What Is Epoxy Flooring?

Most people wonder, “What is Epoxy flooring?” Well, Epoxy flooring looks stunningly beautiful. That’s one of the first things people notice in addition to its durability, strength, and easy maintenance. Although many of us have seen Epoxy Flooring in stores, studios, or most commonly garages, we are often unaware of the term, how it is done, or whether it is appropriate for our purposes. People often get confused after hearing the term Epoxy and ask questions such as “what does epoxy mean” or “what is epoxy flooring?”.

Epoxy flooring is a type of synthetic resin flooring that is applied on top of concrete surfaces as a protective and decorative layer. The systems are made up of many layers of thermosetting resins that are coated, poured, and layered over a concrete base. The floor system establishes a strong and everlasting connection after the epoxy resin layers have completely dried, functioning as an impermeable and elegant shield to protect the floor. Epoxy floor coatings are way different from Epoxy paint. People are often confused between the two but they should be aware that epoxy coatings are a mixture of Resin and Hardeners whereas Epoxy paint is just simple paint.

Epoxy Flooring is a floor coating that is used to modify places from dull and plain concrete surfaces into something more durable and impenetrable, unlike acrylic flooring. Epoxy provides a strong adhesive bond to concrete surfaces while also shielding them against chemical spills, ordinary household products, grime, and grease.

Frequently used in garage spaces, the Epoxy surface resists scrapes, scratches, and the wear and tear of tires, repairs, and regular use. Epoxy floor coatings are strong enough and can be utilized in warehouses, factories, and other industrial flooring settings. It is also a great option for concrete resurfacing. When you walk into a garage that has Epoxy Flooring, you will instantly notice it. The appearance is a space that is more polished, appealing, and usable. Epoxy transforms a filthy, unremarkable garage into a place worthy of its contents.

Just imagine how fantastic your favorite sports car would appear in a garage with Epoxy flooring that is shining and stunning. 

Table of Contents

What Is Epoxy Made Out Of?

Epoxy is made up of a mixture of hardeners and resins. The resulting plastic is hard and resistant to environmental deterioration such as air, water, soil, or chemicals, as well as wear and tear.

While all Epoxy flooring is a great improvement over concrete and a big step up from acrylic, Epoxy is not a one-size-fits-all solution. There are several varieties of Epoxy to suit the demands of the consumer. Self Leveling, Anti-Static, Terrazzo, Graveled, Mortar, Flaked, and Self Dispersing are some of the options.

what is epoxy flooring

Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Epoxy Flooring

There are lots of advantages and disadvantages of Epoxy flooring.

Epoxy Flooring Benefits

The Epoxy Flooring benefits are as follows: 

  • Affordability
  • Resistance
  • Durability
  • Variety
  • Protection
  • Safety

Disadvantages of Epoxy Flooring

The Disadvantages of Epoxy Flooring are as follows: 

Types Of Epoxy Flooring

So, you’ve decided to have Epoxy Floor Coatings placed at your home or business but now comes the difficult part. What epoxy flooring do you need? And what will be the best fit for your requirements and that can add value? There are various types of Epoxy Flooring to choose from. All these different types of epoxy flooring have different application purposes. 

Epoxy floors and epoxy coatings are getting popular and widely used in commercial and industrial settings. Epoxy flooring offers several advantages, making it ideal for a wide range of commercial applications, including manufacturing, industrial, and even general households.

The following are the many types of epoxy flooring and the most typical applications for each.

  • Self-dispersing Epoxy Flooring
  • Self-leveling Epoxy Flooring
  • Mortar Coating Floor Epoxy
  • Gravel Coating Floor Epoxy
  • Terrazzo Coating Floor Epoxy
  • Antistatic Coating Floor Epoxy
  • Vapor Barrier Epoxy Coating
  • Epoxy Flaked Floor Coatings
  • Quartz Epoxy Floors
  • 100% Solids Epoxy
  • Waterborne Epoxy
  • Solvent-Based Epoxy

How Much Does Epoxy Flooring Cost?

You must be wondering how much does epoxy flooring cost? Well, Epoxy flooring costs vary depending on the customer’s choices. The size of the floor and the material used are two of the most important aspects that influence the cost of an epoxy floor coating.

epoxy floor vs polished concrete

The ultimate cost is determined by the following elements, which are tailored to the needs and budget of the customer: There are several factors that can affect the cost of Epoxy Flooring:

Dimensions of the Floor

It is a no-brainer that the floor’s dimensions will affect the epoxy flooring cost. The larger the surface area, the higher the cost will be. A room that is not in a typical shape and has more difficult corners will be more complicated to coat and an expensive undertaking. The cost of epoxy garage flooring will be higher for larger garages. A larger area will take more epoxy floor coatings to be properly covered hence the price increment.

What Type of Epoxy is used?

The type of epoxy floor coatings used will also influence the price. Water-based, Solvent-Borne Epoxy, and 100 percent solids epoxy are the three most common forms of epoxy used today. Solid epoxy will cost you higher compared to Water based epoxy and solvent-borne epoxy.

Is there a need for some build-up on the floor?

Epoxy flooring can be put directly on a concrete surface, however, it may be essential to apply a build-up first on damaged concrete floors. This is frequently the case when the surface isn’t completely flat or contains small holes.

The use of a build-up will aid in the creation of a flat surface and will prevent the epoxy floor coatings from leaking through fractures in the sub-base. This will add up to the overall expenses.

disadvantages of concrete floor

Consideration of Color and Style

You have the option of going with a plain color or a more artistic finish with designs or patterns. You may also pick a metallic finish or add beautiful quartz flakes. The cost of the finishing will differ based on the design’s complexities and the materials utilized. You should choose the color of your epoxy floor coatings based on different aspects.

So, the cost of Epoxy coating your garage will change based on the size of the garage, the materials you choose, the color and style of the garage epoxy flooring, and the condition of the sub-base of your garage.

How Long Does Epoxy Floor Last?

Some epoxy floor coatings have been known to endure for 20 years in domestic settings, but industrial flooring and commercial settings are often subjected to significantly higher rates of automobile and foot traffic, as well as spillage, accidents, and other concerns that can wear epoxy down more quickly.

Because of these factors, most industrial epoxy coatings endure 5 to 10 years, while they can sometimes last longer. The longevity of epoxy flooring entirely depends upon how it was installed and what care it is receiving. If it was installed by experts and is taken good care of, epoxy floorings can last decades.

How Thick Is Epoxy Flooring?

Epoxy flooring comes in a variety of thicknesses, ranging from 300 microns (0.01 inch) to 5mm (0.2 inches). The thinnest you can go is 300 microns. The thickest coat you may pick is 5mm. However, you can choose your own level of thickness based on your needs.

Remember to consider a certain number of things before choosing the thickness. You should note down the factors such as traffic the floor will receive, the rate of spillage(chemical or other substance), and the condition of your concrete prior to coating.

If the floor receives more traffic, and spillage and your concrete condition are bad, you would require a thicker coating. But for a concrete surface that is in good condition and receives less foot traffic, a thinner coat would do the job just fine. We hope your question “What is epoxy flooring” is answered now. Epoxy Flooring is a very highly recommended flooring options for Residential Flooring systems, organizational flooring systems, garage floor epoxy, or Industrial flooring systems.

Contact us to discuss the variety of epoxy flooring services best for you, their cost, and when to schedule the installation of your new floor! We have two locations serving Temecula, San Diego, and everything in between.

Frequently Asked Questions

Epoxy flooring is made up of a mixture of hardeners and resins that, when put together, cause a chemical reaction that hardens the substance into a solid material with extremely strong connections. This makes it immune to a variety of common concrete issues, such as cracks, water damage, discoloration, and so on.

The time it takes to apply epoxy floor coating differs by factors such as the size of the space being coated, but it usually takes 2 to 3 days for an average-sized garage. It’s crucial to highlight that no one can access the floor (walk, drive, etc.) for minimum 48 hours as it cures, so make absolutely sure you’re prepared to completely shut down the area.

  • Garages
  • Basements
  • Distilleries and breweries
  • Shops, shopping malls, pubs, and nightclubs
  • Hospitals, assisted living homes, and veterinary clinics
  • Automobile dealerships and auto shops
  • Restaurants and commercial kitchens
  • Public bathrooms, locker rooms, and gyms
  • Buildings for public safety
  • Educational establishments

Garage Epoxy flooring is a  surprisingly low-cost method to eliminate concrete dust and give your garage floor an appealing, low-maintenance floor system that can withstand damages and stains from oil spills, fallen tools, hot tires, wetness, and other hazards. You get yourself a nice, shiny epoxy garage floor.

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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