If you’re planning a new lifting station, you’re probably focused on the vehicle lifts themselves.
But a lifting area is only as strong as the ground it’s on — and that means the flooring is a huge component in a safe and productive workstation.
Here’s what you need to know about your heavy duty flooring options — and how to pick the right material for your next big upgrade:
What Should You Be Looking For?
No matter what type of flooring you choose for your lifting areas, there are a few boxes that need to be ticked.
Your heavy-duty flooring should always be:
- A completely level surface — for the safest lifting
- Made of strong materials — usually with a compression strength of at least 3,000 psi
- Resistant to chemicals — to avoid damage from lubricants, petrol, or other spills
- Non-slip — to minimise accidents around your lifting equipment
- Easy to clean — both for convenience, and to reduce slips and trips
With that out of the way, we can look at your options for the best heavy-duty workshop flooring:
1. Resin
There’s a reason why we use resin flooring when we kit out our customers’ workshops:
It’s simply the best material across every box that needs ticking.
Heavy-duty resin flooring is one of the strongest materials around — with an easy-to-clean finish, and a non-slip topcoat that can easily be added in.
Even the lowest-quality epoxy resin flooring can have a compression strength of up to 10,000 psi, which means it’s more than strong enough for some of the heaviest commercial vehicles around.
It’s highly resistant to workshop chemicals (such as oils, lubricants, and aqueous acids and alkalis) — and it’s a completely smooth surface, so it’s easy to create a level floor for your lifts.
But the best part?
As well as all that hard-working functionality, it’s a material that can easily be customised with colours and patterns.
You can create flooring for your workshop that matches your brand colours — or simply choose a colour that creates a pleasant mood for your teams while they work.
Planning an MOT Bay?
See how our teams helped Basildon-based Fiveways Hire with a new Class 7 MOT bay — and installed a heavy-duty resin floor finish to support it.
2. Concrete
Before the invention of high-performing plastics, concrete was the go-to material for industrial workshops and heavy-duty flooring.
And with good reason:
Traditional concrete can have a compression strength of up to 5,000 psi, which means it’s strong enough for most commercial workshops and heavy-duty vehicles.
It’s resistant to chemicals, and can last for decades once it’s installed. In some cases of extreme temperatures, it can be even more durable than resin — and it can easily be brushed or textured during installation to create a non-slip surface.
But it’s not perfect:
It’s a naturally porous material that needs to be carefully sealed to prevent damage from leaks or spills — and it can often feel cold for your teams in your workshop.
On top of that, you won’t have many options for colours and patterns. You could be left with a grey and sterile feel to your building — which isn’t the best atmosphere for your staff.
3. PVC
PVC is a strong contender as an alternative to resin flooring.
It’s long-lasting and hard-wearing, with a compression strength of around 3,000 psi. Like the other options, it’s also resistant to chemicals — and it often comes with a textured effect that makes it non-slip, while still being easy to clean.
But one of the biggest benefits that sets PVC apart is the way it can be installed:
Heavy-duty PVC flooring often comes as interlocking tiles that are fitted piece by piece. You don’t need to wait for curing or drying — and you can have it installed in sections so you can keep other parts of your workshop active throughout the installation.
However, it’s not the strongest option for dealing with heavy-duty vehicles. And in some cases, it’s also not the hardest — which can mean it’s vulnerable to scratches from sharp equipment.
Looking for a Workshop Upgrade?
We’re known as one of the UK’s leading suppliers of workshop equipment and heavy-duty gear.
But we’re much more than that — we’re also experience installers of complete workshop kit-outs.
So if you’re looking for a new MOT bay, a vehicle inspection pit, or a dedicated lifting area, we’ve got the complete package you need for a total workshop overhaul (with a hard-wearing resin floor to finish!).
You can check out our Class 7 MOT Bay package in our online shop — or start a chat with an expert and tell us all about your upcoming project.
This article was originally published by Totalkare.
