You'd like to redo your basement, but you aren't sure which renovations you should choose. You've got some ugly concrete downstairs that could really benefit from a touchup. Should you get reusable sticky tiles for an easy refresh? Or would investing in an epoxy coating downstairs be worthwhile?
Elite Floor Coatings has installed epoxy coatings in over 1,000 homes and commercial buildings. Basements are a popular choice for epoxy refreshes. Depending on your budget and expectations, there is likely an epoxy coating for you.
When you've finished reading, you'll know which epoxy floors are suitable for basements.
Epoxy coatings are used for any type of concrete. Depending on the type of epoxy, you could cover indoor or outdoor concrete. Most basements have a concrete floor, making them a great option for epoxy.
Not all basement floors are ugly. However, some basement concrete is damaged or stained. No matter the state of your concrete downstairs, an epoxy coating could elevate the space.
There are three specific types of epoxy systems commonly used for basements: paint chip, grind & seal, and metallic epoxy. We'll examine each of these in the following sections.
Paint chip epoxy is one of the most popular choices for basements. Partially, homeowners choose paint chip for its durability and cost-effectiveness. However, paint chip epoxy also offers a nice visual and has some features that are ideal for basement spaces.
Let's take a look at the best features of paint chip epoxy for basement applications.
Most of the paint chip floors we install look like carpet. When a paint chip epoxy floor is installed in a finished space, it can look like a hard carpet—especially if a customer chooses the smaller 1/16th size of paint flake.
Many homeowners choose carpets for their basements. The carpet makes the floor downstairs a bit warmer and is soft for bare feet. However, carpet is also difficult to clean. Any spill on a carpet can transform into a stain.
Paint chip gives the visual illusion of carpet, but it doesn't have any of the cleaning difficulties. Spills can easily be wiped up from a paint chip floor.
Compared to carpet, paint chip epoxy is also much more durable. Carpet can be damaged over time, getting runs, pills, and snags. Paint chip is a smooth coating.
One of the biggest concerns with downstairs renovations is water damage. Many basements in our service area struggle with flooding or occasional water spots. You could never put carpeted flooring into a basement with flooding problems. Other floorings also experience damage when flooding occurs.
Paint chip epoxy is designed to handle water downstairs. Since the coating is applied over the concrete, you'd use the same current systems to handle the water infiltration in the basement.
Paint chip epoxy is a great fit for basements, but it's also not a budget solution. While paint chip balances performance and cost well, it may be outside your ideal budget for your basement remodel. In these cases, your best epoxy option is a grind & seal coating.
When a basement can be easily accessed, a grind & seal coating uses an 800-pound diamond grinding machine to remove the top layer of concrete. However, most basements have limited access, so we usually haul a smaller machine in and out of the basement on a cart. Regardless of the machinery, the goal is to remove any contaminants in the top layer of concrete. Grind & seal stops just short of polishing.
The grind & seal look is less aesthetic and colorful than a paint chip floor. On the contrary, grind & seal floors have an industrial and commercial look. However, they are easy to clean and are protected from staining. If you have a tighter budget, grind & seal is worth considering for your basement.
While grind & seal is best for those on a budget, you might have lots to spend on your basement renovation. If you're searching for a unique, fun, and reasonably practical flooring option, metallic epoxy is the coating for you.
Let's look at the notable features of metallic epoxy in a basement application.
Metallic epoxy is almost always chosen for its cool appearance. Metallic floors are gleaming and flashy. Showroom floors, event centers, and storefronts often choose metallic epoxy to coat their concrete.
When a floor will only be experiencing foot traffic, metallic is a reasonable option. Most basements only see foot traffic, so metallic could create a one-of-a-kind space. House basements used as game rooms, entertainment centers, and at-home theaters make sense for metallic floors.
The look of metallic epoxy is incredible. However, metallic isn't always the best choice from a practical perspective. Compared to paint chip epoxy, metallic is not as durable. This coating is more susceptible to scratches and also doesn't last as long cosmetically. The floor will be functional, but the wow factor of the design will wear over time.
If you want a cool floor for your basement, and you can afford the price of metallic, it may be the option for you! But if durability and longevity are important to you, paint chip or grind & seal are likely the better options.
Basement floors are excellent candidates for epoxy coatings. There are a variety of indoor concrete epoxy coatings, including paint chip and metallic. Which epoxy is best for your basement depends on your budget and goals.
The most affordable epoxy for your basement is grind & seal. While grind & seal is not particularly aesthetic, it is easy to clean and can spruce up the space.
The best deal when comparing cost, durability, and appearance is paint chip epoxy. This type of coating is easy to clean, durable, and easily wipes up from spills.
The splurge for your basement would be a metallic epoxy coating. This coating isn't as long-lasting as paint chip, but it has a striking visual appeal.
Want to learn more about epoxy floors? Learn how much paint chip epoxy flooring costs.