Hygienic Flexible Epoxy Resin Replaces Timber Kitchen Floor

A flexible epoxy resin floor laid by UltraSyntec at the Wyke Lion pub and restaurant in Wyke near Bradford provides a high-quality kitchen flooring surface for new kitchens cooking a popular Mediterranean-inspired menu at this recently refurbished pub and restaurant.

Known as ‘Ego at the Wyke Lion’, the premises had undergone a complete refurbishment before reopening in August of 2023. Owners Mitchells & Butlers Leisure Retail Ltd were committed to installing a new resin system flooring across the kitchen area to achieve all the benefits of performance, easy cleaning and non-taint characteristics required for food preparation.

Creating a sound and stable foundation

The UltraSyntec team was called in to assess the project. The existing floor was a timber structure overlaid with vinyl. Aware of the potential hygiene issues, the owners had decided to replace this with a heavy-duty resin floor. The team advised on a flexible epoxy resin system to handle the challenges and requirements.

A detailed specification was worked up and approved. UltraSyntec began by scrimming up all the natural timber joints using a jointing compound, then priming the entire area using Resdev’s Pumaprime SF. This low-viscosity primer material has excellent penetrating properties and works by improving the adhesion of the floor topping to the substrate.

Resistance to spillages

Resdev Pumathane SL was then laid at a thickness of 4mm across the floor. This self-smoothing polyurethane flooring material has all the benefits of being tough and durable, seamless and easy to clean and maintain. In addition, it is resistant to occasional high-temperature spillages – an important property for a kitchen area.

100mm high coved skirts were installed to all perimeter walls using Resdev Pumadur CG, creating a totally seamless, high hygiene bunded finish. Pumadur CG is also resistant to a wide range of commonly used chemicals in the food industry, including concentrated citric acid (fruits), spirit vinegar (50% acetic acid), lactic acid (food and dairy products) and common alcohols (methanol & ethanol).

Enhances slip resistance

Finally, the team applied a finishing coat of Resdev Pumadur DD silk to the floor and covings, creating a slightly stippled effect to enhance slip resistance underfoot, ideal for food and beverage environments. The floor was colour-matched the floor to the customer’s preference of RAL 5011, creating an attractive dark blue finish.