Are you thinking of installing an epoxy floor coating in your garage, workshop, office, or home?
You have made a great choice.
Epoxy floors are among the best-looking, most durable, and time-tested flooring options available.
When you install an epoxy coating on your floor, you will get the following benefits:
- Epoxy floors are beautiful. Their elegant finish will improve the aesthetics of any space.
- Epoxy floor coatings are cost-effective. They cost less than other flooring options.
- Epoxy floor coating is tough and resistant to shock, heat, chemicals, and water.
- Epoxy flooring lasts a long time. Epoxy floors outlast carpet, tile, and wood flooring.
- Epoxy flooring protects your existing floor surface. Your concrete floor will be preserved.
- Epoxy floors can carry a lot of weight. They withstand an incredible amount of load without peeling or tearing.
- Epoxy floors are easy to maintain, despite their beautiful appearance.
- Epoxy floors improve safety. Due to their light-reflecting abilities, they make spaces safer to navigate and they can be slip-resistant as well.
- Epoxy flooring is also hot-tire-pickup resistant, perfect for garages and shop floors.
- Epoxy flooring is eco-friendly. The manufacture of epoxy flooring does not put a strain on the environment.
However, to maximize the benefits of your epoxy floor, you need to be sure that you are installing the right product. What kind of epoxy floor coatings are available and how do you know if you have chosen the right one?
Below Keyrenter South Florida and Palm beach Epoxy bring you a guide to choosing the best Epoxy Floor Coating:
Types of epoxy floor coatings
You have three options to choose from when shopping for epoxy coating for your home, garage, or business. Broadly speaking, the three types of epoxy floor coating are:
- Solvent-based epoxy
- Water-based epoxy
- 100% solids epoxy
What are the characteristics of each, and which one should you choose?
Solvent-based epoxy floor coatings
Solvent-based epoxy floor coatings have a solvent in them; this is often Xylene. This type of flooring produces a beautiful finish that is glossier than the other two options. This flooring’s ability to tolerate contaminants is very high. Solvent-based epoxy floor coatings are very durable. They can be used in regions with high humidity without any issues.
But, there are two issues you will encounter with solvent-based epoxy flooring. They contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other potentially harmful products. This makes them an environmental hazard both during and after installation. Secondly, finding quality solvent-based epoxy floors is difficult because there are many of these products on the market. Sadly, most of the available products do not provide the durability you want from an epoxy floor and only the aesthetic appeal.
Solvent-based epoxy floor coatings used to be the go-to option for epoxy flooring, but concerns about their safety have caused them to fall out of favor.
Water-based epoxy floor coatings
Water-based epoxy coatings are a great alternative to solvent-based epoxy products. Water-based products do not raise the same health and environmental concerns as solvent-based epoxy. Also, it is easier to work with water-based epoxy than solvent-based coatings; they are slower drying and more malleable because of their lower viscosity.
Water-based epoxy floor coating, being more cost-effective than other options, is often favored by homeowners. This is also because there are no fears of the floor emitting VOCs that will compromise the indoor air quality of the home. But there are a few things to be aware of when using water-based epoxy floor coatings.
Most water-based epoxy coatings don’t have the strength to resist abrasion and heat. Because of their poor chemical resistance and low durability, these types of epoxy flooring are not suitable for long-term use or commercial and industrial applications. Their low-to-zero solvent content and minimal odor make them best for use in homes and places where the restriction on VOC-emitting products are high.
100% solids epoxy
100% epoxy floor coatings are considered true epoxy. The reason for this is that, unlike other epoxy products, they do not dry after application (in the way that paint does). True epoxy cures in a similar way to concrete. They harden completely after 24 hours of being applied. 100% solids epoxy floor coatings do not contain any solvents, water, or VOC.
This type of epoxy coating creates a thicker film than water-based or solvent-based products. The resulting surface can be 10 mils thick or more. They have the highest resistance and strength of any epoxy coating, which makes them ideal for industrial and commercial applications. 100% solids epoxy floor coatings offer the best of all the benefits available with epoxy systems.
100% solids epoxy floor coatings consist of a resin and hardener; these are mixed together to create a chemical reaction. The product of this blend is a floor surface with the highest resistance to impact and abuse. Although they are the least-affordable and most-expensive type of epoxy floor coating, 100% solids epoxy floor coatings are the best for your home, office, garage, or business.
Interested in transforming your residential or commercial surface?
Got a large project anywhere in south florida? Call us, and let’s talk!
Palm Beach Epoxy, Palm Beach FL. 561-632-1855