Food-Grade & Commercial Kitchen Epoxy Flooring: Cleveland’s Choice for Health-Code Compliance
In the high-stakes environment of a Cleveland commercial kitchen or food processing facility, the floor is your first line of defense against health-code violations and workplace accidents. Between boiling liquids, organic acids (like citrus and fats), and extreme temperature shifts, standard concrete or tile will quickly fail, leading to dangerous bacterial growth in the cracks.At Cleveland Epoxy & Coating Pros, we install Urethane Cement & Food-Grade Epoxy Systems designed to meet stringent USDA, FDA, and local Health Department requirements while surviving the most brutal kitchen environments.
The "Thermal Shock" Factor: Why Standard Epoxy Isn't Enough
In our experience, a common pitfall for Cleveland restaurants is installing standard epoxy near ovens or walk-in freezers.
- The Problem: Standard epoxy has a different expansion rate than concrete. When you spray a hot floor with cold water during washdown, the bond snaps, leading to "delamination."
- The Solution: We utilize Urethane Cement Slurry.
- The Action: This material has a Coefficient of Thermal Expansion similar to concrete. It expands and contracts with the slab, allowing it to withstand temperatures from -40°F in freezers to 250°F under fryers without cracking or peeling.
Experience-Based Quality: The "Seamless Hygiene" Standard
Health inspectors in Cuyahoga County look for "harbor points"—anywhere organic matter can hide and rot.
- Integrated Sanitary Cove: We hand-trowel a 4-to-6-inch radius cove that curves the flooring up the wall. This turns the floor into a "bathtub" that can be power-washed without water seeping into the wall cavity.
- Antimicrobial Protection: Our food-grade topcoats are non-porous and can be infused with silver-ion technology to actively inhibit the growth of mold, mildew, and bacteria like Listeria or E. coli.
Safety Under Pressure: Slip-Resistance & Drainage
Commercial kitchens are notoriously wet and greasy.
- The "Grit-Matrix": We utilize a specific grade of quartz broadcast to provide a high Coefficient of Friction (COF).
- Custom Pitching: If your floor has "birdbaths" where water collects, we use our slurry systems to re-pitch the floor toward your drains, ensuring a dry, safe workspace for your staff.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is food-grade epoxy?
Food-grade epoxy refers to a resinous flooring system that is non-porous, easy to sanitize, and compliant with FDA/USDA standards for food contact. It must be able to withstand the chemical cleaners and high temperatures typical of food production.
Does my commercial kitchen need a specific floor coating?
Yes. Local health departments require surfaces to be "smooth and easily cleanable." Traditional tile with grout lines is often discouraged because grout is porous and harbors bacteria. A seamless urethane or epoxy system is the industry standard.
How does epoxy handle thermal shock in walk-in freezers?
Standard epoxy may crack, but our specialized Urethane Cement is designed for thermal shock. It maintains its bond during extreme temperature swings, making it the ideal choice for freezer-to-oven transitions.
Pass Your Inspection with Confidence
Don't let a failing floor put your business at risk. From microbreweries in Ohio City to large-scale production facilities, we provide the technical coatings required to keep your operation running safely.
Need a compliance-ready floor?
Request a Food-Grade Site Evaluation & Quote