There are lots of options for epoxy floors. You could get a classic paint chip floor or try something more exciting, like metallic. No matter which type of epoxy you choose, you have to determine if the floor will last. Based on where you'll install the epoxy, will the floor be durable?
Elite Floor Coatings has coated over two million square feet of concrete. Epoxy floors vary in durability. There's no way of telling by the floor's appearance whether or not it will be durable. When planning to invest in an epoxy floor, it's vital to understand the invisible things that make the floor durable.
When you've finished reading, you'll know the three most important factors influencing the durability of an epoxy floor.
We cannot make any accurate blanket statements about durability and epoxy. Epoxy is an umbrella term that encompasses a variety of coatings, including river rock, acrylic cement, quartz, paint chip, and metallic.
A metallic epoxy floor is much less durable than a quartz epoxy floor. While both are called epoxy, the usage, features, and design of each are wildly different.
If you want to evaluate the durability of an epoxy floor, you have to understand the science behind what makes a coating long-lasting.
Three main factors impact the durability of an epoxy coating. Not every factor carries the same weight, but all three play a role. Let's take a look at each, starting with the most important one.
It shouldn't be a surprise that the top coat of your epoxy floor has the greatest impact on its durability. The top coat is the surface-level coating. The top coat faces all of the foot traffic, tires, scratches, and spills.
With a high-quality and durable top coat, your epoxy floor will have more durability. The best top coats to increase durability are urethanes and polyaspartics. These coatings are resistant to hard abrasion and chemicals, which strengthens the system.
While a durable top coat like polyaspartic or urethane is helpful, the type of epoxy also plays a role. While these top coats are durable, they don't stick well to epoxy. A layer of epoxy alone will struggle to hold onto a polyaspartic coating or a urethane.
Paint chip floors don't just exist because they're pretty, but because paint chips mixed into the epoxy help the top coat to adhere. The top coat will stick better when sand or a paint chip is added to the epoxy.
Paint chip epoxy floors offer excellent durability for their price, but quartz epoxy floors are much stronger. Why? One reason is that quartz epoxy is naturally textured, which helps the top coat to stick. Sand offers better adhesion and durability than vinyl paint chips.
The system will be extra strong when a top coat can adhere well to the layers beneath it.
The final factor influencing durability in your epoxy is the number of layers. While the number of layers doesn't have as significant of an impact as the top coat and the medium it adheres to, it does play a role.
The more layers in an epoxy floor, the more durable the floor will be. A greater number of layers increases the strength and stability of the system.
If a small section of the epoxy doesn't adhere well, the areas around it can create a bridge. Those places are well adhered and help the coating to stay put. With fewer layers, any areas where the epoxy is less adhered will have less support.
There's no way to tell visually how many layers an epoxy floor has or what type of top coat it has received. Two completely different paint chip floors can look identical but offer very different performance.
When considering an installer for an epoxy floor, be sure to discuss these factors with them. Someone selling a cheap epoxy floor may use fewer layers or a less durable top coat. While the visual result will look the same, you will lose out over time as the floor begins to degrade, scratch, or detach.
An epoxy floor installed by a qualified professional concerned with the quality of your finished product should last a long time. For example, a residential paint chip floor should last 20 to 30 years, or more.
Every epoxy floor is different. A quartz epoxy floor is naturally more durable than a paint chip epoxy floor. You'll need to keep the top coat, medium, and layers in mind as you choose an epoxy floor.
Multiple layers, good adhesion, and a durable top coat make for a longer-lasting floor.
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