A warehouse floor is the surface that absorbs every load: forklifts, pallets, racking. In Almaty, standard requirements are compounded by seismic activity: expansion joints in the floor slab are mandatory, and they must be protected correctly. The wrong coating fails in 2–3 years; the right one lasts 10–15 years. Here is a breakdown of options with real 2025–2026 prices.
from 7,800 ₸/m²
industrial concrete floor installation
base slab only — B25, 150 mm, coating not included. Almaty, 2025–2026
from 8,000 ₸/m²
concrete floor with topping, turnkey
reinforced concrete B25 + quartz topping — standard option for warehouses with forklifts
5–8 t/m²
typical warehouse floor load
racked warehouse with pallets — actual equipment load must be calculated
6×6 m grid
expansion joints in Almaty
seismic zone 8–9 — joints are specified at a tighter spacing than in non-seismic regions
Choosing the Right Floor: Load-Based Selection
Before selecting a coating, know your load. The wrong load assumption leads to cracking within 1–2 seasons.
| Use Case | Load | Recommended Floor |
|---|---|---|
| Manual storage, small retail | up to 2 t/m² | Concrete B20, 100 mm + topping |
| Electric cart, hand trolleys | 2–4 t/m² | Concrete B25, 150 mm + topping or epoxy |
| Electric counterbalance (up to 3 t) | 4–6 t/m² | Concrete B25, 150–180 mm + quartz topping |
| Reach truck / counterbalance (3–5 t) | 5–8 t/m² | Concrete B30, 180–200 mm + corundum topping |
| Heavy forklift (5–10 t) | 8–15 t/m² | Concrete B30–B35, 200–250 mm + corundum |
| High-bay racking (leg point loads) | up to 25–50 t per point | Reinforced pads under rack uprights |
Type 1: Concrete Floor with Topping
Topping is a dry-shake hardener (quartz or corundum + cement) that is worked into fresh concrete to form a hardened surface layer 5–8 mm thick. This is the most common warehouse floor solution in Kazakhstan.
Advantages:
- High surface strength (M400–M600)
- Dust-free (important for electronics and food storage)
- Cost-effective
- Easy to repair
Disadvantages:
- Not chemically resistant (oils and acids attack it)
- Porous — absorbs moisture in case of spills
- Requires regular maintenance (impregnation every 2–3 years)
| Topping Variant | Turnkey Cost in Almaty |
|---|---|
| Quartz topping (standard) | 8,000–11,000 ₸/m² |
| Corundum topping (high wear) | 11,000–15,000 ₸/m² |
Type 2: Polymer Coating (Epoxy, Polyurethane)
A polymer coating is applied on top of a finished concrete base — it is an additional 2–5 mm protective layer. It does not replace the concrete; it protects it.
| Coating Type | Thickness | Application | Cost (in addition to concrete) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epoxy primer (1–2 coats) | 0.3–0.5 mm | Dust sealing, basic protection | 800–1,500 ₸/m² |
| Epoxy coating (self-levelling) | 2–4 mm | Chemical resistance, hygiene | 2,500–5,500 ₸/m² |
| Polyurethane coating | 2–4 mm | Elasticity, impact resistance | 3,000–6,000 ₸/m² |
| Quartz-filled system | 3–5 mm | Anti-slip, high-traffic floor | 3,500–7,000 ₸/m² |
When to choose epoxy:
- Food production (easy to clean, non-absorbent)
- Chemical warehouse (resistance to acids and alkalis)
- Pharma, healthcare (hygienic surface)
- Auto service (oils, fuel)
When to choose polyurethane:
- High impact loads (metal parts falling)
- Vibration (compressor station in operation)
- Temperature cycling (cold storage warehouse)
Type 3: Bare Concrete Floor (with Impregnation)
For unheated warehouses, open yards, and uninsulated hangars — a concrete slab with a hardening impregnation (lithium or sodium silicate) is often sufficient.
| Variant | Cost |
|---|---|
| Concrete floor B25, 150 mm | 6,000–8,500 ₸/m² |
| Concrete B25 + silicate impregnation | 7,000–9,500 ₸/m² |
Expansion Joints in Almaty: A Mandatory Feature
In the 8–9 magnitude seismic zone, expansion joints in concrete floors are specified at a 6×6 m grid (versus 9×9 m in non-seismic regions). This creates:
- 2.25× more joints
- More linear metres of joint filling
- A requirement for special flexible seismic joint sealant
Turnkey joint cost (filling, polyurethane sealant): 3,000–6,000 ₸/running metre.
For a 1,000 m² floor on a 6×6 m grid: approximately 300 running metres of joints = 900,000–1,800,000 ₸ for joints alone.
Seismic joints are more than just lines in the floor
Full Floor Budget for a Typical Almaty Warehouse
Heated warehouse, 1,500 m², 3-tonne forklifts, quartz topping:
| Item | Calculation | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Base preparation (compaction, crushed stone) | 1,500 m² × 1,500 ₸ | 2,250,000 ₸ |
| Concrete slab B25, 150 mm | 1,500 m² × 7,500 ₸ | 11,250,000 ₸ |
| Quartz topping | 1,500 m² × 9,500 ₸ — included in slab | included |
| Expansion joints (seismic 6×6 m grid) | ~420 running m × 4,500 ₸ | 1,890,000 ₸ |
| Edge and perimeter impregnation | lump sum | 300,000 ₸ |
| Total floor, 1,500 m² | ~15,690,000 ₸ | |
| Cost per m² | ~10,460 ₸/m² |
Flooring only. Excludes column footings, drainage pits, or equipment recesses.
We'll calculate the floor for your Almaty warehouse including seismic joints
StroyHub designs industrial buildings with the correct floor construction — slab thickness, reinforcement, and expansion joints per seismic zone codes.