BB_large_remarketing_300x250Concrete floors are cost effective, comparing favorably in price to wood flooring and ceramic or quarry tile. Even the most elaborate concrete flooring designs, with intricate designs and multiple colors, are less expensive than most terrazzo, marble, or slate – often by a wide margin.

Although there are many flooring options that are initially cheaper than concrete, when you amortize the cost of a concrete floor over its lifetime, the price can be comparable or even lower than other high-end flooring materials. A concrete floor will rarely, if ever, need replacement.

You can do things with concrete that you can’t do with any other flooring material. You can’t put a price tag on the self-expression possible with concrete floors.

When compared with high-end floor coverings, such as ceramic tile, slate and marble, decorative concrete is often an economical alternative. Plus, skilled concrete artisans can duplicate the look of these pricier materials.

Yet, the life expectancy of a concrete floor will far surpass that of most floor covering materials. That means in the long run you can save money because you’ll never need to rip out and replace worn or damaged flooring.

Yes, concrete can be cold, but no more so than ceramic tile or natural stone flooring. And yes, concrete floors can transmit moisture vapor if they aren’t insulated properly or if the slab is built on a poorly drained sub base.

But concrete doesn’t have to be cold. Its thermal properties give it the ability to store and radiate heat. For example, you can embed radiant heating cables in concrete floors, so they can stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

Concrete floors can be slippery, especially when wet, but no more so than vinyl, linoleum, marble or ceramic tile floors. However, slippery floors can gain traction by mixing a nonslip additive into the stain or sealer before application.

Concrete floors can be loud and produce an echo effect, but no more so than ceramic tile, natural stone flooring, and hardwood or bamboo floors. You can muffle the sounds by using sound-absorptive materials such as area rugs, curtains and wall fabrics.

No type of flooring material is truly “maintenance free,” no matter what the manufacturer may claim. While concrete floors are relatively easy to maintain, compared with other types of floor surfaces, they aren’t completely maintenance free.

In most cases, residential concrete floors experience light foot traffic, and a simple cleaning regimen of occasional sweeping and damp mopping will keep concrete floors looking like new for many years. And when protected with a good sealer and a coat of floor finish or wax, concrete floors are highly resistant to staining, chemicals, and abrasion.

Epoxy-PharmaceuticalIt’s not uncommon for first time clients to request a specific type of concrete flooring or topcoat. However, as our experts conduct the initial meeting, it becomes quite clear that the best solution isn’t necessarily the one that was originally requested.

At Black Bear, we don’t just install or repair commercial flooring. We value engineer customized solutions that are appropriate for each individual space. So what exactly does this entail?

Black Bear professionals have over 25 years of combined experience designing solutions for commercial and industrial clients. Sure, we can provide epoxy resins or concrete coatings, but we prefer to evaluate each individual space and uncover the best course of action for each client. Black Bear recommends ways in which you can make your commercial flooring last longer against everyday stressors and reduce the need for frequent repair or replacement.

Reverse Engineering to Find the Right Solution

Black Bear’s unique method of value engineering a solution is derived from a reverse engineered process. We begin with a series of probing questions around the specific environment and the type of external factors that could impact a floor’s integrity. By doing this, we can essentially work backwards to determine what products will be the most effective and whittle down options and offer clients with the top solutions for them to select from.

BB_large_remarketing_300x250For example, if you approached us looking to repair or replace an existing floor, we would set up an appointment with you to discuss or walk-through the specific space. We would then start a conversation around the following:

1) Type of Business: Describe the type of business and work that will take place in the space.
2) Employees/Safety: Who will be working in the room/office space/building? (i.e. production-line, chefs/food-prep, scientists, construction crew)
3) Maintenance: How do you currently maintain your flooring? What products do you use, and how often?
4) Restoration: How often do you find you must repair or replace your floors?
5) Compliance: What regulatory agencies will inspect the floor and what are the specific compliance requirements we should be aware of?

Often times, we can predict the answers to many of these questions based on previous projects. However, to our team each client is unique. Therefore, we make sure we get the answers we need straight from you.

By understanding the space and what it expected of performance, Black Bear helps clients to understand how possible alternative techniques could provide a more effective flooring solution. For instance, clients may not consider a vapor mitigation system, but in an older facility it could provide greater protection against moisture and avoid premature cracking and erosion of a concrete floor. That leveling a floor and installing a seamless system and proper drainage will help avoid bacterial contamination and make sanitization efforts easier. Or, that choosing a polished epoxy system in a space will not only provide the desired durability but also bolster the aesthetics of a space and can be coordinated with coated accents to enhance an environment’s design.

The Black Bear consultation is an imperative first step in determining the best course of action. Contact us to find out how Black Bear Coatings & Concrete can value engineer the right commercial flooring solution for your space.


Black Bear will work directly with you or your general contractor to develop a longer-lasting product that saves money and withstands the environmental elements in the Northeast. Whether it’s new construction to enhance the look and feel of your property, or a restoration project that ensures the safety of your patrons, trust the professionals at Black Bear Coatings & Concrete to make sure you get the exact concrete foundation and restoration services that you want and need.

With over 25 years of experience, our crews have the skills required to create a production floor that meets each client’s unique maintenance and aesthetic needs. Call Black Bear to learn how we provide longer-lasting, more effective solutions for manufacturing and production buildings.

Black Bear is a leading concrete and coatings flooring company that serves New England – Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Northern Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, as well as New York (north of New York City). Rest assured that we have the staff, equipment, and expertise needed to make your floor project a success. We spend time upfront to assess each client’s needs, identify the best flooring solution, engage in the right preparation, and then install the floor using industry best practices. We’d love to help your company.

Contact us today for a free estimate.

Warehouse - Aubuchon Hardware Distribution Center - Epoxy

Warehouse – Aubuchon Hardware Distribution Center – Epoxy

Downtime. This could spell out big problems for big businesses. At Black Bear, we know that unexpected slow-downs or ceased production results in loss of revenue; which is why we make every effort to avoid disruption to your business while getting the flooring job done on time and on budget.

As a leading partner in the Northeast, Black Bear Coatings & Concrete is known for installing high quality epoxy resin, concrete coatings, urethane products, and vapor mitigation solutions. However, more companies are trusting Black Bear because of our unique process. Part of this approach includes working with each individual client to accommodate their schedules to avoid interfering with their workday. And, this starts with Black Bear scoping out each phase of a flooring project with a detailed plan to ensure that tasks are completed quickly during the time you’ve allotted.

Scheduled Shutdowns & Manufacturing Runs

It’s not uncommon for industrial companies and large manufacturing facilities to have scheduled shut down periods for housekeeping. This is the time when renovation and repair is usually addressed. Black Bear will work within your planned downtime to avoid excess delay. Similarly, we can schedule production in between your manufacturing runs to minimize disruption to the business.

Off Hours

Black Bear teams are accustomed to working around the clock to get the job done. For instance, when supermarkets or retail superstores close to the public in the evenings, our night crews start setting up their work zone. We phase out the flooring project and the Black Bear teams work swiftly during off-business hours. By dawn, we clear out the equipment, clean up the construction site, and secure all aisles to their original locations. When employees return and/or you open back up to the public it’s business as usual. And speaking of…

Business as Usual

BB_large_remarketing_300x250Often times, Black Bear Coatings & Concrete partners with companies without scheduled shut down periods, or those that cannot accommodate evening work. In these instances, we make every effort to parse out a project and work around your business hours with minimal disruption to employees and guests on site. For example, our team was tasked with replacing a floor in a micro-brewery during restaurant hours. While the work was concentrated in the brewing room, we used HEPA filtered equipment and tarped off the construction area as to not contaminate the public with dust and debris. We cordoned off the area for safety, and minimized the noise from permeating into the dining area of the brewery.

While flooring installation and renovation construction may be impossible to hide, Black Bear tries to take a stealth approach to working in and around your commercial space. From cleaning up an active job site when crews leave, to removing equipment and machinery from plain sight, we make every effort to accommodate each clients’ individual needs.

To learn more about our phased construction, how we scope out our large-scale projects, or to hear how Black Bear clients such as the Aubuchon distribution warehouse, Shaw’s supermarket, EZ Pack, and Shire have all updated their commercial flooring in phases, contact us today.


Black Bear will work directly with you or your general contractor to develop a longer-lasting product that saves money and withstands the environmental elements in the Northeast. Whether it’s new construction to enhance the look and feel of your property, or a restoration project that ensures the safety of your patrons, trust the professionals at Black Bear Coatings & Concrete to make sure you get the exact concrete foundation and restoration services that you want and need.

With over 25 years of experience, our crews have the skills required to create a production floor that meets each client’s unique maintenance and aesthetic needs. Call Black Bear to learn how we provide longer-lasting, more effective solutions for manufacturing and production buildings.

Black Bear is a leading concrete and coatings flooring company that serves New England – Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Northern Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, as well as New York (north of New York City). Rest assured that we have the staff, equipment, and expertise needed to make your floor project a success. We spend time upfront to assess each client’s needs, identify the best flooring solution, engage in the right preparation, and then install the floor using industry best practices. We’d love to help your company.

Contact us today for a free estimate.

Following up on the first part of our two-part series, we are going to focus on Black Bear’s exterior work, featuring our concrete restoration services and new concrete foundations. From decorative accents to directional paths, accessibility ramps to stained walkways, the following samples give you an idea of solutions that Black Bear experts have provided to clients for their outdoor concrete needs.

Check out our gallery of outdoor commercial concrete projects in the northeast.


Exterior New & Restorative Projects

 

Canal Street
Concrete Restoration, Canal Street, Boston, MA

 

Concrete Restoration – Retail, Camosse Masonry, Worcester, MA

 

Harvard Law School

Concrete Restoration – Education, Harvard Law, Cambridge, MA

 

CVS

Concrete Restoration – Retail, CVS, Canton, MA

 

Extended Stay Hotel
Concrete Restoration – Hospitality, Extended Stay Hotel

 

Extended Stay Hotel
Concrete Restoration – Hospitality, Extended Stay Hotel, Norwalk, CT

 

Cummins Towers
Concrete Restoration – Commercial, Cummins Towers, Roslindale, MA

 

Gap
Concrete Restoration – Retail, Gap, Canton, MA

 

Homestead Suites
Concrete Restoration – Hospitality, Homestead Suites

 

Marriott
Concrete Restoration – Hospitality, Marriott, Manchester, NH

 

Rite Aid
Concrete Restoration – Retail, Rite Aid, Jaffrey, NH

 

Spring Valley Country Club
Concrete Restoration – Commercial, Spring Valley Country Club, Sharon, MA

 

Verizon
Concrete Restoration – Commercial, Verizon, Marlboro, MA

 

Marriott
Concrete Restoration – Commercial, US Coast Guard Building, Boston, MA

 


Black Bear will work directly with you or your general contractor to develop a longer-lasting product that saves money and withstands the environmental elements in the Northeast. Whether it’s new construction to enhance the look and feel of your property, or a restoration project that ensures the safety of your patrons, trust the professionals at Black Bear Coatings & Concrete to make sure you get the exact concrete foundation and restoration services that you want and need.

With over 25 years of experience, our crews have the skills required to create a production floor that meets each client’s unique maintenance and aesthetic needs. Call Black Bear to learn how we provide longer-lasting, more effective solutions for manufacturing and production buildings.

Black Bear is a leading concrete and coatings flooring company that serves New England – Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Northern Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, as well as New York (north of New York City). Rest assured that we have the staff, equipment, and expertise needed to make your floor project a success. We spend time upfront to assess each client’s needs, identify the best flooring solution, engage in the right preparation, and then install the floor using industry best practices. We’d love to help your company.

Contact us today for a free estimate.

Black Bear Coatings & Concrete has earned a reputation as a leading provider of customized solutions for commercial and industrial clients in the Northeast. We value-engineer flooring, and offer innovative and attractive exterior work that is cost-effective and stands the test of time.

Our experienced installers have over 25 years of combined experience providing clients with flawless commercial flooring installations and impeccable service. At Black Bear, we pride ourselves on being a pioneer in the industry. It’s commonplace for us to tailor solutions and try new techniques in an effort to meet each client’s unique set of requirements, be it for concrete or epoxy installation.


Interior Views

In this two-part series, we’re highlighting examples of our work to give you an idea of how new or renovated coatings can define commercial spaces. In addition to aesthetics, we ensure that all of our clients’ safety and regulatory needs are met or exceeded.

Black Bear works to ensure compliant, attractive flooring that enhances your environment.

From the tried and true to the unorthodox, Black Bear isn’t afraid to test the waters to provide clients with the right solution for their project. Whether it’s new construction or renovation/restoration construction, trust our professionals to make sure your concrete and epoxy installations are exactly what you want and need.

In Part 2 of our series, we’ll be highlighting exterior work on commercial properties that are both durable and decorative solutions for clients.

Hey Good Look'n
Salon – Hey Good Look’n – Metallic Epoxy

 

Forever 21
Retail – Forever 21 – Polished Concrete

 

Shaw's Supermarket
Supermarket – Shaw’s Supermarket – Polished Concrete

 

Skoah Spa
Spa – Skoah Spa – Epoxy

 

Retail - Harley Davidson - Polished Concrete
Retail – Harley Davidson – Polished Concrete

 

Aubuchon Hardware
Warehouse – Aubuchon Distribution Center – Epoxy

 

Lenny's Liquors
Retail – Lenny’s Liquors – Stained Concrete

 

Concord Cheese Shop
Market – Concord Cheese Shop – Epoxy

 

DJs Garage
Automotive – DJ’s Auto Garage – Epoxy

 

Riverfront Lofts
Apartment Building – Riverfront Lofts – Polished Concrete


With over 25 years of experience, our crews have the skills required to create a production floor that meets each client’s unique maintenance and aesthetic needs. Call Black Bear to learn how we provide longer-lasting, more effective solutions for manufacturing and production buildings.

Black Bear is a leading concrete and coatings flooring company that serves New England – Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Northern Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, as well as New York (north of New York City). Rest assured that we have the staff, equipment, and expertise needed to make your floor project a success. We spend time upfront to assess each client’s needs, identify the best flooring solution, engage in the right preparation, and then install the floor using industry best practices. We’d love to help your company.

Contact us today for a free estimate.

Pharmaceutical manufacturing environments are subject to regulations issued by OSHA, as well as the FDA, which affect flooring choices. For example, the FDA’s Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP) dictate that the porous concrete floors in pharmaceutical manufacturing plants must be coated with epoxies that form a barrier against contaminants, pollutants, and contaminants. Regulations also include “zero-dusting” requirements to keep products pure. This means that pharmaceutical flooring must be seamless and cover the room from wall to wall to inhibit dust from settling in floor cracks or crevices.

As you consider the type of floor to install in your pharmaceutical plant, here are several key factors to keep in mind:

BB_Pharma_300x250
  • Maintenance and cleaning requirements. Many pharmaceutical manufacturing environments are subjected to steam cleaning and other cleaning materials as often as daily. Floor coatings must be able to withstand these types of treatments.
  • Durability in the face of abrasion and impacts. It’s common for manufacturing facilities to see heavy traffic from machinery and industrial equipment. Be sure to select a floor that can withstand the unique conditions in your environment.
  • Slip resistance.To ensure employee safety, it’s essential that floors in pharmaceutical manufacturing sites are slip resistant. The degree of slip resistance required will depend on factors like the nature of the operations and whether or not slick substances are spilled on the floor.
  • Product purity concerns. It’s important to recognize that the fumes from some floor coatings can interact with pharmaceutical ingredients and change their taste or chemical structure. Firms must be certain to select the proper coating for their needs.
  • Thermal conditions. Some pharmaceutical manufacturing processes require extremes in temperature – both cold and hot. Firms must match these environmental conditions with the characteristics of the floor coating that will be used to make sure they are compatible.

Black Bear Coatings & Concrete is a leading concrete and coatings flooring company that serves New England – Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Northern Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, as well as New York (north of New York City). We have worked with numerous pharmaceutical companies to install flooring that matches their needs. We ensure that cement floors are prepared properly before applying coatings and we work with clients to find the best coating that will suit their environment and minimize business downtime. Contact us to learn more about our services and how we can help you.

We spend time upfront to assess each client’s needs, identify the best flooring solution, engage in the right preparation, and then install the floor using industry best practices. We’d love to help your company. Contact us today for a free estimate.

Download Our Brochure

Luvak Research LabPharmaceutical manufacturing plants and testing labs are held to uncompromising standards. When architecting a new facility, or re-envisioning a space to accommodate such production, there is no margin for error in regards to the industrial flooring chosen for an entire building. Pharmaceutical flooring systems play a significant role in the safety and integrity of the performance of a pharmaceutical manufacturing space. A number of considerations should be factored in when engineering an flooring solution for this industry.

Compliance

From the USDA to EPA, the FDA and cGMP, no matter the acronym these standards and regulatory agencies are commonplace in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Frequent inspections can, and do, reveal infractions that can lead to costly fines and even halt production. Companies have a legal responsibility to comply with these practices, and it’s important when selecting a floor, that you identify a system that will help to safeguard against violations and uphold the governing recommendations for your facility.

Biosafety

BB_Pharma_300x250 Pharmaceutical manufacturing floors need to be free from bacterial contamination and able to withstand the threat of biohazardous materials penetrating the surface. No VOC industrial flooring can help to reduce infectious pathogens from becoming an imminent danger to a work environment. A floor’s ability to resist chemical and organic substances will minimize the need for premature replacement and repair. A system should be resilient and not break down easily. Any cracking or chipping of a pharmaceutical floor can result in the potential for hosting biological contaminants. Look for a waterproof system that can endure chemical runoff and sustain its integrity when faced with liquids with deteriorating properties.

Durability

Overall, a manufacturing facility’s production floor is tested daily by constant foot tread, and motion from equipment and machinery. However, in the pharmaceutical industry, and particularly in labs, a floor’s durability is also tried under harsh chemical runoff and regular high-temperature sanitization. The chosen industrial flooring system should be thermal shock resistant to withstand temperature fluctuation, as well as strong enough to resist erosion from daily cleanings and any decontamination process. Static resistant flooring will also reduce workplace hazards and the likelihood of code violations.

As companies weigh flooring options for pharmaceutical facilities, other factors including installation time, slip-resistance, and seamless systems may be part of the consideration process. At Black Bear Coatings & Concrete, we take the time to understand your specific industry, learn about the environmental impact of your production space, and evaluate all of the regulatory requirements before presenting you with the right solution.

Black Bear has value engineered industrial flooring to meet the specific flooring needs of pharmaceutical manufacturing plants throughout New England. Talk to us to learn how we can provide a more cost-effective solution that meets (and exceeds) safety standards and gives you a longer-lasting, more dependable system.

Contact us today for a free estimate.

Download Our Brochure

Epoxy-Garage-Floor-Decorative-Flake-Block-Island-RI-2013-Aft-1From municipal properties to privately owned parking facilities, creating a commercial floor to withstand automotive impact and environmental wear is top priority. And, while parking facilities range from exterior lots to multi-story garage enclosures, one thing that all of these structures have in common is exposure to similar stressors and deteriorating properties. This regular abuse compromises the safety of a foundation and results in compliance failure.

When engineering a solution for an indoor, or outdoor parking facility, it’s necessary to understand how the following variables impact a property, and what you can do to avoid unnecessary wear and tear.

  • Gasoline, Oils, and Antifreeze: Automotive lubricants are common runoff found in parking structures from the undercarriage of vehicles. In parked cars, prolonged seepage can corrode a substrate causing cracking and fissures to occur. It then becomes necessary to recoat and repair imperfections before they cause increased damage to the ground.
  • Moisture and Precipitation: Rain, snow, ice and even hail can pose dangerous conditions in parking facilities. When moisture penetrates a floor that isn’t properly protected, it will erode the surface leading to potholes that can easily damage passing vehicles. Wetness and damp conditions can also compromise the metal assembly beneath the surface leading to structural failures.
  • Salts, Chlorides, and Acids: Road salts and byproducts from treatment and regular street maintenance are tracked in on vehicles entering a parking structure. These compounds are often corrosive in nature and can destroy the foundation. Chemical resistant coatings may be necessary in areas that have a high concentration of these derivatives.
  • Tire Tracks and Rubber Marks: While not necessarily a deteriorating property, markings and blemishes that are easily detectable can detract from both the aesthetics of the property and the value – leading to frequent recoats.

Many parking garages operate 24 hours straight, and can’t allocate off-hours for necessary repair. Downtime to patch or replace parking garage flooring impacts revenue. Therefore, it’s not only necessary to design a solution that is durable and long lasting, but it’s as important to contract with a company that can get the work done swiftly.

Talk to Black Bear about epoxy coatings and preferred solutions for parking structures. Our crews are experienced at accommodating repair during normal business hours with minimal disruption to operations. We partner with municipalities throughout the Northeast to ensure safe, reliable, and cost-effective flooring for indoor and outdoor parking areas.


With over 25 years of experience, our crews have the skills required to create a production floor that meets each client’s unique maintenance and aesthetic needs. Call Black Bear to learn how we provide longer-lasting, more effective solutions for manufacturing and production buildings.

Black Bear is a leading concrete and coatings flooring company that serves New England – Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Northern Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, as well as New York (north of New York City). Rest assured that we have the staff, equipment, and expertise needed to make your floor project a success. We spend time upfront to assess each client’s needs, identify the best flooring solution, engage in the right preparation, and then install the floor using industry best practices. We’d love to help your company.

Contact us today for a free estimate.

Harvard University Locker RoomWhen school is out, facility maintenance crews move in. As the school year winds down, public districts, private schools, colleges, and universities assess their construction needs. The empty buildings and campuses pose an opportune time to make structural changes within the facilities, including the installation of new commercial flooring systems.

While ease of maintenance and budget are primary factors in the decision-making process, today’s schools account for air quality, sustainability and aesthetics when selecting the appropriate flooring solution. Educational facilities may opt for multiple products to accommodate individual environments. Engineering the right flooring solution requires a thorough understanding of how the space is used.

General Classrooms – A high degree of durability and easy maintenance will uphold the integrity of the floor. With constant foot traffic and the arrangement of desks and equipment, the flooring system should have the strength and stability to withstand chipping, fractures and wear.

Elective Classroom Environments – It’s not uncommon to have science labs, video production areas, and art rooms engineered to withstand environmental impact. No VOC, chemical resistant urethane coatings may be the right choice for these classrooms.

Kitchens, Cafeterias, & Break Rooms – Spaces such as these tend to require more sanitization, slip resistance, and thermal shock protection from high-temperature cleanings, ovens, refrigeration units and similar processing equipment.

Locker Rooms & Showers – Waterproofed epoxy floors engineered with slip or skid resistance is ideal for these spaces. Customized team logos and branded design can also be stenciled in locker rooms and athletic centers greater detail.

Libraries, Common Areas, Offices, & Auditoriums – The floor in these high traffic spaces can vary but all should be durable, easy to clean, and enhance the aesthetics of the surroundings. From colored walkways to speckled or polished epoxy, schools can get their desired look through a customized flooring design.

Providing a safe, pollutant-free environment is a school’s top priority when considering a commercial flooring product. At Black Bear Coatings & Concrete, we provide schools across New England with ideal solutions that uphold safety standards, adhere to regulations, complement an educational facility’s design, and that are engineered to last longer.

Black Bear’s skilled crews can restore or install new flooring solutions quickly to provide a more advanced system before the start of the new school term. Contact us to learn more about our epoxy, MMA, and urethane coatings solutions for schools that can be customized to your unique requirements.


With over 25 years of experience, our crews have the skills required to create a production floor that meets each client’s unique maintenance and aesthetic needs. Call Black Bear to learn how we provide longer-lasting, more effective solutions for manufacturing and production buildings.

Black Bear is a leading concrete and coatings flooring company that serves New England – Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Northern Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, as well as New York (north of New York City). Rest assured that we have the staff, equipment, and expertise needed to make your floor project a success. We spend time upfront to assess each client’s needs, identify the best flooring solution, engage in the right preparation, and then install the floor using industry best practices. We’d love to help your company.

Contact us today for a free estimate.

This blog is brought to you by contributing author, Amanda Fuller. Amanda is a recent college graduate and avid writer. While her primary focus in college was English Literature, Fuller minored in Design and Psychology and she draws on her knowledge of these fields to create online content that addresses different human needs in a simple way. In her spare time, she enjoys DIY projects and thrifting. Amanda is also a contributing author for Flooring HQ.


Hey Good Lookin SalonEvery aspect of the building and service has an impact on the customer’s impression of your business. Making a good first impression is critical to success. A bad impression is apt to stick with a customer and can deter them from patronizing your business. Making a good first impression may help to net you loyal customers. While it may seem that flooring is small consideration in the overall big picture, it may actually have a big impact on how customers perceive your business.

Make Sure the Flooring is Safe
The wrong flooring can put customers at risk for slips and falls or can harbor bacteria that can put customers at risk for illness. Making sure that the flooring you choose for your business is safe and slip resistant should be the very first concern. Having a customer become injured or ill because of the flooring can harm your business in several ways. Flooring may need to be OSHA approved, so make sure that you are aware of flooring safety requirements before making a purchase.

Consider Color and Design
The flooring design and color that will be best for your business may vary. You may wish to go with a certain design or color because it matches the rest of your décor and is appealing to the eye. Or you may wish to select very plain and simple flooring that does not distract the customers’ eyes from your wares. You may also wish to keep up with current trends, such as polished concrete for a restaurant or retail store. Certain colors may also cause customers to feel certain emotions, so consider this aspect.

Select Flooring that is Easy to Clean
Regardless of the style and color of flooring that you choose, the customer’s impression of your business will not be good if the floor is dirty. Selecting flooring that is easy to clean is a practical way to mitigate this issue. Flooring that is seamless is the easiest to clean, so this can save trouble with trying to clear dirt and debris from grout. Be aware that some floor coatings are porous and may appear easy to clean, but may actually trap debris and moisture.

Choosing an aesthetically pleasing floor can help you to keep your flooring option consistent throughout employee and customer areas. This can save you money while improving the look of your facility. Remember these tips when visiting your local flooring store or speaking with flooring professionals in your area.


With over 25 years of experience, Black Bear Coatings & Concrete crews have the skills required to create a production floor that meets each client’s unique maintenance and aesthetic needs. Call Black Bear to learn how we provide longer-lasting, more effective solutions for manufacturing and production buildings.

Black Bear is a leading concrete and coatings flooring company that serves New England – Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Northern Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, as well as New York (north of New York City). Rest assured that we have the staff, equipment, and expertise needed to make your floor project a success. We spend time upfront to assess each client’s needs, identify the best flooring solution, engage in the right preparation, and then install the floor using industry best practices. We’d love to help your company.

Contact us today for a free estimate.