Epoxy flooring may not be something that you’ve heard of before. Still, in its simplest definition, it is a flooring surface made up of multiple layers of epoxy applied to the floor to a depth of at least two millimetres.
The difference between an epoxy floor and an epoxy floor coating lies in the depth of the epoxy. As stated, an epoxy floor must be at least two millimetres thick. Therefore, any epoxy floor that is less than two millimetres thick is best referred to as an epoxy floor coating.
You might also be wondering exactly what epoxy is. Epoxy, in this case, refers to a system that is made up of two main components – resins and hardeners.
The resin and hardener are mixed where they chemically react to form a rigid plastic material that is strong, resistant to degradation and that bonds extremely well to its substrate.
As a result, epoxy floors, unlike other flooring options, are so strong that they can be used in even the most demanding industrial environments.
Epoxy floor coating is quite popular for industrial and commercial flooring.
A variety of epoxy may be used on floors, including self-dispersing coatings, gravelled coatings, self-levelling coatings, mortar coatings, vapour barrier coatings, terrazzo, and antistatic coatings. Each type of these coatings will offer a distinct advantage and disadvantage compared to others.
What Is Epoxy Floor Coating?
Epoxy floor coating is the number one flooring option for residential, commercial, and industrial applications. Epoxy flooring is typically a two-part system consisting of Part A: resin and Part B: hardener.
Specialty additives like flow control, UV inhibitors, adhesion promoters, accelerators, etc., are added to create coatings that perform well in a wide variety of flooring applications.
Epoxy floor coatings are formulated using these specialty additives to achieve different desired performance characteristics like a more rapid cure, increased abrasion resistance, higher chemical resistance, higher or lower viscosity, and many others.
In addition, different pigments, decorative coloured quartz aggregate, vinyl flakes, glitter, and other additives are added to the epoxy floor resin to achieve different performance and aesthetic characteristics.
Lastly, different aggregate sand blends (slurry, trowel, broadcast, etc.) can also be added to the epoxy to create thicker, more durable flooring systems and add non-slip texture.
Epoxy Floor Coatings are an extremely versatile flooring option and can be made and applied in a large variety of performance and aesthetic characteristics.
There are many epoxy coating options to choose from, and it depends on what you are looking for. Here are the options that you can choose from:
Self-Dispersing Coating
This type of coating is normally used in areas that will receive a lot of forklift activity or heavy truck traffic because it has great mechanical strength. Another type of coating is made with quartz sand. That coating is used in food processing plants or locations that have liquids present because it has great anti-slip qualities.
Self-Levelling Coating
These coatings are easy to install over old and new concrete floors to create a seamless and smooth surface. Self-levelling epoxy coating can be used in storage facilities, office buildings, warehouses, kitchens, garages, dining rooms, and so much more.
Mortar Coating Floor
This is the strongest coating of all epoxy floors. This type of coating is normally used in heavy industrial areas and can repair the cracks to other epoxy floors before laying different epoxy coatings.
Gravel Coating
This type of epoxy coating is the most decorative choice and can add brand marks, decorative details, and even logotypes to the floor.
Terrazzo Coating
This type of coating is quite decorative and simple to clean. Terrazzo coatings are normally used in large areas such as entrances and hallways in schools, office buildings, and commercial buildings.
Antistatic Coating
This type of coating is used in static sensitive areas where electronic components are in permanent use, and having a static-free environment is vital for places like hospitals, electronic manufacturing plants, and laboratories.
Vapour Barrier Coating
Liquid vapour barrier epoxy is applied on concrete floors to give an impenetrable surface that reduces vapour transmission to almost zero. This coating is normally added before the final flooring surface, such as hardwood floors, carpet, tile, and sheet vinyl.
Flake Coating
This isn’t a type of epoxy flooring but a coating style. This technique adds multi-coloured chips or flakes into the coating while it is wet to give it a decorative look when finished.
100 Percent Solids Coating
This happens to be the most durable type of epoxy material, which a professional installer will recommend and use. This coating will last around 20 years, especially when it is used for heavy human traffic areas where surfaces need protection from possible abrasions, chemical reactions of chemical substances and hot tire marks. These installers will use hardeners that allow the coating to dry into a solid form while it bonds with the concrete.
Water-Based Coating
This type of coating is more primer and sealer because it spreads thinly and doesn’t possess the same resistance and durability as 100% solid coating. This type of coating is included in a DIY kit that is considered more user-friendly than the others. Because of its ability to penetrate a porous surface is normally used as a sealer or primer over degreased concrete surfaces. It gives concrete a smooth and glossy surface and protective qualities against abrasions, chemical reactions, and stains.
Solvent Based Coating
Like the name has implied, this type of coating uses solvents when used as a floor primer and sealer, just like the water-based type. Solvent-based epoxies will contain solids that range from 30% to 70%, which gives you a really thin layer.
Because its nature is a solvent-based floor coating, it makes it a less favourable choice, as the type or amount of solvent used is normally noncompliant with the VOC or Volatile Organic Compound regulations.
Out of these coatings, DIY and Chicago installers will hardly ever include a solvent-based coating as a primer or sealer in epoxy floors.
These are the different options you can choose from. It would be best to make sure what the best fit is for you so that the coating lasts long and would fit perfectly on what portion would you want it to be coated. Epoxy floor coating is widely used in Sydney. Epoxy driveway Sydney is very common as it provides the best driveways benefits. Garage epoxy flooring is also very common and is the most used option for many homeowners.
FAQs About Different Types Of Epoxy Flooring
What are the different types of epoxy flooring?
Types of Epoxy Floor Coatings
- Self-dispersing. A self-dispersing epoxy floor coating is extremely strong.
- Self-levelling. A great option for new or old concrete is self-levelling epoxy flooring.
- Mortar.
- Gravelled.
- ESD (Electrostatic Dissipating)
- Vapour barrier.
- Flaked.
- Quartz-filled.
Are there different qualities of epoxy?
Epoxy types vary widely, and specifiers need to note such attributes as nozzle time, gel time, load time, sag, cure time, and chemical resistance. Each property will affect what makes the product ideal for the intended application. … Pure epoxy is typically just a resin and a hardener.
Can you use two different types of epoxy?
Generally no issues with using multiple brands, as long as they are epoxies. The important thing is to ensure that the second coat application has to be within the specified overcoating interval.
Can you mix two different brands of epoxy?
You can mix two different resin brands if the chemical composition is the same. However, if it is not the same, the mixture can become very hot and unstable. It could also not cure properly and give off noxious fumes.
How much does it cost to epoxy a floor?
Epoxy floors can cost anywhere from $30-$35 per square metre to $80-$100 per square metre, depending on how much surface preparation is required, the effect you want to achieve and the size of the area you’re covering.
How long do epoxy floors last?
Epoxy floors typically last up to 30 years in a residential or low-traffic area. However, in a heavy-duty commercial facility, they may only last up to 15-20 years before they wear down.
What is epoxy flooring used for?
Epoxy flooring can be used in homes or industrial buildings to create a durable and visually appealing finish.
Is epoxy flooring good for homes?
Epoxy flooring is great for homes. It is an extremely cost-effective, durable and easy to maintain flooring option.
Pros and cons of epoxy flooring
As with any flooring, you need to consider the advantages and disadvantages of epoxy flooring.
Pros of epoxy flooring
- Epoxy floors have a high-gloss finish, making them exceptionally appealing. You can also choose from a wide variety of colours and patterns to complement the design of the room you’re using it in.
- An extremely cost-effective option, epoxy floors cost significantly less than tiles or timber flooring. And you won’t have any ongoing maintenance costs to worry about.
- The main advantage of epoxy flooring is its durability. It’s completely resistant to oil, gas, bleach and other chemicals, so you don’t have to worry about staining if you spill anything. It’s also completely waterproof and resistant to bacteria and germs, making it easy to clean.
- Epoxy floorings are suitable for residential and industrial applications, can be used inside and outside and can last for decades without cracking or peeling.
Cons of epoxy flooring
- It can take several days for epoxy floors to cure completely, some installations may even take up to 30 days. This is extremely inconvenient for homeowners living in a property or businesses needing to put their services on hold while waiting for their floor to harden.
- One serious disadvantage of epoxy floorings is that they become extremely slippery when wet. For this reason, it may not be suitable for homes with young children, older people or pets.
- Epoxy floors have a very tedious installation process. Any grease, oils or solvents need to be completely removed from the existing floor before the epoxy is installed. The room’s humidity levels must be kept low throughout the process to ensure no moisture gets trapped in the flooring. If moisture does get trapped, it can cause buckling, warping and bulging on the surface as it dries and evaporates.
- Epoxy flooring’s longevity is both a blessing and a curse. Removing and updating the epoxy coating is a costly and labour-intensive process – one that you will need a professional’s help with.
Different Types Of Epoxy Flooring
Epoxy flooring is widely regarded as one of the most hard-wearing and attractive flooring options for commercial, industrial and residential spaces, but did you know it is also one of the most versatile?
Unfortunately, there isn’t a ‘one size fits all solution for epoxy flooring. Instead, several different types can be customised to suit the requirements of each unique application.
This article unpacks the various types of epoxy flooring, discusses the differences between them, and provides recommendations on where they are best-suited.
Epoxy Quartz Flooring
In this type of epoxy flooring, quartz aggregate is mixed with the epoxy resin.
The quartz can be used as a bonding agent to add even greater durability and abrasion resistance, or it can be used for decorative purposes. The addition of quartz also creates an effective anti-slip surface.
It’s suitable for various applications, including offices, showrooms, schools, parking garages, restrooms, medical facilities, and cafeterias. In addition, its anti-slip properties make it ideal for external applications such as walkways and pool decks.
Epoxy Chip Flooring
This option is an extremely popular choice for floors subjected to heavy foot traffic, such as retail outlets and schools. In the same way that quartz is added to the 100% solid epoxy for added strength and versatility, epoxy chip flooring incorporates vinyl flakes.
A topcoat is then applied to increase the floor’s chemical and UV damage resistance. Aesthetically, the result is a very attractive, flecked look similar to a terrazzo floor.
Epoxy chip flooring is hard-wearing, durable, easy to clean and requires minimal upkeep. It also offers superior resistance to moisture and vapour, so it is ideal for use in damp or humid environments or requires frequent wash-downs.
Popular applications include restaurants, recreation and entertainment precincts, education facilities, healthcare facilities, showrooms, shops, commercial kitchens and motor dealerships.
Metallic Epoxy Floors
Metallic epoxy floors are highly prized for their visual impact (along with epoxy’s proven durability and strength, of course). Metallic pigments are incorporated into the epoxy coating to create a variety of elegant and exotic colour combinations which add depth and beautiful brilliance to a space.
It’s also possible to customise metallic epoxy floors to suit a design brief. For example, different pigments can be added to create floors that resemble marble, stone, granite and even water.
In addition to these unique aesthetic possibilities, metallic epoxy floors also offer the same level of durability, longevity, slip and skid resistance, chemical resistance and antimicrobial properties that have led to the global popularity of epoxy flooring. This is an eye-catching option for an environment where a statement floor is an asset.
Suitable applications include motor dealerships, hotel lobbies, restaurants, showrooms, high-end retail outlets, stadiums, shopping centres, casinos and office spaces.
Solid Epoxy Floors
There’s nothing ‘ordinary’ about a regular solid epoxy floor. It will have an attractive high-gloss finish whilst delivering all the high-performance features you’d expect from an industrial-strength floor.
These floors are tough, hard-wearing, impact-resistant and can withstand extreme temperature fluctuations, plus their seamless surface is impervious to moisture, chemicals, and microbes.
They can also be mixed with various additives, including colours and aggregates, to heighten their slip resistance and safety levels.
Solid epoxy floors are preferred in high-use areas (foot and vehicle traffic and heavy machinery). They can be customised in a variety of thicknesses to suit individual specifications.
Applications include warehouses, manufacturing facilities, food processing plants, medical facilities, shops, commercial buildings, laboratories, aeroplane hangars, schools and sporting precincts. You don’t have to choose between a decorative or durable floor. You can have both – plus a whole lot more.
Conclusion
Have you always wanted a floor that’s strong, durable, easy to maintain, and that looks fantastic? Epoxy floors may be just the solution for you. There’s a good chance that you’ve never heard of an epoxy floor before, so we’ve put together everything that you need to know. For more information or advice, have a chat with your local floor coatings specialist.
Although this may seem up to, it is always good to seek advice from epoxy flooring experts as they know much better than us. Epoxy floor coating provides numerous benefits for you and your home or business.
How much does it cost to epoxy garage floor?
Epoxy garage floors cost between $1,447 to $3,006, with the national average at $2,227. If you’re tired of the plain concrete flooring in your garage, you may be interested in long-lasting epoxy flooring. Epoxy is a rugged and durable finish that will transform dull garage flooring into a gleaming surface.
Is it worth it to epoxy garage floor?
Epoxy flooring protects the underlying concrete from moisture, stains, grease and cracks. In the long run, this can save you a great deal on cleaning and maintenance costs by eliminating the need to clean carpet or grout. It’s also very reasonably priced for the duration and level of protection that it offers.
Why you should not epoxy your garage floor?
Steer Clear of Epoxy on Your Garage Flooring- #1: Epoxy has Weak Adhesion. Compared to paint, epoxy has far stronger adhesion. …
- #2: Epoxy Takes Multiple Days to Fully Cure. …
- #3: Epoxy Fades. …
- #4: It Can Stick to the Wrong Places! …
- #5: Poor Flexibility. …
- #6: Cooler Temp Applications Are Tough.
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