From experience, we know that Slurry flooring is one of the most versatile types of flooring within the industry.
Although it has a strange name, widely unknown to most, it has a wide range of uses.
To begin with (and the list is very long), we would like to mention:
- Industrial flooring
- Roads and civil engineering
- Flooring for sports facilities
- Hard/road shoulders
- Central reservations
- Ecological routes
- Industrial facilities
- Cycle paths
- Pedestrian paths
- Parking areas
- Traffic islands
- Etc.
In this article, we will break down everything you need to know about Slurry flooring: description, advantages, uses, etc., so that you can become a true expert on the matter.
Ready? Let’s get started!
What is Slurry flooring?
Well, to answer this question, a little bit of caution is needed, as there is a lot of confusion regarding this term. This is because many professionals in the sector use the word to refer to different materials.
It is also known as cold micro-asphalt or bituminous grout, although these terms are less popular.
But, in general, a Slurry paving is known as anything that forms a mortar, applied in different layers, with the consistency of a grout made by using synthetic resin-emulsion, aggregates of selected granulometry, and pigments.
These pigments allow us to achieve any color you want, from gray to blue used in garages, to maroon or red used in sports tracks or bike paths.
It is used when we want to ensure that the flooring stays in good condition for a long time.
It provides an efficient, effective, ecological, and very economical solution to non-structural problems too, for example, roads, providing improvements by reducing permeability, increasing slip resistance or surface texture, among other things.
We could say that it works as a protective layer, preventing deformations caused by heavy loads.
What are the advantages of installing Slurry flooring?
Its main properties are:
- Waterproofing.
- Durability.
- Anti-slip.
- It is not flammable.
- Versatility.
This makes it an ideal floor for regulating surfaces and, also, being a paving material, it has the extra advantage of being a decoration factor, as it can change in colour.
Regarding its maintenance, we can say that it is very resistant to abrasion and can perfectly withstand outdoor weather conditions.
Another advantage is that it is a very economical product and, without a doubt, one of the most demanded on the market.
If you need to install flooring which is resistant to extreme conditions and temperature changes, without a doubt, your choice should be the Slurry flooring. It is also very easy to install and has low maintenance that’s executed periodically.
Slurry flooring variants: synthetic slurry and asphalt slurry
Although the differences between them are very small, they are used for different things.
That is why the place in which it is to be installed must be very well-reviewed, as its use may not be correct.
How are they applied?
Now we are going to explain how synthetic and asphalt Slurry pavements are installed.
Synthetic Slurry Flooring
To begin with, the surface on which it is to be used must be cleaned.
By doing so, we achieve a surface free of moisture and dust, that is clean and has good cohesion. Subsequently, the surface has to dry and the product is homogenized by blending it slightly.
To evenly extend the mixture, thin layers are applied with a rubber rake and it is left to dry completely.
VERY IMPORTANT: You cannot add water to the mixture, this would make it lose its cohesion properties.
Asphalt Slurry Soil
First of all, you must make sure that the surface is free of polluting materials, clean and healthy.
Before applying the product, you must mix it so that it is homogenized to perfection, which you can do both with a mixer or manually.
If necessary, you can apply a small amount of water and then apply it with a rubber rake to spread it out as normal.
For most uses, it is very common to combine both types of Slurry flooring.
The asphalt type is used mainly to level out the surface and then to use the synthetic type as it is more resistant to abrasion.
This has been a “short summary” on Slurry floors. If you are interested, you can find out more about other types of industrial flooring, including polished concrete.
