You should definitely consider an epoxy floor coating if you’re thinking about changing your walking surfaces. Epoxy floors are seamless, and there’s no place for bacteria and other contaminants to multiply. They’re great for restaurants and other food processing businesses, and are also commonly used in industrial settings. Epoxy flooring is also perfect for home use, especially for kitchens.
If you want a long-lasting, sturdy garage floor, epoxy is the best option. This type of flooring is easy to install, and can be done by a professional or a motivated do-it-yourselfer just by following a few simple instructions. There are different types of epoxy, and your choice should be based on how much traffic passes on your flooring from day to day, how often you’ll need to touch up, and of course, the cost of each option.
Here are the choices:
Water-Based Paint
Water-based epoxy is the cheapest option. Homeowners generally find that it’s easy to apply, and the least toxic, but also the least durable. It’s great for use in the home, and incredibly user-friendly. It’s not a very good selection for industrial purposes or for flooring that have trouble with dampness. As a homeowner, it’s important that you understand that water-based paint often requires annual touch-ups.
Some people don’t consider water-based paint to be a true epoxy, since it does not come in two parts. Unlike other types of epoxy, where the hardener is mixed with the resin before being applied, water-based paint is pre-mixed, and is therefore not very different from regular paint.
Two-Part Solvent-Based
If your epoxy floor paint is solvent-based it is more toxic but stronger than epoxy that is water-based. Both parts of the paint must be mixed together, and you need to be meticulous and exercise caution when applying it. Many painters find that it is not user-friendly for these reasons. On the other hand, the warranty is usually better and it lasts longer than its water-based counterpart. Also on the plus side, they’re easier to work with and clean up than 100 percent solid epoxy. The paint is thinner than the solids, however, and will not last as long.
Two-Part 100 Percent Solids
This is the best choice if you’re looking for a durable floor. This type of epoxy floor coating “cures” through a chemical process that leaves a hard, solid and beautiful surface. It is five times thicker than water-based paint. Some experts have stated that this grade of epoxy is more durable than the concrete beneath it. This high-quality flooring is also the most abrasive- and chemical-resistant.
An epoxy floor beautifies any space, adding value to your home, restaurant or shop. It also extends the lifetime of your concrete and preserves it. Epoxy is easy to clean, and impervious to mold and bacteria. Many people use epoxy to cover their garage floors, since the material resists solvents, chemicals, lubricants and hot tire marks. It is an effective waterproof sealer, and it reduces the discharge of radon gas.
Thousands of colors and myriad styles are available, and it’s just a matter of choosing the pattern best suited for your purposes. Epoxy requires curing time of at least twelve hours after application. It’s an easy to install and easy to maintain type of flooring, and it should definitely be considered if you’re planning to redo your floors.