By Dani Sheehan. 

Understand the design possibilities and performance behind decorative coating systems to uncover new opportunities waiting right under your feet. 

As customers continue looking for surfaces that combine style, performance and value, decorative coatings are moving beyond the floor of their garage. In an episode of CoatingsCast™, Ryan Zabel from APF Polymer Surfaces discusses the growing demand for decorative floor systems and how products like Terrazzo Flakes are balancing design and durability. 

Here are three takeaways you can apply to your business today. 

1 – Decorative coatings can open the door to new markets 

Ryan highlighted several spaces that are ideal for floor coatings: “Kitchens for one. Bathrooms are huge investments for people right now in their homes and will always be. If you have concrete anywhere in your home, from indoor living spaces to garages, they all can be an ideal location for the Terrazzo Flake in residential applications.” 

Commercial and industrial opportunities are also growing as building owners look for flooring solutions that balance appearance with performance. “We do a lot of retail stores. Restaurants, offices, shopping centers and hotels are really big as well,” Ryan continued. “In the industrial sector, we provide coatings for warehouses, factories, break rooms, entryways and waiting rooms. The possibilities really are endless.” 

Decorative coating systems can create opportunities in residential remodels, tenant improvements, hospitality projects and industrial maintenance work, helping you diversify your project pipeline wherever you already work. 

2 – Customers are investing in performance 

While decorative flakes certainly create a polished finished product, Ryan emphasized that aesthetics alone isn’t driving demand. Customers are increasingly focused on cleanliness, durability and long-term maintenance. “You would think that the hotels would just continue to use tile, but they’re getting a lot more educated on long-term investments,” he explained. “We can protect concrete a lot better with a resinous flooring product than tile over time because the grout lines are just an area that bacteria grows and it’s hard to control and keep clean.” 

He added, “If you have a monolithic, cleanable floor, it stays nice for a very long time.” This can be an especially valuable talking point with restaurant owners, facility managers or homeowners comparing flooring options. Instead of leading with color blends and design, you can position decorative coatings as an investment in easier maintenance, improved sanitation and overall protection. 

3 – Choose the right system with APF 

No matter how attractive the finished floor looks, Ryan made it clear that performance starts at the very beginning. “We always need to remember that preparation is the key to success,” he said. “At APF, we only recommend grinding or shot blasting as a method of preparation to ensure the coatings get a mechanical bond to the concrete substrate.” 

He added that choosing the right system for the environment is just as important. Whether a project calls for a fast-turnaround installation, a heavy-duty garage floor or an occupied commercial space where odor matters, contractors have options. APF Polymer Surfaces has systems ranging from one-day installations with return to service in 24 hours to high-build systems designed for customers who will “really use and abuse the floor.” This flexibility can make it easier to specify systems for different customer needs without worrying about performance or durability. 

Listen to the full podcast episode to learn more about how decorative concrete coatings continue to grow traction across residential, commercial and industrial markets and where they fit into your business.

By Dani Sheehan. 

Find out how commercial roofing contractors can leverage their coatings expertise to expand into concrete floor systems. 

In a recent CoatingsCast™, Karen Edwards sat down with Ryan Zabel of APF Polymer Surfaces to talk about what defines a high-performance floor coating system and why success comes down to understanding the environment, not just the product. 

Performance starts with end use 

While many customers initially focus on how a floor will look, Ryan was quick to reframe the conversation, sharing, “The appearance is very, very important. And that’s usually what we start with. Then, we can bring in the durability, the slip resistance, the chemical resistance... all depending on what the environment is going to be.” 

He described a two-step approach when working on projects: collaborating with architects and specifiers upfront, particularly for new construction, then working alongside contractors to evaluate whether the specified system truly fits the application. As an example, he asked, “What would you put on this floor that is going to be exposed to high temperatures, hot water, high impact, heavy loads?” In many cases, that answer likely differs from the original specification, now favoring durability and performance over decorative finishes. 

This is where product versatility becomes critical. APF’s Poly 600 (P600), for example, is designed as a high-performance topcoat with strong abrasion resistance, UV stability and adhesion directly to concrete. It can be used across a range of systems, giving contractors flexibility to match the coating to the space. Ryan noted that it can even be applied directly to concrete in some cases or built into multi-coat systems for exterior or high-demand environments.  

Expanding your offerings with confidence 

APF provides training and education to help contractors understand system design, surface preparation and installation best practices. For commercial roofing contractors who do not already offer floor coatings, the tools, materials and application methods often overlap with roof coatings. If you understand coatings, substrates and jobsite variables, you may already be well-positioned to succeed. 

Listen to the full episode to explore how commercial contractors are successfully adding floor coatings to their offerings and get a closer look at APF’s P600 system.

By Dani Sheehan. 

Seamless flooring systems make cleaning easier, downtime shorter and compliance simpler in food and beverage processing facilities. 

Floors in food and beverage facilities take on constant exposure to moisture, chemical cleaners, organic acids and heavy foot traffic, all while supporting strict sanitation standards. A flooring system in this environment must resist impact, abrasion and slips while being easy to clean and maintain. APF Polymer Surfaces has developed a full line of seamless flooring systems designed to meet the specialized needs of food and beverage environments.  

In any processing facility, cleanability is key. Systems like Armor-Rez PC Cove Base provide a seamless connection between floor and wall, eliminating joints where water or bacteria can collect. The result is a hygienic, easy-to-maintain surface that withstands frequent washdowns and chemical exposure. This system performs well in commercial kitchens, food prep areas and other spaces where sanitation is necessary. 

For areas exposed to heavier loads or mechanical traffic, Armor-Rez HD delivers exceptional strength. This troweled epoxy mortar system forms a dense, impact-resistant surface ideal for manufacturing zones or older concrete floors that need resurfacing. With high solids, low VOC content and fast-cure formulas available, Armor-Rez HD helps reduce facility downtime. 

Contractors appreciate the consistent workability, quick cure times and predictable results when installing APF’s flooring systems. Whether applied as a broadcast system, troweled mortar or integral cove base, these products are formulated for smooth application and dependable performance. 

APF Polymer Surfaces offers a complete toolkit for food and beverage environments. Each system is customizable to match environmental and performance needs, balancing safety, longevity and ease of maintenance. Explore the system details of Armor-Rez flooring solutions and learn how these high-performance coatings can strengthen your next project.

By Dani Sheehan. 

Learn about APF Polymer Surfaces’ new high-performance coating designed to meet today’s VOC and durability demands. 

As performance expectations rise and VOC regulations tighten, coating manufacturers are being pushed to deliver more without compromising quality. APF Polymer Surfaces now offers the performance of traditional solvent-based urethanes in a high-solids, water-based system that remains VOC compliant across the U.S., including California. 

APF Poly 600 is a two-component, high-performance coating engineered to deliver performance properties equal to conventional solvent-based catalyzed urethanes without the strong odor or VOC concerns typically associated with those systems.  

Compared to traditional water-based polyurethanes, Poly 600 offers: 

• Higher film build capabilities 
• Superior abrasion resistance 
• Improved gloss retention 
• A harder, more durable finish 

Typical applications 

Developed as a high-performance finish coat for seamless flooring and architectural applications, APF Poly 600 is ideal for environments where downtime, odor and long cure times simply aren’t an option. Its hard, high-gloss surface is easy to clean and built to withstand heavy use, making it a strong fit for hospitals and healthcare facilities, concrete countertops and high-traffic retail spaces. It’s also well-suited for demanding commercial and industrial settings, including aircraft hangars, automotive repair facilities and garage floors.  

At a glance 

• Resistant to fuels and many chemicals 
• Hard, high gloss, easily cleaned surface 
• Excellent abrasion resistance 
• Graffiti resistant when applied on walls 
• VOC compliant, even in California 

See it in action at World of Concrete! 

Live product demonstrations will be happening continuously at their booth O31609 during World of Concrete (WOC), January 20-22, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Attendees can see APF systems demonstrated firsthand, including Decorative, Quartz and Armor-Rez Systems. 

If you’re looking for a high-performance, VOC-compliant coating solution that doesn’t compromise durability or appearance, APF Poly 600 is one product worth adding to your tool kit. 

From packed aisles and live demonstrations to soundstage interviews and meaningful conversations, WOC 2026 showcased the innovation and heart of the industry. 

World of Concrete (WOC) 2026 defined the scale and energy of the construction trades coming together this year. Our crew had the unique opportunity to be present at both the International Roofing Expo (IRE) and World of Concrete, moving between two massive shows, two soundstages and countless conversations. Here’s a closer look at how it went and what it means to capture the stories that matter most to the industry. 

For Heidi J. Ellsworth, president and CEO of The Coffee Shops™, the week was all about participation: 

We were able to really tell the stories of those in this industry through interviews on the floor, live conversations on our soundstage and just through all the activities that we participated in, from National Women in Roofing Day to Roof Coating Manufacturers Association (RCMA) meeting, ROOFPAC, Roofing Alliance Student Competition and RT3 panel. I feel that we not only told the stories, but we participated in a way that really helps to elevate the industry.  

It was a truly spectacular week, and big shout out to Informa and NRCA for everything that they do to make this show such a success.  

Experiencing the scale and energy 

Moving between both shows gave the crew a front-row seat to the size, diversity and momentum of the construction and coatings industries. Dani Sheehan, content strategist, described the experience of opening day at WOC: 

Day one, when everything opened, Camden and I had the chance to walk the show floor and people were literally shoulder to shoulder. You couldn’t move; it felt like a school of fish just moving through the crowd, but the energy was palpable. It was so cool to see it, to witness it and to watch as that energy carried into conversations and demonstrations with our partners. 

World of Concrete offered the opportunity to explore new dimensions of familiar brands. Dani and Camden highlighted time spent with manufacturers and coatings experts: 

Our first interview of the day was Sika. Learning about all their wall coatings and the trainings they lead was really interesting – it was a part of their business I was unfamiliar with. Then, we got to hang out in the outdoor demonstration area with our friends from ICP Group. APF Polymer Surfaces and Pli-Dek were there showing us some amazing decorative floor coatings. It was almost hard to get to the interview because so many people were at the demo. We loved engaging in these conversations and having the chance to ask them questions in real time. 

Bringing the industry together 

While much of her week centered around IRE, Karen Edwards, COO of The Coffee Shops, had some time to experience WOC firsthand, emphasizing that whether our crew is on the soundstage or walking the show floor, the mission remained the same: 

In the last two hours of the show, I was able to go over to WOC with Heidi, visit some existing customers, talk to some new customers and really see the size and breadth of the show. It’s really impressive and incredible. We’ve been using the tagline recently, ‘Your industry, Your stories,’ and that’s our goal, really, is to focus on the industry, telling the stories, having those conversations, sharing those interviews and uplifting the entire industry. 

For Karol Weyman, product and business development director, WOC was unlike anything she had experienced before: 

World of Concrete did not disappoint — it was the largest show I’ve attended in my career. CoatingsCoffeeShop™ was located right in the lobby, and we had an incredible number of people stop by to share their stories. The passion across the industry was contagious. My role at the show was to oversee the booth and serve as a soundstage host, which gave me the opportunity to connect with contractors who have been in the industry for over 40 years, as well as manufacturers, distributors and service providers who are truly committed to supporting and advancing the industry. We also attended several outstanding charity-focused events, which reinforced one clear takeaway: this is an industry that genuinely values giving back and paying it forward. 

Evelyn Witterholt, content developer, shared a similar sentiment: 

World of Concrete lives up to its name, both in size and impact. It was our first time exhibiting at WOC and being positioned in the lobby meant we got to be on the frontlines of this incredible show. We got to meet people from all sectors of the industry, many of which were excited to talk to us about their businesses. With three indoor halls and two outdoor exhibits, there was plenty of exploring to do at the show. I particularly enjoyed watching the concrete double disc trowel agility course competition. I can't wait to see what WOC 2027 has in store! 

Training, competition and innovation 

From outdoor exhibits to emerging technology, innovation was everywhere. Megan Ellsworth, multimedia director, was struck by how much hands-on learning and competition took place throughout the event: 

There was the brick layer competition, and that was super fun to watch all the brick laying teams competing out in the bronze lot exhibit area working so hard to get every brick laid right.

The outdoor exhibits were my favorite – it was really cool to see big name brands like DeWalt, Makita, Milwaukee and even more! One thing that I love that is growing in the trades right now is women joining crews. There weren't many out there, but there were more than I have ever seen before, and I loved seeing that. I spoke to so many companies that were exploring the world of 3D printing, especially with concrete and that fascinated me. Quikrete was a standout in their capabilities of 3D printing with concrete, and the creations they had on display were somewhat mind-blowing. It is brilliant to see the innovations and what will be taken back home with contractors from the show and how the building trades industry grows after shows like World of Concrete. 

For our crew, World of Concrete was inspiring to participate in – listening, learning and amplifying the voices shaping what comes next. 

Check out our YouTube playlist for more insights from industry experts!

By Emma Peterson. 

Join Marlin Fishe, Bridget Wilson, Jorge Rodriguez and countless other professionals at the industry’s only tradeshow dedicated to the concrete and masonry industries 

Recently, The Coffee Shops™ partnered up with Tremco to give away a few World of Concrete Education Super Passes! These passes give attendees access to countless World of Concrete areas, activities and events, including:  

• The show floor: Education Super Passes come with access to the incredible World of Concrete trade show floor! This is a great opportunity for professionals to connect with their peers and see the newest innovations in the roofing world. The Coffee Shops crew will be there (South Hall Lobby) as well as many of our industry partners, like JobTread (N1568), Sika (S10215), Gaco (S13207) and ICP (O31609). Explore the show map!
• Education opportunities: As the name implies, attendees with Education Super Passes get access to learning sessions at the show! From talks about best business practices to technical seminars and industry certification events, World of Concrete has something to elevate every professional’s knowledge. Learn more!
• Networking events: In between education sessions and exploring the show floor, World of Concrete hosts a variety of events that will give you the opportunity to make business-boosting partnerships. Check out the whole list of events online.

So, who will be in Las Vegas, Nevada from January 19 to 22 thanks to The Coffee Shops and Tremco World of Concrete giveaway? Marlin Fishe, Bridget Wilson and Jorge Rodriguez!  

Marlin is the VP of field service for Capital Roof Care and Capital Coating; while Bridget is the president of Cardinal Roofing; and Jorge is the owner of J Rodriguez Concrete Contractors LLC. Congratulations to all three of them! 

The giveaway might be closed, but you can still get last minute passes!

By Dani Sheehan. 

Solve your customers’ long-term performance and safety challenges with a flooring system specifically designed to withstand harsh environments. 

Food and beverage processing, chemical plants or other high-demand facilities face heavy loads, thermal shock, constant sanitation requirements and exposure to organic acids, fats and chemicals. To meet these challenges, you need a flooring system that can deliver long-term performance, safety and reliability to your customers. APF Polymer Surfaces specifically designed CastorCrete™ systems to handle such challenging demands.  

CastorCrete is a line of urethane cement mortar flooring systems engineered for the toughest environments. Here’s what makes it a great fit for your customers: 

• Easy to clean: The seamless, non-absorbent surface prevents bacteria from hiding in cracks and joints. With an available antimicrobial additive, it supports FDA, USDA and HACCP requirements and helps customers maintain the highest sanitation standards. 
• Built to last: CastorCrete handles heavy load traffic, impact, salts, sanitizers, organic food acids and more. It’s resistant to thermal shock and cycling, making it ideal for hot washdowns or cold storage areas. 
• Safe under pressure: High-grip finishes perform in both wet and dry conditions, giving facility managers confidence that workers and visitors can move safely through the space. 
• Flexible design: With multiple system options and a large color offering, you can tailor CastorCrete to each project’s workload, budget and aesthetic goals. 

Where to recommend CastorCrete 

For light- to medium-duty needs, CastorCrete systems are a smart choice in: 

• Commercial kitchens, cafeterias and break rooms 
• Restrooms, locker rooms and corridors 
• Laboratories, educational facilities and veterinary spaces 

For heavy-duty performance, it’s a great option for: 

• Food and beverage production facilities 
• Chemical processing plants 
• Water treatment facilities 
• Loading docks, vehicle bays and manufacturing environments 

Wherever downtime is a concern, CastorCrete’s fast installation means your customer’s operations get back online quickly. While CastorCrete is the go-to for the harshest conditions, APF Polymer Surfaces also offers slurry broadcast systems and troweled epoxy mortars that can be excellent fits in many food, beverage and commercial environments. 

Explore the full line of systems for food and beverage processing and start offering specialized solutions designed for the most demanding industries.

By Dani Sheehan. 

Learn how this resinous flooring system can help you win more commercial projects. 

Did you know that the flooring market is projected to grow from $3.2 billion in 2023 to over $5 billion by 2030? APF Polymer Surfaces can help you break into the floor coatings industry with options that help you balance aesthetics, performance and cost for your customers. In a recent episode of CoatingsCast™, Megan Ellsworth sat down with Ryan Zabel to learn about APF Terrazzo Flakes, a cost-effective, high-performance flooring solution contractors can rely on. 

“Our Terrazzo polymer flake is a hybrid,” Ryan explained. “It consists of flake sizes from 1/16 inch to ¼ inch, and that’s how you can create that three-dimensional, high-end look and nice depth when you look into that floor.”  

In commercial spaces, maintenance is as important as appearance. Terrazzo Flakes provide a continuous, joint-free surface that makes daily cleaning simple and prevents the buildup of bacteria and grime. 

“Typical drywall or other walling solutions are not going to be a monolithic waterproof solution for you,” Ryan shared. “We can actually create a room that is leak proof at the end of the day.” From healthcare facilities and veterinary clinics to restaurants and correctional institutions, you can count on this resinous flooring system to stand up to the toughest conditions. 

Terrazzo Flakes deliver the classic terrazzo look at a fraction of the cost of traditional installations. You can choose from 20 blends, offering both subtle and bold design options to fit nearly any commercial project. 

APF even offers a glow-in-the-dark flake blend that combines function and aesthetics. “I’ve applied this one-of-a-kind blend many times,” said Ryan. “By adding the glow-in-the dark flake to the blend and to the build coat, it creates that wow factor when the lights are turned off.” This blend has been used for bike trails, hospitality features and safety pathways, showing just how versatile the system can be. 

“If you can think it, if you have an imagination, we can usually create a solution for you that’s going to work,” Ryan emphasized.  

Listen to the podcast or Watch the webinar to learn more about getting into the commercial flooring market with a product that sells itself. 

By Dani Sheehan. 

Whether you’re protecting a concrete slab in a mechanical room or finishing a floor in an aircraft hangar, this system delivers strength, chemical resistance and flexibility. 

In high-impact industrial environments like aircraft hangars and mechanical rooms, floors take a beating. The Armor-Rez Jet Deck 300 System by APF Polymer Surfaces is designed to meet UFGS (Unified Facilities Guide Specifications) requirements for heavy-duty flooring. This five-layer coating system is engineered for durability, chemical resistance and long-lasting performance. 

Armor-Rez Jet Deck 300 is a multi-layer epoxy and urethane flooring system with a total thickness of approximately 3/16” to ¼". It’s specifically designed for use in aircraft maintenance hangars and other heavy-duty industrial environments where superior abrasion and chemical resistance are required. 

Built from the ground up, the system uses a five-coat application to ensure surface performance and substrate protection. From primers to topcoats, each component plays a role in the system’s strength, flexibility and chemical durability. 

System components at a glance 

1 – Patching material: Epoxy 300 FLEX 

Epoxy 300 FLEX is a 100% solids, medium-viscosity flexible epoxy with excellent elongation, hardness and impact resistance. It forms a tenacious bond to concrete and performs well where vibration, thermal cycling or surface movement might compromise rigid systems. A fast cure version is available for cold weather or accelerated applications. For joint and crack repair, Epoxy 300 FLEX Paste offers a thickened alternative. 

• Flexible underlayment for other floor systems 
• Performs in dynamic environments 
• Cold temperature cure down to 40°F 

2 – Primer: Epoxy 400 

The foundation of the system is APF Epoxy 400, a low-viscosity, 100% solids epoxy resin known for its substrate adhesion and application versatility. It’s used across a variety of flooring systems and performs especially well with aggregate-filled or decorative installations. Options include a fast cure version for colder climates or a UVR version for added UV protection. 

• May be used as a primer, finish coat or aggregate binder 
• Strong substrate hide and color consistency 

3 – Mortar base: Epoxy 400 

The mortar layer uses the same durable Epoxy 400 resin, typically mixed with aggregate to create a high-build, impact-resistant base. Its low viscosity allows for easy filler incorporation and smooth installation. This layer provides mechanical strength and levels the floor before applying additional coats. 

• Ideal for slurry and aggregate-filled systems 
• Fast Cure and UVR versions available 

4 – Grout coat: Epoxy 400 Thixotropic 

APF Epoxy 400 Thixotropic is a high-viscosity version used to grout aggregate-filled systems and create uniform finishes. It’s also well-suited for cove bases and wall rendering, offering excellent chemical resistance and consistency. Fast cure and UVR versions are also available for accelerated or exposed installations. 

• Orange-peel finish in stand-alone applications 
• Good substrate hide and color uniformity 
• Bonds well in damp conditions with special hardeners 

5 – Topcoat: Polyurethane 100 or Polyurethane 100 VOC 

The system is finished with one of two high-gloss, chemical-resistant polyurethane options: 

• Polyurethane 100: Delivers hardness, flexibility, UV resistance and durability in exterior or high-light environments 
• Polyurethane 100 VOC: Meets VOC regulations for states like California while delivering similar performance 

Both offer graffiti resistance when used on wall surfaces, and an optional satin finish is available. A curing accelerator is recommended when faster turnaround is needed. 

• Resistant to fuels and many chemicals 
• Easily cleaned, hard surface with gloss or satin finish 
• Durable enough for high-traffic and exterior use  

Original image source: APF Polymer Surfaces

By Dani Sheehan. 

Don’t let hidden moisture damage your work or your reputation when working with concrete. 

When working on flooring  projects that involve coating systems or multi-trade construction sites with concrete slabs, moisture can threaten to throw everything off schedule. Even when concrete looks dry, it can still hold significant moisture inside, and that moisture can rise to the surface later, damaging flooring, adhesives or protective coatings. Understanding concrete moisture and how to deal with it is critical to making sure your work holds up over time. 

Why concrete moisture matters 

Even after concrete hardens, it continues to act like a sponge. Moisture from beneath the slab or leftover water from the mix can migrate up through the concrete over time. If you’re installing flooring or coatings on top of that slab, moisture can ruin the bond, cause bubbles or peeling and lead to expensive callbacks. 

APF’s VaporSolve® Moisture Remediation Systems 

APF Polymer Surfaces developed their VaporSolve systems to eliminate the guesswork and give you peace of mind, whether you’re working with an older slab with moisture issues.  

These epoxy-based systems form a barrier that stops moisture from interfering with whatever comes next – floor coverings, coatings, adhesives and more, no matter how much moisture is present. 

When you should use VaporSolve: 

• The slab is drying too slowly and delaying your job 
• The concrete has no vapor retarder, and you can’t predict future conditions 
• Moisture testing shows high vapor levels 
• You’re unsure whether silicate densifiers or curing compounds have been used on the slab 
• You simply want to prevent problems before they start 

Why contractors trust VaporSolve: 

• Proven performance: Over 20 million square feet covered with a 99% success rate. 
• Guaranteed adhesion: Works even when silicate-based densifiers are present – a common cause of coating failure. 

Moisture is one of the most underestimated threats to long-term system performance, especially when coatings, sealants or adhesives are involved. By taking moisture remediation seriously, you can stay on schedule, reduce warranty issues and deliver results that last. 

If you’re working on projects involving concrete slabs and want to protect your time, reputation and bottom line, APF’s VaporSolve Basic System and VaporSolve Ultra System offer an easy, reliable solution that won’t slow down your job.