Every floor project starts with the same five worries depending on who's writing the spec. An interior designer worries about whether the visual survives the client meeting. An architect worries whether the TDS holds up in the project file. A restaurant owner worries about Ministry-of-Health inspection and the closed-kitchen cost. A warehouse manager worries about the reach-truck spec and the night-shift install. A private client worries about the dog, the kid, and the year-two crack. This page lists the top four objections per role with hard answers and links to the specific system or brand that closes the question.
Jump to your role
- Interior designer — visual, sample kit, decorative-system fit
- Architect / specifier — TDS, EN standards, joints, pull-off
- Restaurant / café owner — anti-slip, HACCP, kitchen downtime
- Warehouse / factory manager — reach-truck load, night-shift install, removal cost
- Private client — kids and dogs, residential-grade trust, simple language
Interior Designer
Maya — 8+ years, Tel Aviv / Herzliya / Ramat Gan, 2–5 active projects, audience: premium residential + boutique commercial.
Decorative bias. Pinterest + Instagram entry path. The objection set is about how the floor looks at the client meeting, who carries warranty, and how customisable colour actually is.
If the client wants a different colour later, can we do that?
Yes — microtopping and epoxy terrazzo both accept full pigment customisation. Microtopping ships with 70+ standard tints and supports custom RAL/Pantone match at the integral pigment stage. Epoxy terrazzo aggregates can be specified by colour and size before pour. Decorative concrete (cement-terrazzo, palladiana) is integral-pigmented at the wet-mix stage, with later staining/sealing for shade adjustment. Lock the colour at sample-kit stage before installation — post-installation tint correction is rarely cost-effective. See decorative brand catalog and terrazzo comparison.
Who carries the warranty — me, the contractor, or the manufacturer?
Three separate warranties run in parallel. (1) Manufacturer warrants the product against material defect — typically 2–5 years on the dry-mix or resin component. (2) Certified applicator warrants the installation workmanship — 2–7 years depending on system and applicator agreement. (3) You (the designer) carry no product or installation liability if the system is specified in writing, the applicator is certified, and the spec is followed. Get both warranties in writing before the project starts and keep them in the client file. See floor warranty types explained.
What if the floor cracks a year in?
Hairline crack pattern is normal in micro-systems over green substrate and over poorly-placed control joints — these are cosmetic, not structural. Structural cracking traceable to substrate movement or pour error voids the applicator warranty in most cases. Mitigation: insist on 28-day substrate cure before installation, ASTM F2170 in-situ moisture probe ≤75% RH, and crack-isolation membrane on substrates with shrinkage cracks > 0.3 mm. See substrate moisture remediation.
Can I order a 30×30 cm sample for the client meeting?
Yes — every brand on our reference catalogue ships sample plates at 20×20 to 30×30 cm. Microtopping and decorative-concrete samples ship integral-pigmented to your specified RAL. Epoxy terrazzo samples ship with your specified aggregate mix. Lead time 7–14 days. Brand catalogues: microtopping brands · full brand catalog.
Architect / Specifier
Daniel — 12+ years, Tel Aviv / Haifa, 5–30 person bureau, 500–10,000 m² projects, audience: commercial + infrastructure.
Documentation-driven. EN standards required. If TDS placeholders show on first page, the architect leaves and does not return.
Where is the TDS PDF with a verifiable publication date?
Manufacturer-issued TDS PDF lives on the brand product page. Sika, Mapei, MC-Bauchemie, Ardex publish current TDS at the product SKU level with revision date in the document footer. Tender language: "TDS revision dated within last 36 months from notified body". If a supplier cannot produce a current dated TDS, the product is in catalog-only status and not specifiable for tender-grade projects. See Sika · Mapei · MC-Bauchemie · Ardex/Pandomo.
What's the pull-off bond strength to substrate?
EN 1542 / ASTM D7234 pull-off minimum 1.5 MPa for resin systems over concrete substrate; substrate cohesive failure (mode C) preferred over adhesive failure (mode A). Reject any system that cannot quote a pull-off value with named test method. Substrate must be prepared to ICRI CSP per system datasheet (typically CSP 3–5 for self-levelling, CSP 4–7 for heavy-duty epoxy, CSP 5–9 for PU-cement). See adhesion pull-off test guide and ICRI CSP surface profile guide.
What about expansion joints and crack-isolation?
Resin floors continue any existing substrate joint — saw-cut joints must be replicated through the floor, sealed with polyurethane or polysulphide sealant matched to chemistry. Floor-perimeter joints required at all walls and column intrusions. Crack-isolation membrane (Sika Combiflex, equivalent) over substrate cracks > 0.3 mm. Expansion-joint cost is rarely line-itemised by applicators — surface it as a separate line in the BOQ. See expansion joints in resin floors.
Why are some fire-class claims marked "pending"?
Honest gap disclosure. A fire-class claim like Bfl-s1 is verified only when the manufacturer's TDS cites the notified-body certificate by reference number AND that certificate covers the specific system build-up. System-level claims (the whole 3-layer build) often reference component-level test data — that gap is logged as "pending" rather than misrepresented as verified. Tender language should require the named certificate number, not just the class. See compliance verification checklist.
Restaurant / Café Owner
Yael — 3+ years operating, 1–5 locations, F&B, decision authority full, downtime cost ₪8,000–25,000 per closed day.
Downtime-first. Already burned by cheap epoxy. Wants the answer in two sentences and a phone number.
How many days will the kitchen be closed?
PU-Cement Kitchen: 3 nights (substrate prep night 1, system pour night 2, finish coat night 3, walking-traffic at hour 12 after final pour, full chemical resistance day 7). MMA Fast Kitchen: 1 night (mix-pour at 17:00, walking at 19:00, full service at midnight). Heavy-Duty Quartz Broadcast Epoxy: 4–5 nights (broadcast cycle + cure). Don't accept any other "downtime" answer without the explicit overnight schedule. See PU-cement vs epoxy for kitchens and MMA system encyclopedia.
Will Ministry of Health pass the floor?
Inspection accepts floors with R11+ slip class (DIN 51130 oil-wet ramp test), HACCP-certified food-contact safety (ISO 22196 or equivalent), and integral cove base or sealed perimeter detail. PU-Cement Kitchen 6–9 mm and Heavy-Duty Quartz Broadcast Epoxy both pass without modification. Microtopping floors and decorative epoxy SL ≤ 3 mm do not — they're for front-of-house dining areas, not the cooking line. See compliance verification checklist §2 + §3.
If it cracks in year two, who pays?
If installation followed the manufacturer's substrate-prep + cure-time spec, the applicator's installation warranty covers crack repair for 2–7 years depending on the agreement. If the installation rushed substrate-cure or skipped F2170 moisture probe, the manufacturer disclaims and the applicator carries it alone. Insist on written warranty with the SKU + installation date + applicator certification number before final payment. The named-product, named-applicator combination is your contractual lever. See floor warranty types.
Can I do PU-cement myself with the cheap general contractor?
No. PU-cement requires certified applicators — Sika, MC-Bauchemie, Ardex, and Master Builders all maintain certified-applicator lists in IL. An uncertified pour voids the manufacturer warranty and typically delaminates within 6–18 months under kitchen wash-down. The cost differential between certified and "general contractor" is usually 15–25% on labour — versus 100% on a year-two re-pour. See the brand catalog for IL certified-applicator contact paths.
Warehouse / Factory Manager
Igor — operations manager, 1,500–8,000 m² facility, reach-truck + forklift traffic, audience: industrial + logistics.
Load-rating and night-shift install. Wants to know if the old epoxy stays or comes off.
Does the old failed epoxy come off, or do we overlay?
Depends on pull-off test result. If the existing epoxy delivers ≥ 1.0 MPa pull-off and substrate is sound, overlay is possible with a chemical bonding primer (Sikafloor-156, equivalent). Below 1.0 MPa, mechanical removal is required — shot-blast or scarification down to sound substrate. Overlay-without-test is the single most common cause of two-years-later delamination. Pull-off testing is ₪400–800 per location, three locations per 1,000 m². See substrate moisture remediation §4.
Can a 3-tonne reach-truck use the floor?
Yes if the system class matches. Heavy-Duty Epoxy Quartz Broadcast 4–6 mm rates up to 5-tonne wheel load over sound 25 MPa substrate. PU-Cement 6–9 mm rates up to 7-tonne wheel load with thermal-cycle tolerance. Thin epoxy SL ≤ 2 mm is forklift-incompatible — pinholes under steel wheel within 6 months. Specify wheel-load capacity in the tender, not "industrial-grade". See epoxy SL vs PU-cement vs MMA.
Can we lay it at night without closing operations?
MMA systems pour at 17:00–20:00 and re-open to forklift traffic at 06:00 next morning. PU-Cement Kitchen pours overnight (3 consecutive nights) with operations resuming each morning at restricted zones. Heavy-duty epoxy quartz is a weekend-shutdown system, not a night-shift system — broadcast cycles need 12+ hours of uninterrupted cure. Match system to shutdown tolerance, not headline cure time. See MMA system encyclopedia.
Can you give me line-itemised pricing: material / labour / prep?
Yes — request a tender-grade BOQ from any certified applicator. Heavy-Duty Epoxy 4–6 mm typically: material ₪80–120/m², labour ₪40–70/m², substrate prep ₪25–60/m² depending on existing condition. PU-Cement 6–9 mm: material ₪140–210/m², labour ₪50–80/m², prep ₪30–80/m². Margins on prep are where applicators absorb risk — under-spec prep is the biggest warranty risk. See the floor tender BOQ template.
Private Client (Residential)
Anna — homeowner, 80–250 m² apartment or villa, audience: premium residential.
Simple-language buyer. Dog, kid, wine spills. Doesn't want to call — wants to read everything on the website.
Is it safe for kids and dogs?
Yes — all decorative-floor systems on this site are food-contact-safe once cured (typically 7 days for full cure on micro-systems, 14 days for terrazzo). VOC emissions are EMICODE EC1+ (very low) for the in-spec systems. Microtopping and polished concrete have no joints to harbour bacteria. Avoid solvent-based industrial coatings for residential — they're correct for warehouses, wrong for kitchens with kids. See compliance verification §6 (EMICODE).
Will it crack?
Decorative micro-systems and polished concrete inherit any substrate movement. On a stable concrete slab cured 28+ days, with control joints replicated through the floor, structural cracking is rare. Hairline surface map-cracking can develop in some micro-systems over time — this is cosmetic and can be resealed every 5–7 years. If the apartment is new construction or has visible substrate cracks, insist on crack-isolation membrane before the decorative pour. See substrate moisture remediation.
How do I clean it?
Daily: neutral-pH cleaner + microfibre mop. Weekly: same. Monthly: clean + reseal-spot if needed. Avoid acidic cleaners (vinegar, citrus descaler) on cementitious systems — they etch the surface. Annual professional re-seal recommended for high-traffic decorative floors. Don't use industrial degreasers — they're formulated for industrial floors and will discolour decorative surfaces. See the floor care guide.
Can I do just the living room, not the whole apartment?
Yes — micro-systems and decorative concrete can be specified per-room with edge detail at door thresholds. Transition strips ship in matching pigment from most decorative brands. Edge detail matters more than total area — a clean threshold transition is the difference between "designer floor" and "DIY look". For just the living room, expect 7–14 day installation including substrate prep. See decorative brand catalog.
Cross-role objections
Five objections recur across all roles — they're worth answering once and linking from each role section.
- "How do I know the brand on your site is actually available in Israel?" The brand catalog marks each brand as confirmed-IL (named distributor), specifier-led-import (no IL distributor — you import via EU/Dubai regional), or candidate-placeholder (research in progress). Tender-grade specs should require confirmed-IL channel unless the project budget accommodates direct import.
- "What if I can't get a sample plate before deciding?" Every brand on the catalog ships sample plates within 7–14 days. If a brand cannot ship a sample, it should not be in your final tender.
- "What standards apply to my project?" Israeli standards ת״י 1923 (slip) and ת״י 5566 (sport halls) apply to public spaces. EN 13501-1 fire reaction applies to escape routes. EN 13813 applies to resin floors generally. HACCP applies to food-contact zones. See the compliance verification checklist.
- "How long will the answer take to get?" A certified applicator should reply with a qualified estimate within 48 hours of receiving a square-metre count + substrate-type + use-case. Anything longer is a queue or a disinterest signal.
- "Is your site selling, or independent?" Floor.DSGN does not sell floor systems. Floor.DSGN documents floor systems and links to manufacturer + certified-applicator channels in Israel. Sample requests, tender BOQs, and installation contracts route through manufacturer-authorised channels, not through this site.
Final read
Five roles, four objections each, twenty answers. The combinatorics scale — the same floor can be wrong for the designer (visual) and right for the warehouse (load class), wrong for the restaurant (downtime) and right for the architect (TDS depth). Match role to system, not system to brand. The brand layer follows after the system class is correct. Related: compliance verification checklist · floor warranty types · brand catalog · resin family comparison.
Sources
- Customer journey data: Floor.DSGN audience research, 200-respondent simulation + hostile expert review, 2026-05.
- EN 13501-1, EN 16165 (PTV), EN 13813, EN 1542 — European harmonised floor standards.
- DIN 51130 R-class ramp test — slip resistance for oily/wet workplaces.
- HACCP food-safety framework + ISO 22196 antimicrobial testing.
- ת״י 1923, ת״י 5566 — Israeli standards for slip resistance and sport-hall floors.
- ICRI 310.2R — concrete surface profile method-to-CSP mapping.