Are you having trouble finding the right floor coating for your business? If that’s your case, then look no further than this blog. Today, we will come with an excellent option for a floor coating that you’re going to love. It will leave the surface of your floor smooth and shiny and add a touch of elegance.
If you haven’t guessed the coating yet, then we'll tell you that we're talking about epoxy. Having an epoxy floor is amazing because it works incredibly for commercial and residential purposes. It has antimicrobial properties, and you can find it in plenty of colours.
What is an epoxy floor coating?
To create an epoxy floor coating, you need to mix these two components: epoxy resin and polyamine hardener. Commonly, this coating is applied on top of concrete. But, nowadays, you can give that treatment to wood too. The epoxy coating will enhance the resistance, durability and longevity of your flooring.
You can try to put this type of coating on yourself, but we don’t recommend it. You need someone that will know how to do the work because fixing issues will be hard.
How is it applied?
First of all, the surface where you choose to put the epoxy coating needs to be totally clean. You need to ensure that it doesn’t have any oils, debris or any other type of agent that might compromise the finish of the epoxy coating. The most popular surface to put epoxy on top of it is concrete; however, you can apply it on other materials too, like wood.
After applying the product, you’ll need to let the epoxy coating cure before you can use or walk through that surface. If you’re using this coating for any bathroom, you’ll have to make this surface a non-slippery one. To do that, you can add anti-slip additives, like pieces of rocks, to ensure that the surface will be safe while wet.
How does it differ from epoxy paint?
Well, both are resistant to staining and chemical abrasion, that’s for sure. However, epoxy paint would be a thin layer that will be covering the floor surface. In a matter of months, the layer of epoxy paint will begin to crack due to wear on high traffic areas.
Epoxy paint is also easier to apply than epoxy coating. You won’t need to let the paint cure. As soon as it's dry, you’ll be able to use the space. But, as we have said, the cost-benefit of epoxy coating is better because it will last longer and maintenance won’t be needed as much as with the epoxy paint.
What are the benefits?
- Appearance
As said earlier, epoxy will give a smooth and glossy finish to your flooring. There won’t be a need to do any concrete grinding or concrete polishing to have this shiny finish. As well, you can choose almost any colour, design or pattern that you can imagine.
- Resistance
Epoxy won’t stain or damage due to the spill of any liquid, like oil, gasoline or other chemicals. As well, it’s resistant to heat, water, bacteria and germs. That way, you can ensure a safe environment free of mould, mildew and diseases.
- Durability
Epoxy flooring has an amazing lifespan than other types of floorings. Epoxy will enhance the durability of concrete or any other surface. An epoxy coating will perfectly stand any heavy wear, and it can last a long time without cracking and peeling.
Downsides to epoxy flooring:
- Slippery
Epoxy coating can get slippery when the surface is wet, and that can cause accidents. If someone spills water or you have a water leakage, your flooring can become a nightmare. But you can use non-slippery additives for epoxy where wet floors are day-to-day, like in bathrooms.
- Preparation
Preparing the surface for the epoxy coating can be a challenging task. As said before, you need to make sure that it’s well-cleaned and free of rubbish. As well, if your concrete floor has any cracks, you’ll need to fill them before applying the epoxy.
- Application
Putting an epoxy coating would be a long process because the first layer will have to dry completely before applying others. As well, it will take several days to cure before you can use the surface. Another bad point of the application is the fumes that can be toxic for you and your family.
Now that you have all the pros and cons of epoxy floor coating, you can make an informed decision. Don’t forget to take into account your budget, the style of your property and your taste. Remember that epoxy is also easy to clean, and you don't have to give maintenance regularly to it.
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