Carboline vs. Sherwin-Williams: Compare Concrete Coating Companies
January 23rd, 2025
4 min read
By Tom Dassie
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When it comes to floor coatings for concrete, Carboline and Sherwin-Williams are two of the top companies in the industry. Both offer high-quality products for a wide range of businesses, from big manufacturing plants to small retail stores. While they both have excellent products, they focus on slightly different areas, making them a good fit for different types of projects.
At CustomCrete, we know that picking the right floor coating for your business is important. Whether you’re working on a commercial or industrial flooring project, you need a solution that fits your needs and your budget. With over 20 years of experience, we’ve helped many businesses like yours choose the best products for their floors. We are certified installers for both Sherwin Williams and Carboline, and work with both to bring our customers the best outcomes.
By the end of this article, you’ll know :
Who is Carboline and What Kind of Floor Coatings Do They Offer?
Who is Sherwin-Williams and What Kind of Floor Coatings Do They Offer?
When is Carboline the Right Fit for My Needs?
When is Sherwin-Williams the Right Fit for My Needs?
Making the Right Flooring Decision for Your Needs
Who is Carboline and What Kind of Floor Coatings Do They Offer?
Carboline is best known for the work they do with steel coatings, tank liners, and fireproofing. But, they also have a solid reputation for creating durable concrete coating products for flooring. Also, Carboline recently bought Dudick, adding to their large selection. Taken all together, Carboline is a large player in the concrete coating industry with a wide variety of systems.
Carboline offers the following floor coatings:
Epoxy Floor Coatings: Carboline’s epoxy coatings are very strong and resist chemicals and wear. These coatings are good for places like factories, warehouses, and chemical plants. One example is Steri-Flor GP, a strong epoxy that resists both chemicals and wear.
Urethane Cement Floor Coatings: These coatings handle big swings in temperature, high impacts, and moisture, making them great for places like food plants and industrial kitchens. Shock-Crete HF is a well-known product that can handle temperature changes and heavy impacts.
Polyaspartic Floor Coatings: Carboline’s polyaspartic coatings dry quickly and resist wear. These are perfect for businesses that need fast installation, like auto shops and restaurants. Sealer 985 is a fast-drying polyaspartic coating that is tough and durable.
Novolac Floor Coatings: These coatings are made for places with high chemical exposure, like chemical plants or oil refineries. Steri-Flex CR is a novolac coating that offers great protection against chemicals.
ESD Floor Coatings: Carboline also offers coatings to control static electricity, which is important in places like electronics factories or labs. Steri-Flor ESD helps control static in these environments.
Who is Sherwin-Williams and What Kind of Floor Coatings Do They Offer?
Chances are you have encountered Sherwin Williams while looking for house paint, which is what they’re most known for. But, Sherwin-Williams is a massive company that also takes up a huge part of the concrete floor coatings market. After acquiring companies like Tenet and Dur-a-flex, they now offer an even wider range of products for concrete floors.
Sherwin-Williams offers these floor coatings:
Epoxy Floor Coatings: Sherwin-Williams makes durable epoxy coatings, perfect for busy places like retail stores, showrooms, and hospitals. These coatings not only last long but also look professional. Resuflor 3746 is a strong epoxy that resists wear and tear.
Polyaspartic Floor Coatings: Sherwin-Williams also offers polyaspartic coatings for businesses that need fast drying and long-lasting protection. Elladur 4850 is a polyaspartic coating that dries quickly and resists wear, making it perfect for high-traffic areas like auto dealerships and restaurants.
Urethane Cement Floor Coatings: These coatings are great for areas that need to handle moisture, extreme temperatures, and heavy impacts. Poly-crete MD is a popular choice for food factories and kitchens, offering great resistance to moisture and temperature changes.
ESD Floor Coatings: Sherwin-Williams offers Resutile SDS, an ESD coating to control static electricity. This is important in places like electronics factories or labs where static could damage sensitive equipment.
When is Carboline the Right Fit for My Business?
Carboline is ideal for businesses in heavy industries, like oil & gas, food processing, and chemical plants. Their background in tough coatings makes them a solid choice for anyone looking for strong and resilient coatings.
Carboline has strong local support teams, reps, and experts all across the country. They also have a robust website full of factsheets and resources to help installers do the right job.
If your business needs coatings that can withstand tough industrial environments, Carboline is a great choice. Their focus on high-performance products makes them the go-to for industries that need durable and reliable solutions.
When is Sherwin-Williams the Right Fit for My Needs?
Sherwin-Williams, is a widely known and trusted brand. A household name whose well won reputation extends to their concrete floor coatings sector. They offer a wide range of products for businesses in commercial and industrial spaces.
Their coatings are durable and attractive, making them perfect for spaces that need both performance and a professional look.
Sherwin-Williams has strong local support across the U.S. due to its size and resources. Its dedicated reps ensure businesses get the right products and help when needed.
For durable and high quality coatings for commercial or industrial, Sherwin Williams is a safe option. Their broad product range and knowhow make them a good choice for businesses in all sectors.
Making the Right Flooring Decision for Your Needs
Choosing the right floor coating is essential for your business. Carboline and Sherwin-Williams both offer high-quality coatings, but they serve different needs. Carboline makes coatings for extreme environments. Sherwin-Williams makes coatings that balance durability and appearance.
At CustomCrete, we’re certified to install Carboline and Sherwin-Williams coatings. We can help you choose the best option for your needs. The truth of the matter is, these two brands both make a huge variety of products and picking out one over another is very contextual for your needs. We understand the differences between the two brands and can guide you toward the solution that works best for your situation.
Now that you know the differences between Carboline and Sherwin-Williams, it’s time to explore our full range of services.