When it comes to maintaining your household, decorating or redecorating, maybe just simple renovation or you’re in need of a change, you may desire to replace your floors for multiple reasons. Wanting a floor that is easily maintained, durable, and strong while upholding an appearance to match the rest of your home, you may find what you are looking for with epoxy floors. If you haven’t heard of epoxy floors before, we have decided to share everything you need to know. Also, if you have any further questions or seek more advice, inquire more from your local specialist for floor coatings.

​

Epoxy Floor Definition

In case you haven’t heard about epoxy flooring, the most simplistic definition of epoxy flooring is “epoxy flooring is a surface flooring system that is applied at least two millimeters in-depth“. It is applied to your floor in multiple layers. As previously stated, an epoxy floor is at least two millimeters in-depth, otherwise, it is considered to be epoxy floor coating.

​

Wikipedia’s Definition “Two-part epoxy coatings were developed for heavy duty service on metal substrates and use less energy than heat-cured powder coatings. These systems provide a tough, protective coating with excellent hardness. Some epoxy coatings are formulated as an emulsion in water and can be cleaned up without solvents. Epoxy coatings are often used in industrial and automotive applications since they are more heat resistant than latex-based and alkyd-based paints. Epoxy paints tend to deteriorate, known as “chalking out”, due to UV exposure.” [1]

​

Epoxy in itself is made up of two main components, hardeners and resins. This is a system where the two are mixed together creating a chemical reaction that forms a rigid plastic material that is resistant, durable, and able to bond exceptionally to its substrate. Being as strong as they are, epoxy floors are often used in some of the most demanding environments and industries.

​

Different Types Of Epoxy Flooring

When it comes to epoxy flooring types, you have a choice of many different types. Your choices include:

• Epoxy Floors That are Self Dispersing– Used in heavy traffic areas due to its amazing strength.

• Epoxy Floor Mortar- Used in repairs for cracks before laying other types of epoxy flooring, this is also recognized as the strongest epoxy flooring available.

• Quartz Sand Self-dispersing Epoxy Floors- Same as regular self-dispersing epoxy flooring, only with quartz sand included for anti-slip qualities.

• Terrazzo Epoxy Flooring- Mainly used in large spaces, these are very decorative.

• Anti-Static Epoxy- These are ideal floors to use in highly sensitive areas that require no static present in the environment.

• Graveled Epoxy Flooring- Offering great anti-slip properties, these are the most decorative flooring, however, much more complicated to lay.

• Flaked Epoxy Floors- These floors are wonderfully decorative, mixing colored chips/flakes within the epoxy base. These flakes also provide a slightly rough surface offering slip resistance. These colors can be of your choice, combined in any combination.

• Self-leveling Epoxy Flooring- Easy to clean, as well as maintain, they are most popular in dining rooms and kitchens.​

​

Benefits of Having Epoxy Coating in a Commercial Garage

There are many factors that create the benefits of having the epoxy coating in a commercial garage. First, think of what goes on in your garage on a regular basis, the epoxy coating has an answer to it. Other than having a good look, a thick application when hardened creates a durable and resilient coating to protect against several of these activities. This coating offers surface abrasion, chemical, chipping, stain, and impact resistance. This offers some ease of mind if you drop heavy tools, or equipment falls over, your floor is protected.

​

The thicker coats of epoxy also help manage the cleanliness of the garage itself. The majority of dust that is formed in garages comes from the shedding of concrete floors. This dust will cling to your cars, benches, and shoes to be tracked into your house. However, a thick coat of epoxy will eliminate the dust as well as cover any spider cracks or flaws in the concrete. The epoxy is anti-dusting due to its topical sealing properties.

​

The maintenance of the tropical coating in itself is a benefit, it is naturally moisture resistant which is ideal for wet and snowy climates. It is a simple cleaning job of icy brine and road salts that are collected during winter, all it takes is some mild soap and water. Dust mops and soft brooms are best at collecting debris when the floor is dry.

​

Slip-resistant aggregate can be added to the final coat of the epoxy to create a non-skid surface. This is sometimes recommended due to the top coat that you use. If you chose to add the colored acrylic flakes, and some of the other top coats, can become slippery when they are wet. This is usually not an issue for those in drier climates.

​

There have been some wonderful reviews and high remarks in regard to the epoxy coatings by home mechanics. The stain and chemical resistance makes it less of a hassle for cleaning up oil, anti-freeze, brake fluid, gasoline, and other chemicals. Even if these chemicals sit for a while, they offer no issues on the coatings. Jacks and jack stands, as well as rolling tool boxes, offer no floor damage either. Also, depending on the topcoat used, these floorings can be quite reflective making the garage a brighter environment to work in.

​

Though not resistant to everything, these tough floors are not recommended for garage floors with issues involving moisture. The moisture vapor transmission rate can cause the epoxy to delaminate if too high. Also, welding can be too much for our floors as well, the hot slag will create burn marks.

​

Explore Your Epoxy Options

One of the most common concerns that are addressed when it comes to garage epoxy flooring is hot tires. Hot tire pick up occurs when the vehicle pulls into the garage after a drive, and the heated tires soften the top coat of the flooring and after cooling with grab and pull the coating away.

​

However, this is an issue that is associated with the lesser quality products that are store-bought paint kits. Usually water-based, these lesser epoxy hold only about 50% solid mixture at best offering 3 mils thick, in comparison to the 100% solids epoxy that is 10 mils thick if not more. The thicker quality is found in commercial and professionally installed coatings.

​

Due to the duration and thicker coatings, warranties of 15 or more years for installation by professionals is becoming more common. Many manufacturers warranties protect against defects for the life of the floor.

​