Which Is Better: Polycuramine Or Epoxy?

Choosing an attractive, long-lasting, durable, and perfect flooring type for your garage can be tricky, especially when constructing your first garage. The practice becomes even more daunting due to thousands of flooring types available in the market today.

Whatever the use of your garage, home, or commercial purpose, your flooring type’s durability is your top priority.

You must seek the flooring type that will give you the desired longevity and aesthetics.

Polycuramine vs. epoxy has been the top and most debated flooring choice amongst the DIYers and garage owners, thanks to their exclusive features that have provided outstanding user experiences.

Both Polycuramine and epoxy are perfect for garage floors, providing desirable durability and attractive coating.

However, Polycuramine is more potent than epoxy. With its resistance to oil, gas, salt, and other harsh chemicals, Polycuramine provides the most durable floor coatings available to garage owners. Besides, it is easy to maintain and will last for the longest while maintaining its artistic value.

Difference Between Polycuramine Or Epoxy

It saw plenty of damaged garage floors, including one from a leaking hot water tank in their own home. The right flooring would have made some of the damage much less impactful. But, there are so many options that it can be hard to know which one makes sense. This guide will examine two of the most popular options, polycuramine and epoxy coatings, to help you decide.

Polycuramine vs. Epoxy: Product Options

So let’s explore the different polycuramine vs. epoxy product options. Epoxy is the clear winner, although many of these products are lower-quality that you shouldn’t necessarily choose.

As a trademarked and branded product, polycuramine is only available in a few colours directly from Rustoleum under their Rock Solid brand. It’s worth noting that colour choice is limited since it’s a proprietary compound.

By contrast, epoxy comes in a wide array of colours and patterns for flooring, which we discuss here. You can even layer epoxy coatings to create a custom look.

They always recommend using a primer and a protective top-coat for an even longer lifespan. Epoxy also comes in single-component paints, but these are noticeably inferior to a two-part mix.

Polycuramine Vs. Epoxy: Cost

As you might expect, the cost of epoxy flooring can vary greatly. It will depend on the type of epoxy coating you choose, the size of your garage floor, and whether you need to hire contractors to do the work.

Most people spend between $1500 and $3000 to coat a typical two-car garage for materials and labour. Polycuramine is noticeably cheaper, with a 2.5 car kit (covering roughly 450 square feet) retailing for about $280.

However, as we discussed above, it’s recommended to add at least one additional coat when applying polycuramine.

That will noticeably increase the total cost. In addition, most people apply polycuramine themselves, so this price does not include labour or the fees for prep work.

The important thing here is that polycuramine is noticeably cheaper than epoxy while being almost as good while it lasts. That’s the deciding factor for many homeowners.

However, even this isn’t as simple as it can seem at first. Because polycuramine is such a new product, we don’t know its true lifespan. Things like excessive UV exposure or an improper application can shorten the lifespan of a polycuramine floor.

However, it’s safe to say that it’s highly reliable for two years and somewhat iffy.

High-quality epoxy in a home garage usually lasts five times as long but at three times the price. If you expect to stay in your home for more than a few years, a good epoxy coating will probably cost less.

Polycuramine Vs. Epoxy: Application Speed

Are you wondering about the time it will take you to apply polycuramine vs. epoxy?

Well, polycuramine wins, hands-down, for how fast you can use it after applying it. For example, you can walk on a polycuramine floor in 8-10 hours and drive on it after 24 hours.

Epoxy is ready for light traffic after 24 hours, but you’ll need to wait 7-10 days before you can drive on it. This depends on the outdoor temperature and humidity.

For some, that’s a big delay in using your garage or moving your stuff back in.

Polycuramine Vs. Epoxy: Abrasion Resistance

The highest-quality epoxies have higher abrasion resistance than polycuramine. The primary metric for this is called the Taber C-17 abrasion test. It’s meant to mimic actual wear from things like wheels and foot traffic.

That’s not critical if you only walk through your garage once every few days.

However, if you use your garage as a workshop or car repair, you want to have a Taber C-17 score of 5 mg or less. Also, adding a protective coating on epoxy will give it much higher abrasion resistance.

That will help it beat out polycuramine for durability.

Epoxy Flooring 

Epoxy is one of the most sought-after flooring types among home and garage owners.

The flooring type creates a long-lasting, durable, and attractive coating for homes and garages. In addition, epoxy is considered perfectly safe for homes, especially for hard floors.

Epoxy flooring gets characterised by several advantages.

The unit is slip and shock-resistant and less abrasive compared to the concrete and other industrial flooring types.

For home use, the flooring type is ideal for the bathrooms, kitchens, mudrooms, and any other areas where safety is a priority due to its slip resistance.

Benefits Of Epoxy Flooring 

Most people go for epoxy flooring as recommended by friends.

However, some would not consider buying it because they have been given unappealing reviews from individuals who have not used the units correctly. Nevertheless, epoxy flooring is one of the most sought-after solutions with tons of benefits. 

Most homeowners are ditching the conventional flooring systems in the residential areas and businesses for epoxy flooring, primarily due to its versatility. It can be used anywhere and still get the job perfectly done. The various benefits of the flooring type include; 

Durability

Most epoxy floors wear out after about ten years of casual use. High-traffic areas, like workshops, usually see it wear out in 2-3 years instead. While it lasts, it’s among the most durable flooring options you’ll find.

High-quality epoxy floors may last up to 20 years under casual use, especially in a temperature-controlled garage.

High-quality epoxy is exceptionally durable while it lasts, being functionally waterproof and impervious to problems like mould and mildew. In addition, epoxy is very stain resistant, apart from a few select chemicals.

It’s also durable enough to hold up under heavy traffic and is even used in industrial applications.

Most epoxy has a compressive strength of more than 5000 psi. That makes it comparable to some forms of high-strength concrete. By contrast, residential concrete has a compressive strength of around 4000 psi. As a result, epoxy is more durable than the concrete below it when against crushing force.

Durability is the top consideration for the individuals installing the garage or home flooring. Epoxy coating can endure wear and tear resulting from strenuous activities, perfect for commercial garages.

The epoxy system does not chip or crack easily, reducing maintenance costs compared to the concrete flooring. Therefore, the practice limits the concerns of having to break the flooring system each time for repairs.

Impressive And Unique 

Who does not require a flooring system that stands out amongst the rest? One desirable feature unique to epoxy flooring is the extra aesthetic value that it will provide to your floor space.

Epoxy is characterised by numerous finishes, including metallic, polished, and flakes. Also, the unit is perfect for decorating floors as it comes in unique colours that can be arranged in different patterns to realise the preferred design. 

Easy Maintenance 

This is yet another exclusive feature that every garage owner would hope for before investing in a flooring system.

You can easily mop or wipe out the liquid or oil substances spilled over the floor surface.

Moreover, with this flooring system, you need not worry about bacteria or mould growing and thriving in the crannies and nooks of the floor due to epoxy’s seamless nature and the resin installation that makes it both hygienic and free from allergens.

Resistant To Shock And Slip 

The flooring type you choose should be safe and resistant to slips as this can pose a significant danger to the individuals using the surface.

The epoxy flooring reduces the risks of falls and accidents as it is impervious to moisture. In addition, you can enhance the safety of your family members by adding the slip-resistant additive to the epoxy.

Thus, the flooring type provides you with the advantage to keep your customers, patients, staff, or family members safe, regardless of whether you are using it at home or within the commercial premises.

It Is Less Costly 

Despite the exclusive features, epoxy is also economical. The installation process of the flooring type is affordable, which makes it perfect for most garage owners, added to the fact that it can withstand the test of time.

Besides, since epoxy maintenance is cheaper, it will save you the money you could have otherwise used to buy the unnecessary replacements or cleaning tools since the dirt and the other stains can be easily removed. This makes it an ideal choice for garage floor coating.

Choosing The Right Epoxy

The highest-quality epoxies are solid-based. The lower percentage of solids in the epoxy means that some of the material evaporates as it dries. That leaves you with a thinner coat over your garage floor than you may have expected.

Now, it’s important to emphasise that quality matters when you’re getting epoxy flooring. High-grade epoxy is significantly better than lower-quality materials, and it’s worth the investment.

That doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll pay more for it. However, you’re likely to get several years of additional use. That’s a great bargain by any measure.

Polycuramine Flooring

When it comes to durability, Polycuramine Flooring is second to none. Polycuramine Flooring is considered 20 times stronger than the epoxy system.

Most DIYers and mechanics establishing the garage premises for commercial purposes, those associated with the enormous loads and heavy vehicles, always consider Polycuramine Flooring as the ideal flooring type, hence a stand-out in the Polycuramine vs. epoxy flooring debate.

The benefits offered by this flooring type blends those of epoxy, polyurethane, and polyurea and thus the best in the category. In addition, it is considered the most advanced coating technique.

Polycuramine Flooring is also resistant to the harsh chemicals, oil, and even salt used both at home and in the garages, making it one of your dream’s most fancied flooring coatings. In addition, its resistance to the damages by the chemicals enhances its longevity and makes it easy to clean the stains from its surface.

Moreover, Polycuramine Flooring is easy to maintain, and it can last for the longest time while still maintaining its aesthetic value. The flooring type is available in different sizes. For instance, the one car kit (90 fl oz) covers up to 200 and 250 sq ft of your garage floor.

Also, a 2.5 Car Kit (180 fl oz) covers between 450 and 500 sq ft. The different sizes mean that you can put the flooring type to use on different floors regardless of the size of your garage.

You should ensure that for the effectiveness of Polycuramine Flooring installation, the application should be made at a temperature of between 40 and 90oF. Also, ensure that when you receive the kit, confirm if it has the following contents; a foam roller, stir stick, decorative colour chips, concrete etch, instruction manual, and the pre-tinted polycuramine Burst Pouch.

These contents will help with the application of the floor coating. Finally, ensure you read and understand the manual or seek guidance from the professionals.

Application

A standard application will cover between 200 and 250 square feet. Of course, that depends on how porous the concrete beneath it is. Applying it too thinly has obvious problems.

Realistically, it’s better to try and cover about 200 square feet per pouch and not try to stretch it further. You may also need to apply a second coat, which raises the price.

Polycuramine is safe to walk on after about 10 hours and drive on after 24 hours. That’s noticeably faster than some other garage flooring materials. In addition, it’s near-impervious to most chemicals, so it’s suitable for many riskier environments.

Polycuramine also has a wide range of application temperatures. You can apply it between 40 and 90 degrees, a comfortably wider range than most epoxy.

The mixture is about 96% solids, with a highly glossy finish once set. That’s comfortably high, and perhaps the best one can realistically expect from a mixed product.

Polycuramine is also self-levelling, which works well on uneven garage floors. However, you’ll want to apply more than one coat if you have anything more than the slightest slope. Otherwise, there’s a real chance it will flow downhill, and you’ll have sections that have no coating.

Why Choose Polycuramine Over Epoxy Flooring

Rapid Use

Polycuramine floors can be used faster. For example, a garage floor that has been coated with Polycuramine only takes 24 hours after application before use. After that, you can effectively park your car or begin using the floor within a day.

Durable And Robust With More Adhesion

Polycuramine is more durable than epoxy and has better hardness and adhesion hence perfect for garage floors designed for commercial use.

Impervious To Chemicals

The flooring type presents the best resistance to various elements such as harmful chemicals, oils, gas, and other forms of liquids that can be destructive to your garage or home floors.

Self-Levelling

The application of this flooring type is easy and does not require levelling tools as it is self-levelling. 

Low Odour. 

Polycuramine flooring is low on odour and VOC free, making it ideal for use, especially in residential places and garages. You will not even need to worry about the clients or family members being allergic to string coating orders.

High Solid Composition. 

Polycuramine is characterised by very high solids, with about 96% composed of solids.

Potential Issues

However, like all products, polycuramine has its flaws. Notably, it’s not UV stable, which means it turns yellow if you expose it to sunlight regularly. That’s not a significant issue for garages without windows. It’s worth noting that epoxy isn’t any better, but a discoloured polycuramine floor is difficult to remove.

A more important issue is how thin it goes on. Polycuramine is about three millimetres thick when applied correctly, compared to about ten millimetres for epoxy.

This thinness is why it’s often better to use at least two coats of polycuramine and possibly three. Unfortunately, that means the price can go up quickly.

It can also be challenging to apply polycuramine if you’re not used to doing floor coatings. It’s easy to put it on too thick in some areas and end up with much less coverage than expected.

Many people DIY these kits, so coverage issues are pretty common. Colours may also vary slightly between kits, even if they’re the same UPCSKU. That can make it awkward when you need to apply more than one of these kits.

Having a large, discoloured section of flooring is always bad for a garage’s overall appeal.

There is some good news for additional coats, though. Polycuramine has a 7-day recoat window, compared to most products that have less than 24 hours. It means you can easily add another layer without having to do more than clean the surface.

Factors To Consider When Choosing Garage Flooring Options

Appearance

Though not a primary concern for most garage owners, it is essential that you consider how the garage floor coating you are choosing will improve the general look of your garage’s floor surface.

Epoxy and polyaspartic floor coatings are known for their enhanced aesthetic value, a better option when you want to improve the appearance of your floors. However, the practice is more applicable when you want the best flooring option for your home.

Durability

If you aim to add a floor coating in your garage, you will certainly go for one that will be long-lasting and give you value for your money. It would be best to consider the average load that the floor will support to help choose a strong material that will not require consistent repairs.

The average weight of the vehicles is under 4000 pounds. Therefore, you must choose a floor coating that will withstand this weight and retain its finish for the longest possible time.

Maintenance

The maintenance level required for the garage floor coating is an essential consideration when making a purchase decision.

No individual enjoys cleaning as some come at a cost, especially when the unit purchase is not resistant to the chemicals and now an individual will be forced to buy other substances to help with the elimination of the chemical substances, and this requires an individual to consider the ease of maintenance of the floor surface.

For instance, you need to consider how easy it would be to clean the oil or chemical spills on the floor surface.

Warranty

This is yet another significant element of consideration before purchasing any model. The warranties attached to the products you purchase are significant in providing individuals with a piece of mind and provides satisfaction to the buyers, at least for the periods specified on the warranties.

Ensure that the flooring type you are purchasing has a warranty such that if it does not realise your requirements as described by the manufacturers, you can claim a refund within the given period or if there are manufacturers problems.

Safety And Environment Friendliness

The safety of the chemicals in your garage floor coating is another significant factor of consideration. Your garage or home is a place where you will be spending some time for years with your family, and the coating you use for the floors must contain substances that will not pose any risk or threaten the safety of your loved ones.

Thus, the flooring type you choose should be free from VOCs (volatile Organic Compounds), the chemicals found in household products that can be hazardous when released into the atmosphere. Most people go for Polycuramine Flooring because they are safe and free from the VOCs, hence environmentally friendly.

Conclusion

Polycuramine vs. epoxy flooring has been a controversial issue among numerous DIYers and garage owners. But, no doubt, these two flooring types provide unsurpassed durability, and their maintenance is straightforward.

However, Polycuramine flooring stands out in several aspects over epoxy. The unit is more durable and highly resistant to the chemicals and other stains common in the garage. It is thus effective for commercial use where strenuous jobs are required.

Numerous advantages also characterise epoxy flooring. The unit is characterised by immense durability of up to three years when used in commercial premises such as garages and factory settings, and it is more economical. The maintenance practices that the flooring unit requires are also limited, and it is highly resistant to slip, and this provides unparalleled safety.

FAQs Polycuramine Or Epoxy

What’s The Strongest Epoxy?

There are a lot of different types of epoxy, and the strength can vary depending on the brand and formulation. However, Polycuramine is generally considered one of the strongest types of epoxy. It is often used in industrial and commercial applications where a strong bond is required.

The strongest epoxy glue you can purchase is probably Systemthree’s T-88. This two-part adhesive has a tensile strength of 7000 psi. It is well above the average strength for epoxies.

Does Polycuramine Need A Clear Coat?

Yes, you can put a clear coat of Polycuramine over epoxy. It will protect your epoxy from scratches and UV rays. Polycuramine requires a clear coat, and you can have the coats by either ordering them from the stores or purchasing them from the vendors online.

However, other sellers have started accompanying the polycuramine with the clear coat to be bought as a unit.

Can I Put Clear Epoxy Over Paint?

Clear epoxy can be used as a cover to protect the painted finish-like floor. However, durability is never guaranteed, and this is immensely affected by the proprietary processes and environmental factors.

So, the short answer is, yes, you can put epoxy flooring over paint. Furthermore, you can epoxy over painted wood as well. Water-based paint is best for this as they are fast-drying, so you can put the epoxy over the paint after about 24 hours of drying time for the paint.

How Long Does Polycuramine Take To Dry? 

The time a floor coating takes to dry is called the cure time. For polycuramine, the cure time is 8 to 10 hours for foot traffic and 24 hours for vehicle traffic. Thus, after 24 hours of application, you can park your vehicle in the garage.

While the drying time can vary depending on the manufacturer, most oil-based polyurethanes take between 6 and 10 hours to dry enough to receive a second coat.

Therefore, while many manufacturers suggest waiting 24 hours before subjecting oil-based polyurethane to light foot traffic, it’s probably best to wait 48 hours.

Is There Something Better Than Epoxy?

If you’re looking for a coating that is stronger than epoxy, you may want to consider Polycuramine. Polycuramine is a two-part coating mixed together and then applied to surfaces.

It cures quickly and forms a strong bond with the surface it is applied to. Polycuramine can be used on a variety of surfaces, including metal, wood, concrete, and ceramic. It is also resistant to chemicals and abrasion.

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.