Choosing the right flooring option to restore your concrete floors can always be challenging since there are different other flooring solutions. Each of these options has some disadvantages or another. You will want one that stands the test of time while resisting wear and tear. You may have been considering installing an epoxy floor for residential and commercial settings, but is it a good choice for your property?
If this question is what has been bothering you lately, don’t worry, we’re here to the rescue! Here in this guide, we have talked about the most common and well-known pros and cons of epoxy flooring.
Stick to the end of the blog, and we’re sure you’ll be in a better place to decide whether epoxy flooring perfectly fits your needs or not.
Before learning the pros and cons of epoxy flooring, let’s know what epoxy flooring is. Epoxy flooring is a durable flooring solution commonly used in residential, commercial, and industrial settings. It is a type of synthetic resin flooring which is applied to a concrete surface. The resin reacts chemically and hardens over time which creates a thick and glossy surface. It is highly resistant to chemicals, water, and stains. It can withstand high foot traffic and heavy vehicles. That’s why epoxy flooring is popular on garage floors. Now, let’s head to the pros and cons of epoxy flooring.
Everything comes with its share of pros and cons. Similarly, there are some advantages and disadvantages of Epoxy flooring as well. We will describe and talk about the advantages and disadvantages of epoxy flooring in detail. Let’s compare the benefits of epoxy flooring with its drawbacks.
| Advantages of Epoxy Flooring | Disadvantages of Epoxy Flooring |
|---|---|
| Affordability | Demanding Preparation |
| Resistance | Slippery |
| Variety | Long Curing Time |
| Durability | Odor |
| Safety and Protection | Complex Installation |
| Versatility | Hard To Remove |
Epoxy floor coatings are one of the leading flooring solutions for commercial and industrial uses. There are many benefits of epoxy flooring. It has become a popular flooring option for many because of its advantages. Additionally, its demand is rising in residential services as well. The major advantages of Epoxy flooring are as follows:
One of the major advantages of epoxy flooring is affordability. The cost of installing epoxy floors is lower compared to most other flooring options. It is an economical flooring alternative with low maintenance needs and, unlike other flooring options, has a lower cost per square foot.
The cost of installing an epoxy flooring system is higher than other alternatives. However, the replacement costs are not high because the epoxy coating can be installed over other materials, like concrete, that don’t need to be prepared; hence no additional cost is required.
Epoxy floors are highly resistant to most impurities, including things like oil, bleach, gasoline, and more. Other than being highly resistant to chemical spills, epoxy floors can withstand extreme temperatures and are also resistant to water.
In addition to that, epoxy-coated floors are resistant to germs and bacteria, making them significantly easier to sanitize. This is the reason why epoxy flooring system is used in clinics and hospitals. Having a chemical, heat, scratch-resistant surface courtesy of epoxy coating is a huge boost.
Epoxy flooring durability is unquestionable. You can be sure that epoxy-coated floors will last longer than you may expect them to. You will also be guaranteed that it’ll last longer than most of the flooring materials we have on the market.
If you need to lengthen the durability of your concrete floor, you might as well consider using an epoxy floor coating for such purposes, and you will be surprised by the results. When installed correctly by a professional installer, you can expect your epoxy coating to last for years without peeling or cracking. Durability is one of the biggest benefits of epoxy flooring.
Epoxy has limitless color options and is, therefore, a great way to decorate your floor. It may also be installed using unique and beautiful patterns and designs of your choice.
You don’t have to go with plain old concrete anymore. Epoxy would be a wonderful, economical way of improving your office or home setting. Having multiple choices is one of the major benefits of epoxy flooring.
Epoxy floors are extremely versatile. They have unlimited application areas. Various types of epoxy floors are available for different purposes. You can use them for industrial as well as commercial purposes. You can use them in laboratories and pharmaceutical industries because they are chemical resistant. Because of their high impact resistance, they also are used in public bathrooms and factories. When used for residential purposes, they will make your home look very attractive.
Want to give your concrete floor that extra layer of protection? Go for the epoxy option since epoxy-coated floors will protect your floor from stains, moisture, and cracks that may come as a result of heat. It’s quite an affordable way to protect your floors since it requires less cleaning and maintenance than other floors. Providing protection to the concrete below is one of the major benefits of epoxy flooring.
Even though many people don’t appreciate the safety benefit of using epoxy flooring, you might want to consider that it doesn’t emit harmful chemicals or any gases that might affect a person’s health. It’s also resistant to germs.
Hence, these are the major advantages of epoxy floor coating. Now, let’s look at the disadvantages of epoxy flooring.
Epoxy flooring does come up with some cons are well. Everything has its fair share of pros and cons. And so does Epoxy coating. Some of the disadvantages of epoxy flooring are as follows:
The installation of epoxy floors isn’t something you can do without any preparations, especially if you want to install a coat on top of concrete. You have to ensure that the concrete is free of grease, oil, other impurities, and cracks if you desire a smooth surface. You simply cannot lay epoxy coatings over any normal concrete without prepping it, so it is one of the major disadvantages of epoxy flooring.
Yes, your epoxy-coated floors might be fairly skid-resistant, but if you’ve opted for oil-covered epoxy, you must be more careful since it’ll be very slippery. It is one of the disadvantages of Epoxy Flooring.
All epoxy floors will become more slippery if the surface gets wet, so one could easily fall and injure themselves. However, you can have anti-slip materials added to the epoxy to make it safer while still keeping that beautiful, sleek appearance.
(Read: 7 ways to make your epoxy garage floor less slippery)
Another disadvantage of epoxy flooring is its long curing time. Depending on the type of epoxy coating used and the scope of the project, epoxy flooring systems could take several days to cure entirely. Applications typically need 72 hours to fully dry and cure. However, it could just take 24 hours to install epoxy in smaller residential spaces like garages.
If you are installing epoxy flooring within a building that typically sees a lot of foot activity or if you live in a humid region, the drying process will take longer during the curing period.
Almost all types of resinous flooring give off a smell during installation. Some are bearable whereas some may be a little too much to handle. Our staffs wear proper masks during the installation process. So, make sure to avoid the area during installation if you are really sensitive to odor. After the epoxy is properly cured, the odor will not be an issue.
Professionals should do the installation of epoxy floors because the process can be messy and time-consuming. It will require several days for the floor to dry sufficiently to be ready for use. In addition to that, if the epoxy resin and hardener have not been mixed correctly, it could affect performance after the flooring has dried. It is one of the major Epoxy flooring disadvantages.
Epoxy floors can be hard to remove. You have to use dangerous chemicals or heavy tools to remove epoxy floors. That’s because epoxy floors are highly resistant to wear and tear. In case, you are planning to redesign your floors, this can become a big issue. You also need some level of expertise to make sure the floor surface doesn’t get damaged when removing the epoxy floors.
Only knowing the pros and cons of epoxy flooring is not enough to go with epoxy floors. It would help if you chose epoxy floors by comparing them with other flooring options. Some of the popular alternatives to epoxy flooring are:
Between epoxy floors vs. polished concrete, epoxy floors are overall better than polished concrete. While polished Concrete is shinier, epoxy floors can still be better looking because of the wide variety of colors and designs available. Epoxy floors are only slightly more expensive but provide better resistance to chemicals and heat. Polished Concrete is also not as strong as epoxy floors and is more slippery when wet. It is also easier to install epoxy flooring.
You can choose either epoxy or polyurethane as a flooring option. If you are only looking for a polyurethane that has extremely high resistance to chemicals, you should choose polyurethane flooring. But, overall, epoxy floors are better than polyurethane flooring. Polyurethane flooring is less good-looking than epoxy floors. Polyurethane floors can be durable due to their flexibility, but they are less strong than epoxy floors. Epoxy is also more useful when looking to upgrade existing damaged concrete floors. Polyurethane floors may be better to walk on, but epoxy floors are still better than bare concrete.
Having considered the different pros and cons of epoxy floors, you should be quite comfortable with deciding whether or not this is the right kind of flooring for your property. These are the most common advantages and disadvantages of epoxy flooring.
Although epoxy floors are durable and resistant, you will have to replace them after a while. To keep them amazing-looking, you’ll have to put down a new coat of epoxy from time to time, which is inevitable, especially if heavy things are dropped on the floor’s surface or if there’s heavy traffic on that particular part of the floor.
If you feel that it is as worth it as people claim, then consult a professional contractor like us so that they may assist in the analysis of your floor as well as the installation. Conduct enough research so that you are sure to end up with an experienced, professional contractor. They will confirm that epoxy floors are highly resistant to everything: from chemicals to heat and water. They are also resistant to bacteria and germs, which makes them great options for homeowners and businesses.
Pricing is definitely one of the greatest and most immediate advantages of epoxy flooring. Epoxy floors are affordable, and they can be installed directly over concrete and a few more types of floors.
In addition, epoxy floors are very durable and will outlast most other types of flooring. When installed properly, they can last for several decades without cracking or peeling while remaining a visually stunning home improvement solution. I hope this article must have helped you to know about the pros and cons of epoxy flooring. Knowing the advantages and disadvantages of epoxy flooring will help you decide on your flooring options.
Again, professional installation is the way to go, and as for our expertise, read all the testimonials of our satisfied clients over the many years we’ve been in the business! We’re one of the leading epoxy flooring companies in California.
Also Read: 4 Tips for Choosing The Best Epoxy Floor Color for Your Garage
Epoxy flooring is durable and highly resistant to chemicals, oil, bleach, gasoline, and other impurities. These floorings typically last 15-20 years, and they can last even longer with proper maintenance.
Epoxy flooring installation needs professionals because the epoxy floor may have outgassing or bubble, blisters, or holes if not done properly. Other than that, it can be slippery due to its shiny surface.
Epoxy flooring is more affordable than most flooring solutions available in the market. It is cheaper than the tiles as well.
Epoxy is a durable material with a compression strength of 10,000 psi (pound-force per square inch) or above. On the other hand, concrete can resist 4,000-5,000 psi compression. Therefore epoxy is stronger than concrete.
Maintaining epoxy floors is very easy and straightforward. You can sweep or vacuum the floor to remove dust and make the floor scratch-free.
Excessive moisture and UV light exposure are the two things that can ruin an epoxy floor. They can cause the epoxy to wear away or crack the floor into fragments.
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