epoxy systems. Cleaning products, urine, and other restroom chemicals don't degrade the surface. This durability means fewer repairs and replacements over the floor's lifetime.

The coating flexes slightly with building movement and temperature changes. This prevents cracking that occurs with rigid materials like tile. Proper installation is important to benefit from all that epoxy has to offer so be sure to vet your installer properly. 

Aesthetic

Many choose epoxy not just because it’s strong and easy to clean, but because it looks great! With many color and pattern options, you can create a custom bathroom floor that customers will not only feel clean visiting, but also not be disgusted to look at. Paint chip epoxy floors allow us to add various colors of paint chips to spread over the floors which most customers and employees will find attractive. 

Paint Chip Epoxy Flooring for Public Bathrooms

Paint chip epoxy is the most common and cost-effective epoxy system for public restrooms. Eighth-inch colored vinyl chips are broadcast into the base coat and sealed with a clear topcoat, creating a decorative surface with an ideal orange peel texture. This slightly rippled finish provides slip resistance while remaining smooth and easy to clean.

The price to durability ratio makes paint chip epoxy our recommended choice for commercial facilities. You can get paint chip epoxy installed for as low as $6/square foot. Schools, churches, restaurants, camps, and office buildings rely on this system for its combination of performance and value. Color options allow customization to match facility branding while maintaining the durability needed for high-traffic restroom environments.

Commercial Bathroom Epoxy Floors from Elite Floor Coatings

Transform your public restrooms with seamless, easy-to-clean epoxy flooring. Elite Floor Coatings has installed over 1,000 paint chip epoxy floors, and specializes in commercial restroom flooring solutions. Our paint chip epoxy systems provide the durability, hygiene, and easy maintenance your facility needs. We handle everything from surface preparation to cove base installation for a complete waterproof system.

We also offer grind and seal services among other concrete coating solutions. Contact our team today for a free quote, and begin the first step to upgrading your restrooms!