Epoxy Flooring: 5 Useful Flooring Facts You Need to Know

When looking for flooring options for your residence, garage, showroom, or other sites, you often miss learning essential flooring facts. Wondering why it’s important to know the flooring facts? Well, that’s because it makes your decision process much easier than you will ever know!

useful flooring facts about epoxy

Although floors can be made from several different materials and there are abundant flooring options in the market, it is quite hard to find a material that suits all conditions and environments and looks as stunning as you want it to. 

We work with several clients with different flooring needs, and when it comes to determining the best flooring options that match their needs, we always end up recommending epoxy floors!

Our opinion results from the vast experience our team at Best Coast Epoxy Coatings has gained over the years. An option like epoxy is good because it has so many advantages compared to other materials. Epoxy flooring is considered to be one of the strongest floor coatings available. If you compare Epoxy with Polyurethane, Epoxy is a better choice.

Here in this blog, we will walk you through some interesting facts about epoxy floors that you might not be aware of. Stick to the end, and I am sure you’ll have all the legit reasons to go for epoxy floors!

Why Epoxy Flooring?

Epoxy flooring is a good investment. Why? Because there are plentiful advantages of epoxy flooring over other flooring options. 

Epoxy is an especially good choice for a floor with frequent traffic, the one that holds heavy equipment, or is exposed to penetrating stains. So apart from home installation, epoxy floors are great for manufacturing and other industrial facilities, restaurant kitchens, food prep areas, car mechanic garages, etc.

Epoxy flooring is considered to be one of the strongest floor coatings available. There are many types of epoxy floor coatings available which makes it versatile, making it perfect for commercial or industrial uses, and this is what makes it very popular among home and garage owners. 

why epoxy flooring

Epoxy floor finish is a permanent coating applied uniformly on top of a well-prepared concrete surface. It offers not only protection but also an alluring palette variety. Epoxy flooring is also a very affordable option, as it is a hassle-free choice for home and business owners. It also provides the added benefit of waterproofing and sealing, which keeps concrete from deteriorating or staining over time.

Also Read: 4 Best Flooring Options For Your House

Epoxy Flooring Facts

There are several epoxy floor facts that many people do not know about. Awareness is good, and hence here we have compiled some of the fun facts about epoxy flooring:

For Strength, Opt for Flexible Grade

Different kinds of epoxy flooring can be applied. One curious distinction between these types is flexible and rigid options. One might assume that rigid options will offer more strength. However, when looking for more strength, and especially in terms of abrasion resistance, the flexible grades are better if you are, for instance, considering an epoxy flooring garage. 

Therefore, flexible epoxy is perfect for impact absorption, crack bridging, and application on substrates with high vibrations. For a general-purpose floor topping, semi-rigid options might be better.

The Two Millimeter Difference

There is a difference between epoxy flooring and coating. Many people use the terms interchangeably, probably because the difference is minimal and depends on the thickness of the applied materials. 

So what exactly is epoxy flooring? Well, the layer of epoxy applied must exceed two millimeters for it to count as a floor. Any application below this thickness is considered a coating. This distinction is important because the flooring is also supposed to provide support. A coating is added just as a protective layer.

Epoxy Can Work On Most Hard Surfaces

Epoxy is mostly associated with concrete surfaces. However, it can be applied to provide a protective layer on many other types of materials and floors, such as hardwood floors and metal, among others. The most important thing is to do proper preparation and apply it in an effective way. 

It is also possible to combine epoxy with different materials to achieve different outcomes. For example, when combined with embedded quartz, it produces a non-slip surface. Because of this, epoxy is rightfully one of the most favored flooring types in the construction and home improvement industry. This includes residential houses, garages, catering and cooking business premises, industrial plants, and car showrooms, to mention a few. 

So if you are thinking of implementing it, we think you’ll find the facts about epoxy flooring interesting and useful.

Curing Takes Time

When the epoxy is applied to a surface, it sets quickly and might appear hard enough. However, this does not mean that it is properly cured. It takes about 18-24 hours (and sometimes longer) before it is safe to walk on the surface. 

For proper curing and final hardness, it could take a few days, depending on the conditions and temperatures. It is because of this that it’s not a good idea to apply it in temperatures below 60° F because, apart from slow curing, other problems can develop.

Epoxy Floors Can Work Well Outdoors

It is possible to enjoy the benefits of epoxy, even in outdoor settings. When the epoxy is combined with a gravel-like aggregate, it creates an attractive, durable surface outdoors. The only issue is overexposure to sunlight, which can cause chemical reactions that turn the surface to a yellowish shade. 

outdoor epoxy flooring

This problem can be solved by applying a UV-resistant coating. Your professional contractor will provide useful advice when it comes to outdoor installation as well as maintenance tips.

Also read: The Main Pros and Cons of Epoxy Floors

Conclusion

Epoxy flooring will provide your old or worn-down floors with a new appeal, shimmer and shine. If a floor in your business or home is looking worn down, you can give it an excellent, durable finish for years to come. 

How about the choice of designs and colors? Unlike hardwood floors with epoxy flooring, you are not limited by a small range of colors. 

We are offering an appealing assortment of options, giving your home, garage, or business premises floor an amazing new appeal and, for professional spaces, branding identity to your customers. 

As a result of its versatility, epoxy is a perfect solution to enhance the beauty or strength of other floor materials when installed properly, of course. The important thing is to ensure it is applied properly by a professional or someone who has had experience dealing with the material. 

The surface over which it is being applied must be prepared properly to ensure that the adhesive bonds form properly. If this is not done, something as simple as moisture can ruin the outcome.

Hope the blog was of help to you. Do leave your comments down below and if you know any other epoxy flooring fun facts, consider sharing with us too! 😉

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does epoxy flooring take to dry?

When the epoxy is applied to a flooring surface, it sets quickly and might appear rigid, but it doesn’t dry or cures that quickly. You may ruin the surface if you consider it dry and walk on it. Epoxy flooring takes 18-24 hours (and sometimes longer depending on the conditions and temperatures) before you can walk on the surface.

How long does epoxy last on floors?

Epoxy is a very durable material and is considered one of the strongest flooring solutions available. The epoxy coating typically lasts ten years, but it can last even longer for 15-20 years when taken care of properly and periodically.

Which grade of epoxy is stronger?

While one might conclude flexible grade of epoxy wouldn’t be strong, the truth is it is stronger than its rigid counterpart. The flexible epoxy is better in terms of both strength and abrasion resistance compared to the rigid grade.

What is the difference between epoxy flooring and epoxy coating?

The terms epoxy flooring and epoxy coating are used interchangeably, but they are not the same. Both have a minimal difference in terms of thickness. If the thickness exceeds two mm, it is considered a floor, and any application below this thickness is considered a coating.

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Author

Ryan Pepple

My name is Ryan Pepple and I am the founder/president of Best Coast Epoxy Coatings Inc. I do all the residential jobs myself and use a crew to complete commercial jobs. You can call the number mentioned on the site to talk to me.

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