You've been researching your options for epoxy systems. You have some outdoor concrete you'd like to coat with epoxy and wonder if paint chip is the right choice. If not an outdoor paint chip epoxy system, what alternative epoxy might be better for your goals?
Elite Floor Coatings has coated over two million square feet of concrete, both indoors and outdoors. Our team does not install paint chip systems outdoors. We have other options for outdoor concrete. There are also several problems with putting paint chip outside.
When you've finished reading, you'll know the many drawbacks and few benefits of paint chip epoxy for outdoor concrete. You'll also know where to look next for your outdoor concrete solution.
There are a few benefits of outdoor paint chip epoxy systems. Let's take a look at the pros.
Paint chip epoxy has a nice visual aesthetic. There is a reason why paint chip is so popular for indoor concrete applications! When you're coating outdoor concrete that gets a lot of visual attention, the look of paint chip can be appealing.
While there is no outdoor coating with an identical look to paint chip, there are other aesthetic options for porches and patios.
Paint chip epoxy has a relatively quick install time. From prep to top coat, paint chip could take only 2 to 3 days to complete.
However, it's important to note that this timeline is similar to other epoxies designed for outdoor use. You will not save any time by choosing an outdoor paint chip system.
For indoor applications, paint chip is one of the most affordable epoxy options. Paint chip perfectly balances cost, durability, and longevity.
When applied to an outdoor application, paint chip would likely still be affordable. However, there are other epoxy solutions designed for outdoor use that are also affordable. The most affordable option is not as aesthetic as paint chip, but it is significantly less expensive. Other outdoor concrete solutions are on par with, or slightly more expensive than, paint chip epoxy.
While there are some benefits to paint chip when it is installed outside, there are more drawbacks. In reality, paint chip epoxy doesn't belong in outdoor applications. Let's take a look at the cons of installing paint chip outside.
Paint chip epoxy does not allow liquid to pass through it. This is a great feature for indoor applications like garages and basements. However, it does not lend itself to successful outdoor uses.
Any time there is a risk of frost or snow, outdoor paint chip systems will be slippery. Even with the addition of anti-skid, water will freeze on the surface of the paint chip, negating the anti-skid. In our service area, an outdoor paint chip system would be a huge slipping hazard for a significant chunk of the year. We sometimes get freezing temperatures as early as November, with dips below freezing lasting through April.
Most interior concrete is below-grade and needs a vapor barrier. If you're building a house on a concrete slab, you don't want any moisture to pass through the slab and affect the home.
Outdoor concrete pads are less concerned with vapor barriers. It is unlikely that your outdoor concrete has a vapor barrier. Without a vapor barrier, if moisture gets beneath the concrete, the concrete will wick that moisture up.
Since paint chip systems are impervious, moisture cannot pass through the paint chip coating. Instead, the moisture will get underneath the epoxy coating and cause the system to fail. The moisture pressure can cause delamination.
Paint chip was designed for indoor concrete. Some types of indoor concrete, like basement floors, aren't exposed to ultraviolet light. Other applications, like garage floors, have occasional exposure to sunlight.
The epoxy of a paint chip system was never designed for UV exposure, so paint chip works well indoors. For any area with occasional UV exposure, a polyaspartic top coat can be installed for durability. Without a polyaspartic top coat, the paint chip epoxy would deteriorate and yellow over time.
Outdoor concrete is constantly exposed to sunlight, so paint chip epoxy cannot be left outside on its own. To be UV stable, the paint chip system must be installed using all polyaspartic binders. This system is very sensitive to moisture, though. If the moisture content of the concrete is too high during or after installation, the polyaspartic will not stick to the concrete. It will flake up.
If you want to replace an outdoor paint chip system, it won't be simple. Whether you change your mind due to slippiness or your system fails, the entire coating must be ground off.
Grinding off the paint chip epoxy will require commercial-grade equipment. You'll also need to invest in a new coating for your concrete unless you want to leave the porch, patio, or stairs as exposed concrete.
Paint chip epoxy was designed to make indoor areas easy to clean. Paint chip is popularly used in bathrooms, commercial kitchens, mudrooms, basements, and garages. People love paint chip for its durability, visuals, and ease of cleaning.
Outdoor paint chip systems tweak a product for something it was never intended to be. While the features of paint chip make an ideal product for indoor concrete, these same features are problematic outside.
The good news is that you have great options if you want epoxy for your outdoor concrete. Several epoxy coatings were designed to be used outside.
If you like the textured look of paint chip, you could choose river rock epoxy for a natural stone look.
Or, if you want something less busy, you could choose any colors you'd like for the sweeping appearance of acrylic cement.
We do not recommend outdoor paint chip systems. While these systems can be installed quickly and at a relatively low cost, paint chip was never meant to be installed outside. The impervious nature of paint chip makes it easy to clean in indoor applications, but raises the risk of slipping when installed outdoors.
If you want an epoxy system for the outside, many options are designed with weather conditions and patterns in mind. Consider acrylic cement or river rock epoxy.