Urethane is one of several different coating types that can be effective in an industrial workplace. A urethane-coated floor is perhaps the most common of all alternatives to the standard epoxy flooring system.

Although these two floors can look similar when new, they perform very differently.

Urethane is a synthetic, crystalline compound found in a variety of products. Outside of industrial environments, it is also used to seal decorative concrete and stone. It is an organic plastic, extremely resistant to wear and abrasion, and usually used as a topcoat.

Aside from flooring, urethane is desirable for improving the lifespan of certain industrial materials. It is especially useful for stainless steel, aluminum, and titanium, and for strategic metal equipment that is situated indoors.