Skip to main content

«  View All Posts

The Best Flooring for Your Restaurant Kitchen: Urethane Cement

November 8th, 2024

3 min read

By Tom Dassie

Your commercial kitchen has to be both functional and efficient, but the floor? It needs to be just as tough as the folks working in it. Between grease stains, water puddles from dishwashers, and the constant pounding of foot traffic, not every concrete coating can keep up. And worse, it becomes a safety hazard if not done right. As a restaurant owner or kitchen manager, the last thing you need is a floor that adds to your workload.

Don’t worry, we get it. In fact, CustomCrete has been in the commercial kitchen flooring business for over 20 years, and we know exactly what your space needs to handle the toughest kitchen demands. After decades of working with restaurateurs, we’ve found that urethane cement with a polyaspartic topcoat is the absolute best solution for commercial kitchen flooring. Period.

In this article, we’ll walk you through why this is the best option, compare it with other flooring choices, and help you make the right decision for your kitchen. Let’s dive in.

grey urethane cement floor in a professional kitchen

Why Urethane Cement is the Best Flooring for Restaurant Kitchens

When it comes to commercial kitchen flooring, you need something that’s durable, easy to clean, and can withstand heavy traffic, high heat, and spills. Urethane cement ticks all these boxes, and more.

Urethane Cement Handles Extreme Heat

Restaurant kitchens are full of hot surfaces, from fryers to ovens. These high-heat areas can cause many types of flooring to warp, crack, or discolor. Urethane cement, however, is engineered to withstand extreme temperatures. Whether it’s steam from dishwashers or accidental splashes of hot grease, urethane cement won’t buckle under the pressure.

Urethane Cement is Tough and Long-Lasting

Accidents happen, and dropped pots or heavy kitchen tools are a reality. With urethane cement, your floor won’t crack or chip under impact. It’s built to resist damage from dropped objects because of their thicker and more durable coating and can also withstand the constant foot traffic of a busy kitchen. This makes it a perfect solution for commercial kitchens.

Urethane Cement is Easy to Clean and Maintain

Keeping your kitchen clean is a top priority, and your flooring should make that as easy as possible. Urethane cement’s smooth, sealed surface makes it resistant to stains, oil, and grease. The polyaspartic topcoat adds an extra layer of protection, making it even easier to mop up messes without worrying about bacteria or grime getting trapped in cracks.  It is also immune to thermal shock and will not delaminate due to sudden temperature changes.  

Urethane Cement is Slip-Resistant for Safety

Safety should always be top of mind, and kitchens can be slippery places. Water, grease, and food spills can make your floor a danger zone. Urethane cement offers natural slip resistance, so your staff can move quickly without the risk of slipping on a wet surface.

Resistant to Oil, Grease, and Chemicals

Kitchen oils and chemicals can wreak havoc on many types of flooring. Urethane cement, however, resists absorption, meaning spills won’t stain or degrade the floor. It’s also resistant to the chemicals used in kitchen cleaning, so you won’t need to worry about floor damage from your daily sanitizing routine.

Thermal Shock Resistance for Busy Kitchens

Restaurant kitchens can have extreme temperature fluctuations, from hot fryer oil spills to cold washdowns at the end of the day. Urethane cement is uniquely resistant to thermal shock, meaning it won’t crack or delaminate under sudden temperature changes. This makes it ideal for kitchens that deal with both intense heat and routine cleaning with hot water, ensuring your floor remains intact and functional even under high stress.

Worker Cleans a Urethane Cement Floor_ Resist Thermal Shock

Fast Installation for Minimal Downtime

Every minute of downtime in a restaurant is costly. Urethane cement flooring offers a relatively quick installation process, allowing your kitchen to get back up and running faster than with many other flooring solutions. The quick curing time also minimizes disruption, making it ideal for restaurants looking to renovate without extended closures. With urethane cement, you can get a durable, high-performance floor installed and ready for use in a matter of days, not weeks.

Why Urethane Cement Flooring is Worth the Investment

Urethane cement might have a higher initial cost than some other flooring options, but its durability and long-term performance make it a smart investment for your kitchen. Not only will it save you money on repairs and replacements over time, but it will also provide a safer, more efficient working environment for your staff.

Urethane cement floors often pay for themselves in the long run. They have lower maintenance costs and are safer due to their slip resistance.  These can save you a lot of money in the long run by side stepping liability costs. But, if your kitchen has a lower capacity and you need to save money, epoxy is a good alternative.  

Your Next Steps For Commercial Kitchen Flooring.

Choosing the right flooring for your restaurant kitchen is essential for safety, durability, and ease of maintenance. Urethane cement stands out as the top choice, offering resilience against extreme heat, heavy foot traffic, and spills. Investing in urethane cement means you’re prioritizing a long-lasting, efficient workspace that can handle the demands of a busy kitchen. If you’re looking to make a smart choice for the future of your kitchen, urethane cement is built to deliver exactly what you need.

We’ve mentioned the cost of urethane cement briefly in this article, but to truly understand the financial impact this will have on your business, your next step is to read our full breakdown on the cost of urethane cement.

commercial kitchen floor with urethane cement