In comparison to other types of floor resins, epoxy offers a lot more benefits when used as a floor covering in homes and buildings. The strong bond between the resin and the enforcement is the major feature of epoxy. Whether it is your bathroom floor, kitchen floor, or basement floor, epoxy flooring has properties that make it a suitable choice for a wide range of settings. The popularity of epoxy flooring revolves around two key things: mechanical properties and dimensional stability. If you plan to install this flooring product in your home, garage, or commercial building, knowing its pros and cons will help you make a sensible decision.
This flooring solution is often installed in residential, commercial, and industrial settings. Just like other types of flooring, epoxy comes with its own list of advantages and disadvantages.
What Do Epoxy Floor Coating Consist of?
Epoxy floor solutions are made up of a system that has two parts. Part A is resin while Part B is the hardener. Different types of additives are further added to it as per the specific needs of the applications.
Additives are added to create the desired coatings as well as performance features to suit the specific needs of individual applications. Examples of such additives include adhesion enhancers, UV blockers, accelerators, etc. Likewise, installers also add various pigments and colors to achieve the required aesthetic characteristic. In fact, the range of additives used to epoxy is broad. It is for you to select which additives you want added to suit your application needs.
Pros and Cons
When you plan to lay down flooring in your home, apartment, or commercial building, it is important to pick the right solutions. First, you should define what exactly your needs are and then evaluate the pros and cons of various solutions to determine the most suitable flooring for your needs.
Here are some of the pros and cons of epoxy floor coating so that you can make the right decision with enough information.
Pros of Epoxy Flooring
Remarkable Durability
One of the key features of epoxy flooring is its high durability. Usually, this flooring product lasts for a much longer time in residential settings than in commercial or industrial settings. This is because industrial floors are generally subject to heavy foot traffic as well as different kinds of spillage.
The actual longevity of epoxy flooring depends on the type of coating and the quality of installation. If you plan to install this product, you should always rely on experienced flooring installers and contractors.
Provided the product is correctly installed with the right kind of additives added, the flooring can easily last for several years in a row. In residential settings, epoxy flooring material has been known to last for as many as 30 years. Accidents and spillage of different types of chemicals and liquids in commercial settings can reduce the lifespan of epoxy floor coatings though. In any case, this product has powerful resistance to all kinds of wear and tear. Once the floor coating has properly cured, it acquires a high potential to withstand chemical damage.
Also, epoxy floor coating is water-resistant. The flooring product can also withstand heat to a higher degree. In a nutshell, you can rely on this product for high resistance to peels, corrosion, and cracks.
Affordable
One big reason for property owners to choose epoxy flooring over many other options is its affordable overall cost. This is because installation of the product can be carried out on existing concrete. You do not need to build a separate floor system in order to install epoxy flooring coating.
When compared to tile and hardwood, the cost of epoxy installation is less expensive. In the beginning, you may find that installing tiles is cheaper than installing epoxy. But when you compare the overall cost in the long term, you will find that epoxy flooring material is an economical option. Epoxy is also less expensive than wood because its installation does not require a complete overhaul as the latter requires. Once you have installed epoxy, you don’t need to invest much to replace the existing floor. You can get the replacement in place affordably.
The cost of epoxy flooring installation ranges between $3 and $12 per sq feet. This rate is inclusive of material and labor charges.
Multiple Customization Options
No matter what kind of look you want to achieve, epoxy flooring solutions have multiple designs, colors, and styles to offer.
When installing epoxy, you can select from a broad range of colors as well as create any kind of attractive design you want. You can plan for an intricate pattern for a unique look. You can have the installer create geometric patterns for a modern look. Or, you can even go for a metallic look.
Epoxy coatings bring you a multitude of options in terms of finishes. Experienced epoxy installation technicians use a wide variety of the latest techniques to create eye-catching designs to complement the overall decor of your home. Multiple customization options make it a great choice for installation in any room of your house or apartment. At the same time, the many epoxy customization features accompany a bright and vibrant appearance for a high visual appeal.
Safety
For its regulatory standards and safety, epoxy flooring is one of the top choices for installation in commercial and industrial applications. If you run a food service facility, you can have USDA and FDA-approved epoxy floors to remain compliant with the safety standards of the foodservice industry.
Cons of Epoxy Flooring
Demanding Installation Procedure
Though epoxy floor installation does not require a separate floor system, it does have a demanding installation procedure. Before epoxy coating can be applied, the surface needs to be prepared properly.
First, the installer or technician needs to clean the concrete surface in a proper manner. It involves the use of a cleaning solution. The surface should not have any kind of oil or grease stains on it. Once the surface is clean and degreased, the technician will need to scrub and etch the floor with an acid-etching mixture. After that, the epoxy coating will be mixed. If the two epoxy solutions are not mixed properly, the quality of installation will not be high. After power-mixing the paint, the application of the coating along the perimeter will begin. The epoxy will now be rolled in a ‘W’ type pattern. Once the first coat has been applied, the second will be rolled. We should follow each step of the process in a correct manner.
Pre-installation, the technician also needs to ensure that the humidity level is not high. If the humidity is too high, the installation will have to wait until the atmospheric condition is at a suitable level. Installing epoxy while there is too much moisture in the air means the installation will not be proper. Therefore, you should always hire experienced and trusted installers to perform the job.
At Minuteman Floors in Manchester, NH, we specialize in the professional installation of a wide range of epoxy floor coatings. To find out more, feel free to talk to one of our epoxy installation experts.
Long Curing Time
After the installation of epoxy is complete, the product needs adequate time to properly cure and get dry. The curing time will vary based on the type of epoxy coating applied and the severity of the project.
If the project is intensive, you will need to give at least 72 hours for the epoxy coating to dry and cure completely. For small garages, the curing duration will be reduced to 24 hours. The curing time is a key concern, which you can never neglect. Whether it is a home, a garage, or a commercial building, maintaining adequate curing time will be essential for the best results.
The drying and the curing time will increase if the climate where you are installing epoxy is humid.
May Be Slippery
Since epoxy floor coating is non-porous, it can be slippery when wet. However, you can cover this disadvantage by adding a skid-resistant additive to the topcoat in order for the surface to be safe.
Usually, technicians use either aluminum oxide or silica as the finish coat to make the epoxy floor non-slippery and safe.
Talk to an Epoxy Installation Specialist
The variety of epoxy floor coating is more diverse than ever. If you plan to install this product in your home, office, or commercial building, you will get the opportunity to choose from a wide range of options. If you want detailed information on various kinds of epoxy products and their installation processes, you should reach out to one of our experts at Minuteman Floors in Manchester, New Hampshire. Our professionals will help you compare the pros and cons in a proper manner so that you can pick a product that is a perfect match for your needs.
To get a free quote, You can reach out to our office via a phone call or shoot us an email using the contact form on our website.