Commercial epoxy is a different conversation from garage epoxy. You're specifying to code, to a use case, and often to a franchise or corporate standard. The right system depends on what the floor has to survive.
Retail
Foot traffic, occasional spills, aesthetic priority. A solid-color or lightly-flaked epoxy with a UV-stable polyaspartic topcoat is the standard. 15–25 mil total build. Refresh the topcoat every 3–5 years.
Restaurants and food service
USDA/FDA-friendly resin systems, integral cove base, slip-resistant aggregate in the topcoat, and chemical resistance to hot oil, sugar, and daily sanitizing chemicals. Urethane cement is often specified in kitchens; epoxy quartz works well in front-of-house and dining.
Healthcare
Sanitary, seamless, coved, and easy to disinfect. Antimicrobial-additive epoxy or a self-leveling urethane. Coefficient of friction should be documented on the closeout.
Manufacturing
The heaviest system: high-build epoxy or urethane cement, 3/16" to 1/4" thick, with chemical resistance matched to the specific process. Traffic lanes get restriped and refreshed on a rolling basis rather than a full replacement.
What to demand from a bidder
- Product data sheets and warranty terms in writing.
- Certificates of insurance (general liability + workers' comp).
- A prep spec — grinding, patching, moisture testing.
- A phased schedule if the space needs to stay operational.