HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST FLOORING FOR CANNABIS GROW ROOMS AND GREENHOUSES
Benefits of Indoor Grow Rooms
Indoor grow rooms have significant benefits including a hygienic environment, controlled climate, and multiple harvests. Indoor grow rooms give the ability to keep grow rooms clean and hygienic to meet industry standards. By being in a controlled, indoor environment your product is protected from outside variables such as germs, fungi, and parasites. Additionally, you can create the perfect growing conditions by controlling the lighting and temperature of the space.
Grow rooms need to have tightly-controlled humidity to prevent mold, sufficient lighting and temperature, proper ventilation, specific CO2 levels, and a high quality of substrate and fertilizer. All of this can be managed within a grow room while protecting plants from undesirable weather conditions. Lastly, grow rooms allow for multiple harvests in any region. Waiting for harvest season becomes a thing of the past since you can imitate perfect grow conditions year-round.
What to Consider When Renovating an Existing Building for Your Cannabis Facility
Renovating an old factory or warehouse is a cost-efficient method many growers use for their operation. Unfortunately, this often means concrete flooring is used, which comes with many problems that affect cleanliness, safety, regulatory compliance, and product quality. Resin floors can be used to create a new floor system or to repurpose a concrete floor to eliminate many of the potential issues mentioned above. This comes at a much lower cost and installation time than undergoing a brand new flooring project.
Problems with Concrete Flooring in Grow Rooms
Concrete floors are commonly used in grow rooms because they are cost efficient, however, without the proper protection the floors can become hazardous and costly to repair. Grow rooms are held to high standards to produce a high-quality, safe product. Here are a several issues bare concrete floors present:
Concrete is Porous
Since concrete is porous, liquids that come in contact can be absorbed into the floor. This will cause smells to be trapped into floors, potentially giving your grow room an unpleasant smell. Fluids being trapped in floors can also be a source of bacterial growth which could result in product contamination and shutdown of operations.
Moisture vapor transmission (MVT)
If your facility is located in an area with a high-water table, then MVT is may occur. MVT happens when the moisture from the soil beneath enters the concrete. Through osmosis, the moisture continues to permeate upwards through the concrete causing damage to the floors such as blistering, bubbling and more.
Bacterial Growth and Infections
In addition to trapped fluids causing bacterial growth, concrete can be damp and dark. The dampness comes from concrete’s porous properties and the dark properties are caused because concrete does not reflect lighting. Bacteria grows and thrives in dark, damp environments causing mold damage to the space in addition to significant health risks for employees and the product itself.
Failed Inspections
Cannabis facilities have health guidelines similar to the food and beverage industry. A major requirement within those guidelines are durable, non-absorbent floors which concrete would not be able to surpass due to its slippery and porous properties.
Slip Hazards
Many cannabis factories choose bare concrete because it eliminates the time and cost of installing a higher quality floor. Sealed concrete can become slippery when wet. Such conditions are not acceptable for employees and can cause physical and emotional trauma as well as financial loss due to liability on the part of the employer.
Cracks
Cracks and joints harbor bacteria and are a focus of both internal and external audits. Addressing and repairing expansion joints, control joints, and any type of crack that your facility would encounter will limit where bacteria can live.
Exposed Aggregate
Exposed aggregate is the most highly scrutinized area for inspection as these are areas that can easily harbor bacteria. Proper preparation of these surfaces is essential. A mortar system that is stronger than concrete and can withstand thermal cycles should be installed. By repairing exposed aggregate, it enables owners to save money on labor by reducing cleanup time.
Pooling Water
This common issue can be fixed by using high thermal cycling materials to fill holes and slope floors to direct water to drains rather than have it pool. Sloping reduces the need to have employees squeegeeing for extended periods, thus saving costs.
Benefits of Resinous Flooring for the Cannabis Industry
Resin floors can be used to create a new floor system or repurpose a concrete floor to eliminate many of the potential issues mentioned above. Why resin flooring?
Durable and Long Lasting
Resin floors are long lasting and require less maintenance. Some resin flooring applications have an overall fast installation timeframe of two days or less. These floors become a part of the building’s structure resulting in a hygienic, easy-to-clean, durable flooring solution. This flooring is easily applied over bare concrete.
High-Gloss Flooring for Reflectivity
High gloss resin flooring conserves energy and boosts light effectiveness. In grow areas, high-gloss is a sought-after feature because it reflects the light upwards and reaches the underside of the plants. Lighting is very important in the farming of the product and high-gloss resin flooring allows producers to conserve electricity usage.
Seamless Design
Resin flooring is seamless, so there are no cracks, ridges or crevices where bacteria would typically grow. This naturally anti-microbial, anti-absorbent flooring system meets strict health guidelines industries require.
Chemical Resistance
Chemical-resistant resin flooring protects floors from harsh chemicals that may be regularly used in the facility, like bleach or hydrogen peroxide. It elongates the lifespan of the floors and allows them to meet proper safety standards while maintaining the design of the floors.
Slip Resistance
Resin floors can be installed with varying levels of texture for slip resistance and worker safety.
Custom Design
The design of resin flooring can be customized. Not all businesses are exactly alike so why should yours be? Custom-designed flooring allows you to make your space as unique as your business! Think brand colors, custom patterns, or even your logo!
Long-Term Life Cycle
Resin floors offer a long-term life cycle. These floors last \ without for long time periods without need for repair or replacements.
High-Traffic Formulation
The high-traffic, high-impact seamless formulation of resin floors allow them to work well in corridors, hallways, and shipping and receiving areas, making moving equipment and product smooth and easy while standing up to any wear and tear.
Anti-Microbial
An anti-microbial organic thione compound can be added to floor and wall systems to act as a permanent bacteriostat and fungistat. The active ingredient is EPA-registered and contains no heavy metals. An anti-microbial additive will not constrain your choices.
Quick Repair
Cannabis production facilities cannot afford to shut down for repairs, therefore if a repair does become necessary, resin solutions can be completed as quickly as within an hour. This allows your facility to remain active and not losing time due to maintenance.
Solution for Trenches
Resin formulations offer a long-lasting solution for trenches, where concrete often breaks down. Reduce your need for yearly maintenance.
Floor-to-Wall System
Bacteria can hide behind the seams of existing plastic wall systems and moisture can hide behind walls. By creating a fully seamless production facility, floor to wall, you can reduce the risk of bacteria harboring and growing while upholding the high moisture conditions of cannabis production.
Choose an Experienced Flooring Manufacturer & Installer
Because you want your facility to last, it is important to go with an experienced provider of resin flooring. Large facilities with intense demands require thorough knowledge of flooring customization and a custom flooring blend can provide you with the best results.
For nearly a century, Stonhard has set the standard for manufacturing and installing high-performance polymer floor, wall and lining systems. Finding the right flooring system for the right environment is what Stonhard does best. When you purchase a Stonhard floor, you deal directly with Stonhard from start to finish and are protected by a single-source warranty on both the product and workmanship. Our highly skilled team works with you from design specifications, project management, final walk-through and service after the sale. To get started, click here to schedule a free on-site evaluation with one of our Territory Managers.
Our Recommendations for Grow Room Flooring
These Stonhard solutions have been installed in hundreds of Food/Beverage and Pharmaceutical Facilities, and could be the next solution for your grow room or green house:
Stonclad – In either an epoxy or urethane floor protection system, it’s made for heavy-duty environments. This chemical, abrasion and impact-resistant floor can be configured for temperature-dependent environments and is also available in an eco-friendly recycled glass application.
Stonshield – A slip-resistant, easy-to-clean floor systems with design flexibility. Available in both epoxy flooring and urethane flooring systems in a myriad of patterns and textures.
Stontec – Stain-resistant epoxy and urethane-based flooring available in an extensive range of flake finishes and color options. Perfect for quick installations.
Stongard - Epoxy and urethane-based waterproof decking and membrane floor protection for mechanical equipment rooms, pump mezzanines and any indoor space requiring waterproofing. Slip resistant, abrasion and fire resistant.
Stonglaze - Seamless protection for walls. Smooth, splash and stain-resistant wall glazes that work in conjunction with Stonhard floor systems.