When someone mentions a cove, you might think of a great place to anchor a boat or go swimming. So, when you’re introduced to the idea of adding a cove to the epoxy coating over your concrete floor, it may be a little confusing. What does a cove have to do with a concrete floor?
Know your Coves
Like many words in the English language, the term cove has more than one meaning. In geography and nautical terms, a cove is a small sheltered bay of water. In the world of construction, however, a cove is a concave arched molding, usually at the junction where a wall meets a floor or ceiling. When it comes to epoxy coatings, a cove is an extension of the coating beyond the floor. The epoxy doesn’t stop when it meets the wall but continues up the wall for several inches. This is called coved flooring.
The main function of coved flooring is protection. It protects the plaster and sheetrock in your walls from bangs, dents, cuts and scuffs. If your facility uses things like pallets, wheeled equipment, or bulky objects that are repositioned often, coved flooring acts like armor for your walls and corners, taking the beating so your walls don’t have to.
Since coved flooring is a seamless extension of your floor, it provides a barrier for liquid spills too, just like the lip on a dinner plate. It allows easy cleanup while preventing liquids from seeping into your walls, where they can cause mold and mildew. Coved flooring also adds professionalism and appeal to the aesthetics of your floors, all while offering protection.
Types of Coved Flooring
There are different methods for applying coved flooring with epoxy coatings, but they typically fall into one of three categories.
- Basic — Using a roller, your epoxy coating is applied to the base of the wall, effectively painting the cove in place. This method does not offer full-strength protection and focuses on the design of the floor.
- Standard — This method is applied using a trowel instead of a roller, similar to a plaster finish. It results in a thicker application of epoxy, adding a firm layer of protection for your walls and corners. At its base, a slight bevel keeps any liquids on the horizontal surface and away from the walls.
- Cant — A cant cove adds a 54-degree slope between the floor and the wall. Any water reaching the wall simply flows right back onto the floor.
Depending on your needs, West Coast Epoxy can extend your coved flooring anywhere from a few inches to well over a foot! Sloshing and spills won’t get high enough to affect your walls, and they’ll be corralled on your floor for easy cleanup. Places like industrial floors, brewing areas, and restaurant kitchens all greatly benefit from coved floors, keeping spills and bumps from compromising the building.
Even if you’re merely looking to add epoxy flooring to your entrance foyer or mudroom, coved flooring is a great way to gain ease of mind and an improved look. If you’d like to see coved flooring in action, feel free to view our gallery pages. And if you have any further questions, we’re happy to answer them. Call us or schedule a free consultation online. Let’s see what type of coved flooring is best for you and your Sacramento property!