Substrate & Preparation
Resin flooring systems are only as strong as the substrate beneath them.
Even the best epoxy or polyurethane system will fail if applied to a weak, damp, or poorly prepared surface.
Why Surface Preparation Is Critical
Most resin flooring failures are not product failures — they are preparation failures.
Skipping grinding, moisture checks, or repairs may reduce upfront cost, but it almost always leads to premature delamination, bubbling, or cracking.
Removes weak or contaminated surface layers
Creates a mechanical bond profile
Identifies cracks, laitance, and weak screeds
Reduces moisture-related failure risk
What Is a Substrate?
The substrate is the structural surface that supports the resin system.
In most cases this is a concrete slab or cement screed, but it may also include existing coatings or tiled surfaces.
Resin systems bond mechanically to the substrate. If the substrate is weak, cracked, contaminated, or affected by moisture, the resin system will fail regardless of its quality.
Common substrate issues are often present and can affect resin performance.
Cracked or poorly cured screeds
Rising damp or trapped moisture
Powdery or weak concrete
Oil, grease, or chemical contamination
Existing coatings with poor adhesion
Uneven or poorly finished surfaces
Common Substrate Issues
What Happens If Issues Are Identified?
Where substrate issues are identified, options are assessed based on long-term performance — not short-term appearance.
Mechanical removal of weak layers or coatings
Crack repair or structural remediation
Moisture mitigation or barrier systems
Alternative flooring recommendations
Deferring installation until conditions are suitable
Movement, Cracks & Joints
Resin flooring systems are rigid and will reflect movement from the substrate below.
Cracks, joints, and areas of structural or thermal movement must be correctly identified and treated during preparation.
If movement is not properly accommodated, it may result in:
cracking within the resin system,
joint telegraphing through the finished surface,
localised debonding in high-stress areas.
Correct treatment depends on the type of movement present, the function of the joint, and the system selected.
Not all floors are immediately suitable for resin systems.
Where serious substrate issues exist, proceeding without correction would compromise performance and lifespan.
Severe moisture issues without mitigation
Structurally unsound slabs or screeds
Unstable or poorly bonded existing coatings
Conditions outside system performance limits
In such cases, additional preparation, an alternative system, or deferred installation may be required until conditions improve.