Polymer Deck Coverings

Marine Resin & Epoxy Deck Coverings

Q: What is a marine resin floor?

A marine resin floor is a liquid-applied deck covering built up on the steel or screeded deck in layers — primer, resin coating, often a quartz broadcast for texture, then a sealer. Because it cures in place it forms a jointless surface with no seams to weld or fail, which is why it dominates machinery spaces, galleys, workshops and wet rooms. The resin is either epoxy, chosen for hardness and chemical resistance, or polyurethane, chosen for elasticity and comfort.

Q: Epoxy or polyurethane for a ship's deck?

Epoxy is the harder and more chemically resistant chemistry — around Shore D 80 — and is specified where mechanical load, oils and cleaning agents dominate: engine rooms, workshops, stores. Polyurethane stays elastic at around Shore D 45, so it bridges deck movement and hairline cracks and feels warmer and quieter underfoot — the choice for accommodation circulation, mess rooms and decks that flex. Many vessels use both, zone by zone.

Q: Are resin deck coverings IMO certified?

The GTF Freese deck covering systems we supply are tested to the IMO FTP Code 2010, Parts 2 and 5 — surface flammability and smoke and toxicity for deck coverings. Approval belongs to the system as applied, not to a single tin, so the certificate names the build-up: primer, coating, filler and sealer in a defined sequence and thickness. We supply the certificate and datasheets with every order for the classification or authority file.

Q: Can resin be applied over an existing deck?

Usually yes, provided the substrate is sound, dry and correctly prepared — resin systems are applied over prepared steel or over a mineral levelling screed, with a primer matched to the substrate. Cure is temperature-driven, so the work window depends on deck and air temperature rather than on the calendar, which matters in an unheated dock. Each system datasheet states its substrate limits and minimum temperatures.

Q: Do you supply synthetic teak for exterior decks?

Yes — TEFROteak is a liquid-applied synthetic teak deck system: it gives the appearance and grip of a teak deck without laid timber, caulking or the sanding cycle. It suits walkways, external stairs, exposed decks and boat landings where salt, UV and pressure washing rule out natural timber maintenance.

A marine resin floor is applied as a liquid and cures in place, so it arrives as one continuous surface — no seams to weld, no joints to lift. That is why resin, not sheet material, is what goes down in engine rooms, workshops, galleys, wet rooms and on exposed decks.

The whole decision is then one question: epoxy or polyurethane. Epoxy for hardness and chemical attack, polyurethane for movement and comfort. Trivaro supplies the GTF Freese marine programme — coatings, quartz build-ups, comfort floors and synthetic teak — across Europe with IMO documentation.

Shore D 80

Epoxy hardness

Shore D 45

Polyurethane elasticity

99%

Solids, solvent-free

IMO FTP CodeEpoxy & PUJointless

No seams to fail.

Machinery·Galleys·Exterior Decks

Jointless By Construction

Why Decks Go Resin

Sheet coverings need welded seams and detailing at every upstand. A resin deck has none of that — which changes six things at once.

No seams, no weak line

The surface cures as one piece. There is no welded joint to open under thermal movement, washdown or a dropped tool.

Coves and upstands in the same material

Perimeters, plinths and drain surrounds are formed in the same resin, so the waterproof line is continuous into the vertical.

Chemical and oil resistance

Machinery spaces see fuel, lube oil, hydraulic fluid and cleaning agents. Epoxy chemistry is specified against that exposure, not against footfall.

Slip profile is designed in

A quartz broadcast sets the texture deliberately — the same system can finish smooth-cleanable or heavily anti-skid depending on the space.

Follows any deck shape

Frames, hatch surrounds, foundations and odd geometry are coated as found — no templating, no offcuts, no fitting loss.

Repairable in short windows

Damage is ground out and recoated locally. There is no need to lift a sheet or open a seam across the compartment.

Epoxy vs Polyurethane vs Comfort PU

Rule of thumb: epoxy where the floor is attacked, polyurethane where the floor moves, comfort polyurethane where people stand on it all watch. Most vessels specify two of the three.

Criterion

Hardness
Movement & hairline cracks
Chemical & oil load
Underfoot comfort & noise
Typical spaces
Density

Epoxy

Hard — around Shore D 80
Rigid — needs a sound, stable substrate
Highest resistance of the three
Hard and acoustically bright
Engine rooms, workshops, stores
Around 1530 kg/m³

Polyurethane

Elastic — around Shore D 45
Bridges deck movement and hairline cracks
Good, below epoxy on aggressive chemicals
Warmer and quieter than epoxy
Circulation, decks that flex, exteriors
Around 900 kg/m³ — lighter

Comfort PU

Softest of the three — resilient layer
Most tolerant of substrate movement
Adequate for accommodation duty
Best — standing comfort and footfall noise
Mess rooms, control rooms, accommodation
Lightest build-up of the three

The Resin Families We Supply

Four product families from the GTF Freese marine programme, each with a different job on the deck. Tell us the space and its exposure — we return the build-up.

TEFROKA — the Deck Covering System

Where: machinery spaces, workshops, galleys, wet rooms, technical areas
Type: a layered system — EP N primer, then HLS Deck Covering or EP-R in epoxy, or PU-1-L in polyurethane, finished with HLS Sealer
Earns: a jointless, certified deck with the slip profile set by the broadcast layer — full detail in the TEFROKA system guide

TEFROfloor — Coatings & Comfort Floors

Where: accommodation circulation, mess and control rooms, general interior decks
Type: TEFROfloor EP and EP COATING in epoxy, PU COATING and PU-E in polyurethane, plus PU COMFORT H
Earns: the interior-grade resin range, including a resilient comfort floor for spaces crews stand in

TEFROteak — Synthetic Teak Decks

Where: walkways, external stairs, exposed decks, boat landings
Type: TEFROteak — liquid-applied, no laid timber and no caulking
Earns: teak appearance and grip outdoors without the sanding and re-caulking cycle

Top Coats & Texture

Where: over any of the systems above, where wear or cleanability is the last requirement
Type: TEFROtop PU W as a sealing top coat; TEFROKA KH Filler to set the texture
Earns: the final surface — slip class and cleanability tuned without changing the body of the floor

Technical & Compliance

What a specifier, class surveyor or yard QA will ask about a resin deck — and what we supply with the order.

IMO FTP Code 2010, Parts 2 & 5
Surface flammability, smoke and toxicity for deck coverings. Approval belongs to the system as applied — the certificate names the sequence and thickness, not a single tin.
Solvent-free chemistry
High-solids formulations — around 99% solids on the epoxy side — for work in enclosed compartments with limited ventilation.
Cure is temperature-driven
Work windows follow deck and air temperature, not the calendar. Each datasheet states minimum application temperatures — decisive in an unheated dock.
Substrate limits are stated
Applied over prepared steel or over a mineral levelling screed, with the primer matched to the substrate and its moisture state.
Weight counts on topsides
Polyurethane builds lighter than epoxy at similar thickness — read against the vessel’s kg/m² allowance, as set out in our weight and build-up guide.
Documentation with every order
Datasheets, certificates and application instructions supplied for the classification or authority file — see IMO/MED certification.

How a Resin Deck Is Built Up

Four layers, in sequence. The certificate covers the sequence — changing a layer changes the approval.

Prepare & prime

Steel is prepared and primed, or a mineral screed is laid first to level the deck. The primer is chosen for the substrate and its moisture condition — this layer decides adhesion for the life of the floor.

Coat

The body of the floor: epoxy where chemical and mechanical load rules, polyurethane where the deck moves or comfort matters. Thickness follows the certified system, not preference.

Texture

A quartz or filler broadcast sets the slip profile — from smooth and easily cleaned to heavily anti-skid for wet and exterior work.

Seal

A sealer or top coat locks in the texture and sets the final cleanability and wear surface, closing the system named on the certificate.

Related Systems & Reading

What sits under, beside and above a resin deck.

TEFROKA system guide↗

The layer-by-layer build-up, epoxy versus polyurethane, and the cure schedule in cold docks.

TEFROTEX mineral screeds↗

The levelling layer many resin decks are applied over, across a wide density band.

Offshore flooring↗

Which rules apply on rigs, platforms and offshore wind vessels — and the zones resin serves.

Marine deck coverings↗

The full programme — screeds, A-60 insulating systems, primers and deck coverings.

Marine Resin Flooring — Frequently Asked Questions

What yards, owners and superintendents ask before specifying a resin deck.

What is a marine resin floor?

A liquid-applied deck covering built up in layers on the steel or screeded deck — primer, resin coating, a quartz broadcast for texture, then a sealer. Because it cures in place it forms a jointless surface with no seams to weld or fail, which is why resin dominates machinery spaces, galleys, workshops and wet rooms. The resin is either epoxy (hardness, chemical resistance) or polyurethane (elasticity, comfort).

Epoxy or polyurethane for a ship's deck?

Epoxy is harder and more chemically resistant — around Shore D 80 — for mechanical load, oils and cleaning agents: engine rooms, workshops, stores. Polyurethane stays elastic at around Shore D 45, so it bridges deck movement and hairline cracks and feels warmer and quieter underfoot — for accommodation circulation, mess rooms and decks that flex. It is also the lighter build-up. Most vessels use both, zone by zone.

Are resin deck coverings IMO certified?

The GTF Freese systems we supply are tested to the IMO FTP Code 2010, Parts 2 and 5 — surface flammability, and smoke and toxicity for deck coverings. Approval belongs to the system as applied, so the certificate names the build-up: primer, coating, filler and sealer in a defined sequence and thickness. Substituting a layer voids the approval. We supply the certificate and datasheets with every order.

Can resin be applied over an existing deck?

Usually yes, if the substrate is sound, dry and correctly prepared. Systems are applied over prepared steel or over a mineral levelling screed, with the primer matched to the substrate. Cure is temperature-driven, so the work window follows deck and air temperature rather than the calendar — the deciding factor in an unheated dock. Each datasheet states its substrate limits and minimum temperatures.

Do you supply synthetic teak for exterior decks?

Yes — TEFROteak is a liquid-applied synthetic teak system: the appearance and grip of a teak deck without laid timber, caulking or the sanding cycle. It suits walkways, external stairs, exposed decks and boat landings where salt, UV and pressure washing rule out natural timber upkeep.

Do you install, or supply only?

We are a materials supplier — most resin decks reach us as a materials package for the yard’s or owner’s own applicator, quoted per system and zone and delivered across Europe from our Estonian warehouse. Where a project wants it, installation by certified teams can be arranged separately.

Specifying a Resin Deck?

Trivaro supplies marine resin deck systems across Europe — epoxy and polyurethane deck coverings, quartz-broadcast build-ups, comfort floors, synthetic teak and the primers beneath them — with IMO documentation for your classification file.

Send the spaces, their areas and what the floor is exposed to. We respond with a certified build-up per space, datasheets and a B2B quotation.