Floors can be made from several different materials. However, it is quite hard to find a material that suits all conditions and environments. This is why an option like epoxy is good because it has so many advantages when compared to other materials. Our opinion is the result of a vast experience our team at Central Epoxy Flooring has gained over the years.
Epoxy flooring is an especially good choice for a floor that has frequent traffic, holds heavy equipment, or is exposed to penetrating stains. So apart from home installation, epoxy floors are great for manufacturing and other industrial facilities, restaurant kitchens, food prep areas, car mechanic garages and many more. Epoxy flooring is considered to be one of the strongest floor coatings available.
Epoxy Flooring For Homes Facts
Epoxy flooring is versatile, making it perfect for commercial or industrial uses, and this is what makes it very popular among home and garage owners. Epoxy floor finish is a permanent coating applied uniformly on top of a well prepared concrete surface. It not only offers protection but also an alluring palette variety.
Epoxy flooring is also a very affordable option, as it is a hassle-free choice for home and business owners. It also provides the added benefit of waterproofing and sealing, which keeps concrete from deteriorating or staining over time. However, there are several epoxy floor facts many people may not know.
For Strength, Opt for Flexible Grade
Different kinds of epoxy flooring can be applied. One curious distinction between these types is flexible and rigid options. One might assume that rigid options will offer more strength. However, when looking for more strength, and especially in terms of abrasion resistance, the flexible grades are better if you are, for instance, considering epoxy flooring garage.
Flexible epoxy is, therefore, perfect for impact absorption, crack bridging, and application on substrates with high vibrations. For a general purpose floor topping, semi-rigid options might be better.
The Two Millimeter Difference
There is a difference between epoxy flooring and a coating. Many people use the terms interchangeably, probably because the difference is minimal, and depends on the thickness of the materials that are applied. What is epoxy flooring? Well, the layer of epoxy applied must exceed two millimeters for it to count as a floor.
Any application below this thickness is considered a coating. This distinction is important because the flooring is also supposed to provide support. A coating is added just as a protective layer.
Epoxy Can Work On Most Hard Surfaces
Epoxy is mostly associated with concrete surfaces. However, it can be applied to provide a protective layer on many other types of materials and floors, such as wood and metal, among others.
The most important thing is to do proper preparation before applying the protective layer. It is also possible to combine epoxy with different materials to achieve different outcomes. For example, when combined with embedded quartz, it produces a non-slip surface.
Because of this, epoxy is rightfully one of the most favored flooring types in the construction and home improvement industry. This includes residential houses, garages, catering and cooking business premises, industrial plants, and car showrooms, to mention a few. So if you are thinking of implementing it, we think you’ll find the facts about epoxy flooring interesting and useful.
Curing Takes Time
When epoxy is applied to a surface, it sets quickly and might appear hard enough. However, this does not mean that it is properly cured. It takes about 18-24 hours (and sometimes longer) before it is safe to walk on the surface.
For proper curing and final hardness, it could take a few days, depending on the conditions and temperatures. It is because of this that it’s not a good idea to apply it in temperatures below 60°F, because apart from slow curing, other problems can develop.
It Can Work Well Outdoors
It is possible to enjoy the benefits of epoxy, even in outdoor settings. When the epoxy is combined with a gravel–like aggregate, it creates an attractive, durable surface outdoors.
The only issue is overexposure to sunlight, which can cause chemical reactions that turn the surface to a yellowish shade. This problem can be solved by applying a UV-resistant coating. Your professional contractor will provide useful advice when it comes to outdoor installation as well as maintenance tips.
Conclusion
Epoxy flooring will provide your old or worn down floors with a new appeal, shimmer and shine. If a floor in your business or home is looking worn down, you can give it an amazing, durable finish for years to come.
How about the choice of designs and colors? Unlike wooden floors, with epoxy flooring, you are not limited by a small range of colors. We are offering an appealing assortment of options, giving your home, garage or business premises floor an amazing new appeal and, for professional spaces, branding identity to your customers.
As a result of its versatility, epoxy is a perfect solution to enhance the beauty or strength of other floor materials, when installed properly, of course. The important thing is to ensure it is applied properly by a professional, or someone who has had experience dealing with the material.
The surface over which it is being applied must be prepared properly to ensure that the adhesive bonds form properly. If this is not done, something as simple as moisture can ruin the outcome.
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