MAY 19th, 2025 - from BTB HQ:
Traffic coatings are specialized systems designed to protect concrete surfaces from damage caused by vehicular and pedestrian traffic. They provide waterproofing, enhanced durability, and slip resistance. These coatings are often used in areas like parking decks, bridges, and other high-traffic locations. Traffic coatings also create a barrier to prevent water and moisture from penetrating the concrete, which can cause cracking, erosion, and damage to the underlying steel reinforcement.
Now that we've got that covered, let's talk durability, benefits, and aesthetics.
The durability of a traffic coating is derived from a blend of the material thickness, the surface prep of the substrate, and the blend and mixture of the chemicals associated. They resist wear and tear from traffic, chemicals, and harsh weather conditions, helping to extend the lifespan of the structure, making traffic coatings essential for high-traffic and very industrious areas such as sidewalks and outside paths, indoor commercial work facing forklifts and hot tires, and are a great solution for lighter traffic commercial businesses that work with either harsh conditions like extreme refrigeration, or that work with rough materials or chemicals, or even food plants and consumable byproduct materials.
The benefits of a traffic coating is mainly in its ability to resist the elements and impacts upon itself. Traffic coatings often incorporate aggregates or other materials to provide a non-slip surface, enhancing safety for pedestrians and vehicles, too. By preventing damage, traffic coatings can minimize the need for repairs and replacement. Mainly, traffic coatings protect concrete slabs, flooring and substrates from damage and can significantly extend the useful life of the structure, while also protecting the installed coating from any elements that could penetrate upward through a substrate or slab; meaning, the waterproofing element of this resinous coating service is doubling as beneficial for your surface and for protection from what could come from beneath a new or existing slab.
Aesthetically, traffic coatings can improve the appearance of high-traffic areas, creating a more modern and professional look. Because traffic coatings come in various colors and finishes, allowing for a more aesthetically pleasing and well-maintained appearance, as well as having the ability to receive several different forms of aggregate for textured looks with slip and safety benefits, they become a very customizable finished floor which can match the look of your business or project in a very specific manner.
The three primary traffic coatings available and used frequently by our master certified installers here at Bay to Bay are: epoxies, polyurethanes, and polymathy methacrylate (MMA). Epoxies offer high durability and chemical resistance, suitable for heavy-duty applications. Polyurethanes are a popular choice for their flexibility, durability, and ability to bridge crack. MMA is known for its fast curing times and resistance to UV damage, making it supreme for outdoor applications.