Red Oxide Flooring Advantages and Disadvantages | Types of Red Oxide | Uses of Red Oxide Flooring
Red Oxide Flooring Advantages and Disadvantages | Red Oxide Flooring Features | How To Install and Repair Red Oxide Flooring | Different Types of Red Oxide Flooring
What is Red Oxide Flooring?
Red oxide flooring is a type of flooring that is composed of red oxide pigments that are applied to a substrate and then sealed with an organic sealant. It is a type of flooring in which oxides are used to color the concrete floor.
The result is a type of floor that is a deep rich red color. Red oxide flooring is also stained resistant and does a good job resisting abrasions.
Red oxide flooring is a type of coating that is applied to concrete floors. It can be used on just about any surface, but it’s most often found in warehouses or industrial buildings
Red oxide has been used for centuries; however, industrialization and mass-production of marble and granite have made these materials a preferred substitute for the red oxide floor.
Cement, dirt, or even lime can be used to create red oxide flooring. The oxides come in a range of colors, and while red is the most common, there can be a plethora of colors in the green, blue, black, and yellow spectra as well.
In fact, there are over 25 different colors of red that may be created by combining different shades. To give a one-of-a-kind touch to your home’s décor, use different colors in different spaces.
Uses of Red Oxide Flooring
Red oxide flooring is a type of flooring material that is used in a variety of settings. It is made by combining the most common oxides for a typical brick or concrete floor.
The flooring provides excellent traction and resists corrosion from oil, water, and other chemicals.
Red Oxide Flooring are commonly used in the following settings;
- Churches and other worship places.
- Hotels and restaurants.
- Schools and colleges.
- Retail outlets such as supermarkets
- Hotel, shopping centers, car parks, etc…
- Commercial buildings
- Warehouses
Red Oxide Flooring Features
- Red oxide flooring is typically recommended in industrial areas because it is a low-cost, highly durable, and aesthetically pleasing option.
- Red oxide floors must be sealed and maintained however to avoid any stains or damage.
- This type of flooring is not exposed to extreme weather, making it an ideal choice for warehouses that receive a lot of traffic.
- Red oxide floors are stain resistant; making it ideal for warehouses that receive a lot of traffic because spills are likely to occur.
- Red oxide floors are fire resistant, which means that you don’t have to worry about the many incidents that happen in the warehouse.
- Red oxide is a non-slip flooring material, which means that your warehouse will be safer and customers will find it easier to navigate around the space.
- Red oxide floors provide good traction, which makes them suitable for warehouses with forklifts and other heavy machinery on the premises.
- Red oxide is a powder coating, making it difficult to stain or damaged by heat or water.
- Red oxide is used in waterproofing concrete, metal and wood. It also serves for many years without damaging the floor.
How to do Red Oxide Flooring Process
The red oxide flooring process can be applied to almost any surface, including concrete, metal, wood and other surfaces.
This means that you have the freedom to cover old stained concrete floors or you can apply it over newly laid linoleum or vinyl floors that are already in place. The process is also applicable to any surface that is conducive for staining, stain or coating.
Once you have chosen the type of surface that you want to coat, you can either go for a professional service provider or attempt to do it yourself.
The hard work begins with serious preparation of the required surfaces. These have to be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, if necessary, as otherwise the coating will not adhere to them well.
After cleaning and disinfecting, use a wet cloth to wipe away any dust and dirt from the surface area.
Benefits Red Oxide Flooring
Red oxide flooring is a type of flooring that has a distinctive red-orange or brown color. A floor stain will turn this color when exposed to the chemical sulphuric acid.
It can be created by using a chemical mixture of ferric oxide, sulphuric acid and water.
The benefit to this type of flooring is that it is easy to create and it can be sealed with a clear sealer coating.
Red oxide flooring is the most popular type of flooring because it is a low-cost, highly durable, and aesthetically pleasing option.
How To Install and Repair Red Oxide Flooring
Installing red oxide flooring is an easy process that can be accomplished by anyone who has some basic DIY skills.
The coating itself is based on a liquid and paste combination that dries quickly, but this drying time can be extended by using a blow dryer or hair dryer to speed up the process.
Once the area has been prepared, it needs to be cleaned and given a disinfectant before the first layer of red oxide floor paint dries.
The floor can then be buffed and polished using brushes and scrubbing pads to ensure that there are no signs of any scuffs, scratches or discolouration.
If there is some damage to the surface, it is also a good idea to apply a concrete bonding primer before adding any layers of red oxide floor paint.
When installing red oxide flooring in a public area, it is not recommended that water or cleaning solutions are used on the surface as this could cause excessive wear on the coating.
Instead, commercial products that are used for flooring and for concrete bonding are ideal for use.
When installing red oxide flooring in an area where there is a need to protect the surface against scratches, it is recommended that a scratch resistant primer should be used prior to adding the finishing coat of red oxide coating.
If scuff marks do appear on the surface, then adding a special scratch proof topcoat should be applied.
Different Types of Red Oxide Flooring
There are a few different types of red oxide flooring. They include:
1. Liquid Red Oxide Floor Coatings.
This type of floor coating is made up of a liquid that is mixed with cement and can be used to cover any surface. It is non-toxic and non-hazardous, making it ideal for public areas and other areas that are frequented by large numbers of people.
The coatings can be sprayed on to any surface including concrete floors, wood floors, tile floors etc. The liquid stains less easily than powder coating and it cover imperfections much better too.
2. Dry Powder Red Oxide Floor Coatings.
This type of floor coating is made up of a powder that is placed over the area to be coated and then a clear sealant layer is added in order to create a strong durable surface.
The powder can be applied directly over concrete or any other suitable surface and the layers are applied consecutively, with the final layer being the protective sealant, as this step ensures a long-lasting high-performance coat. This is a suitable option for large-scale public areas.
3. Liquid Red Oxide Floor Coatings with Decals.
This type of coatings is made up of a liquid that is sprayed over the area to be coated and then a clear topcoat is applied in order to create an attractive, durable surface finish.
These types of coating can be used on any surface that does not have to be protected against any type of damage.
The process is simple to apply and the process can be used to create floors that are durable, resistant and waterproof.
4. Self-Adhesive Red Oxide Floor Coatings.
This type of coating is made up of a liquid that is sprayed over the area to be coated, and then a textured, self-adhesive backing layer is placed on top of the liquid coat in order to protect the treated surfaces from damage from scratches, stains or normal wear and tear.
The textured layer forms itself over the treated areas to create a tough, durable surface finish.
There are also a few different types of stains and finishes that can be added to newly applied red oxide flooring. They include:
1. Metal Effect Red Oxide Floor Paint.
This type of paint can be used to paint any surface and the powder is applied as a dry coating over the surface to be covered. The powder is created using a special process and is combined with pigments, resins and special binders.
Once this coating has been laid, it can then be buffed out if necessary to create an attractive, durable finish for a variety of surfaces.
2. Oil effect Red Oxide Floor paints.
This type of paint is made up of a liquid that is sprayed over the surface to be covered and then left to dry. The paint dries clear and can be buffed out if necessary to create attractive, durable finishes for various surfaces.
3. Metallic effect Red Oxide Floor Paint.
This type of paint is created from special metallic powders mixed with a liquid, which are then used to coat any surface that has been cleaned, disinfected and sealed.
Once the surface has been covered, a special clear topcoat is added to the surface to create a durable, long lasting and high-performance finish that can be used for any purpose.
4. Epoxy Red Oxide Floor Paint.
This type of paint is made up from special metallic pigments mixed with a clear epoxy resin. The liquid is then poured over the area to be covered and left to dry.
The paint is sealed with a clear topcoat to create a durable, long lasting finish that can be used for any purpose.
5. Polyurethane Red Oxide Floor Paint.
This is a type of coating that is produced from a liquid polyester resin and this is then mixed with metallic pigments mixed with special resins and special binders.
The mixture is applied to the surface to be treated and left to dry. The paint is then sealed with a clear topcoat to create an attractive, long lasting finish that can be used on almost any surface.
6. Acrylic Red Oxide Floor Paint.
This type of paint is made up from acrylic polymers, which are compatible with most surfaces and the paint itself can be applied in a variety of different ways. For example, it can be sprayed directly onto the surface without the need for primers or topcoats.
Red Oxide Flooring Advantages and Disadvantages
Red Oxide Flooring Advantages
1. Red oxide flooring is inexpensive.
Red oxide is an extremely cost-effective option. Marble and granite are very expensive and compromising on quality is the only way to reduce the cost. As opposed to these, red oxide flooring is very cost-effective and barely an inconvenience.
2. Red oxide flooring is very easy to maintain.
Red oxide is easy to clean, which makes it a great option for warehouses that receive a lot of traffic.
A solution of hot water and mild detergent can be used to clean this type of flooring, which makes it easier to clean than tile or wood. The floor can be cleaned with a microfiber mop or soft cotton rags.
3. Red oxide flooring is stain resistant.
Red oxide is stain resistant, which means that you don’t have to worry about the many incidents that happen in the warehouse. A clean-up process must be followed in order to avoid further staining.
Red oxide is stain resistant because it is made of iron oxides, which means that it resists staining from water and oil when exposed to hydrogen sulphide. This makes it a good match for an industrial setting where spills are likely to occur.
4. Red oxide flooring provides good traction.
Red oxide is a non-slip surface, which means that your warehouse or industrial building will be safer and customers can find it easier to navigate around the space.
This is especially beneficial for facilities with forklifts and other heavy machinery on the premises.
5. Red oxide flooring is fire resistant.
The chemical composition of red oxide flooring is fire resistant. The material does not catch on fire easily and can withstand flames for a very long time.
A rubber or wood flooring would be destroyed by a fire, but the red oxide flooring’s resistance to flames allow it to survive a house fire.
6. Red oxide flooring has low maintenance cost.
The red oxide flooring process can be carried out by a professional or even the owner of the building, which means that you can save money on labor costs and more effectively manage your time.
7. Red oxide flooring is UV light resistant
Because red oxide is a powder coating, it is resistant to Ultra Violet light. This makes the coating ideal for warehouses and other industrial buildings with large windows that are affected by UV light.
8. Red oxide flooring is versatile.
The red oxide flooring process can be applied to almost any surface, including concrete, wood, and metal. This means that you have the freedom to cover old stained concrete floors or you can even apply the coating over newly laid linoleum or vinyl floors.
10. Red oxide flooring is very durable.
The durability of the floor can be increased by adding a second coating of sealant and it can also be repaired if scratched.
11. It is resists wear and tear.
The red oxide flooring process is applied to concrete, metal, and wood surfaces and this increase the durability of the coating.
12. It is waterproof.
Red oxide flooring is resistant to impact because the concrete on which it is sealed has absorbed water during the curing process, making it waterproof.
13. It is easy to clean
Red oxide flooring has a high density, meaning you can lay it directly over concrete floors and it will cover most imperfections in the concrete or mortar underneath the flooring material.
Disadvantages of Red Oxide Flooring
1. Red oxide flooring must be sealed.
After the application of the red oxide flooring, it must be sealed to protect the surface and prevent stains from setting in. The sealant will protect the coating from scratches, water, and oil.
Sealer should be applied regularly if you want your floors to stay looking new for many years.
2. Red oxide flooring can mark easily.
The red oxide powder can leave marks on floors if they aren’t cleaned carefully before installation, which means that you need to prep your floors thoroughly before applying the coating.
3. Red oxide floors are prone to cracking if exposed to extreme weather
If the floor is exposed to extreme weather like heavy rain or snow, the surface may begin to crack. This is because the red oxide powder used in the coating is susceptible to humidity.
4. Red oxide flooring requires a clear layer of sealer for protection.
After installation, the red oxide coating must be sealed with a sealer in order to protect it from stains and other substances that may affect its appearance.
Nowadays, it is hard to find people who can lay a red oxide floor well, because the practice is just not very common
