Epoxy Flooring 101
What exactly is epoxy?
Garage floor epoxy is the premier choice for garage floor and other concrete resurfacing. Epoxy is the chemical combination of resin and a hardener which react when mixed together to form a type of very hard and durable plastic material. The final material is durable, strong, resistant, and bonds extremely well to almost any base layer.
- Low maintenance
- Long lasting
- Durable
Epoxy Flooring 101
What exactly is epoxy?
- Low maintenance
- Long lasting
- Durable
Types of epoxy flooring
Types of epoxy flooring
There are many different applications of epoxy flooring that can be combined or used individually in order to meet the needs of which the room will be used for. This shows different areas in which epoxy can be used as well as some of the different types of epoxy application.
Solid Epoxy
Solid Epoxy
A garage floor coating is not simply a painted garage floor surface. Solid epoxy is the strongest and most durable type of epoxy coating. A 100% solid epoxy does not contain any water to evaporate as other water solvent epoxies may have. For this reason they provide a much dryer and thicker film coating. These also contain no volatile organic compounds or VOCs, making solid epoxy the most environmentally friendly epoxy coating available on the market.
Flake Epoxy
Flake Epoxy
Commercial epoxy coatings are used for areas from sales showrooms to high rise office buildings. The durability of the epoxy coating and the high shine makes it a highly desirable product for many commercial settings. Many businesses use epoxy coatings to entice customers and brighten the products or workspace.
Store Bought Epoxy
Store Bought Epoxy
There is a wide variety of store bought epoxies available on the market as well. These are DIY kits that allow you to prepare the surface on your own and paint the epoxy onto the flooring by yourself. These store bought epoxy kits are not recommended because although epoxy is easy to install, the preparation of the flooring is a detailed process that is best left to the professionals. It will save you time and money in the long run to hire professional epoxy installers.
Metallic Epoxy
Metallic Epoxy
Metallic epoxy is a specialized multi- layered epoxy coating that adds a metallic component to a shiny clear coating. The process of mixing resin with a hardener is similar to traditional epoxy floor coatings, but the addition of the metallic powders give the floors an artistic, dramatic feel. It dries to a pearlescent finish.
Concrete polishing
Concrete polishing
Concrete polishing is a process that uses a series of fine grit sanders that carefully grind, hone, and polish with bonded abrasives until a specified level of shine is achieved. This is accomplished through a series of grinding with a progressively finer grit, with at least a four grit process being the minimum, until the desired shine is accomplished. This technique is very durable because there is no surface coating to chip or peel away.
Epoxy application process
Although there are many DIY kits on the market and the application of epoxy floor coatings may seem simplistic, these tasks are best left to the professionals.
Epoxy application process
Although there are many DIY kits on the market and the application of epoxy floor coatings may seem simplistic, these tasks are best left to the professionals.
Epoxy application begins with the preparation step. This is the most important and quite possibly most time consuming step in the process. A contractor will thoroughly clean the surface, then begin to repair any cracks or divots in the concrete. This will leave the surface ready to accept the epoxy coating. Once the resin is mixed with the hardeners and colors chosen by the homeowner or business owner, the contractor will make quick work of applying the coating evenly to the surface while working from one side out of the room in order to not step on the surface. This is a very precise process. The final step is to allow the epoxy coating to dry or cure to a beautiful shiny finish.
Benefits of Epoxy Floor Coating
Strong, Durable, Low Maintenance
Benefits of Epoxy Floor Coating
Strong, Durable, Low Maintenance
There are many benefits to epoxy floors. One of the biggest benefits of epoxy coatings is the strength and durability of your newly resurfaced floors. Epoxy flooring also comes in a wide variety of colors and styles to meet your design aesthetic. Epoxy coatings are low maintenance and slip resistant as well as resistant to spills, stains, and water damage. Another top reason that homeowners and business owners alike choose epoxy floor installation is because they are the most budget friendly choice you can make for your floor resurfacing needs.
Long-lasting Easy Care
Epoxy floors last for decades to come and are easy to maintain
Long-lasting Easy Care
Epoxy floors last for decades to come and are easy to maintain
Not only do epoxy floor coatings last much longer than any other flooring choice, but they are also incredibly easy to maintain. Keeping your floors clean will only require a dry mop or regular sweeping, but even this is a breeze, since epoxy floor coating keep concrete dust and other dirt from building on your floors. Spot cleaning spills and other dirt is as simple as a cleaning cloth with warm soapy water. It’s as simple as that.