Should You Install Epoxy Flooring for Your Home or Business?
For many commercial and industrial floors, epoxy flooring is the way to go. It is versatile and durable for the needs and safety requirements of your business, warehouse, or garage. When correctly applied, epoxy flooring lasts a long time, is highly resistant, and gives your floor a great sheen.
What is epoxy?
Generally speaking, epoxy is the family of basic compounds that are made when you combine epoxy resin and a hardener. It is distinctly different from floor paints and other floor coatings, as epoxy flooring is applied differently, and is made up of different materials. It is chemically different, and you should always hire a professional to properly apply your epoxy flooring to ensure the highest quality job.
Where can you apply epoxy?
Just about any type of flooring can be applied with epoxy. There are different types of epoxy, and each is best suited for different flooring types. Ideally, if you have a floor that gets a lot of traffic or wear and tear, epoxy flooring is great to consider. Think about warehouse flooring, restaurants, manufacturing facilities, offices, and more along the same lines.
Types of epoxy flooring
Depending on the type of flooring your business or garage has, you’ll want a different kind of epoxy flooring. This is a general overview. To find out what flooring would be best for you, contact Old Crow Painting today!
Solid epoxy flooring
Solid epoxy flooring is a colorful, versatile choice, especially for residential floors. It comes in a bunch of different colors, and can be applied to most surfaces. If you want a finished floor with one solid color, this is the finish for you. Find it on restaurant floors, kitchens, bathrooms, and even driveways!
Flake epoxy flooring
As the name suggests, flake epoxy flooring incorporates acrylic flakes or chips to add a colorful touch to this finish. It’s not all for looks, though! These acrylic flakes help to make floors slip-resistant with small grooves created by the flakes. For this reason, this type of flooring is great for locker rooms, commercial kitchens, swimming pools, and other floors that may get wet for any reason.
Self-leveling epoxy flooring
Next up, this type of flooring is perfect for damaged or cracked concrete. It looks great on new, uncovered concrete as well, but is chosen on existing old concrete for its smooth, seamless appearance after application. Because of this, you usually find it in warehouses, manufacturing buildings, athletic facilities, and commercial garages.
Anti-static epoxy flooring
There’s nothing shocking about this type of epoxy flooring! This surface combats any static buildup to prevent combustion from flammable materials. A compound is included within the epoxy mixture that dissipates any static from accumulating. It is the epoxy flooring of choice for any building holding flammable or hazardous materials. This includes healthcare facilities and manufacturers dealing with pharmaceuticals or chemicals.
Epoxy mortar floors
The final type we’ll cover is epoxy mortar flooring. It has a very precise measurement of solid epoxy and quartz sand. This flooring is resistant to chemicals, and is highly durable. Some people use epoxy mortar to cover and fill cracks before applying another layer of epoxy flooring on top.
Pros and cons of epoxy flooring
If you’re considering redoing your flooring, epoxy is a great choice. It has some downsides, though. Experience, time, and patience are required to get the job done right. In the end you’re left with a safe, strong, and cost-effective floor.
Advantages
There are numerous benefits to choosing epoxy flooring in your building or business. As mentioned before, it is extremely durable and lasts a long time when applied correctly. It also resists water, heat, and impacts extremely well. For old floors that are slightly damaged, epoxy is a cheaper choice than replacing the entire floor. Despite its cost-effectiveness, it’s very safe for industrial and commercial environments.
Disadvantages
While great, epoxy flooring isn’t completely perfect. Those considering a DIY project need to take extra precautions, and be ready to work over multiple days. It’s much better to hire an experienced professional to apply the correct type of epoxy that you need. Fumes are emitted during the process of application, and present side effects to those that inhale them. Wear proper protection if you plan on doing it alone.
Additionally, after application, the flooring will take several days to fully harden. For businesses, this might be an inconvenience, but be ready to temporarily close off the area during the curing process. After the floor is fully hardened, the fumes mentioned before pose no risk! Since it’s not a floor in and of itself, you need existing flooring before applying epoxy.
The process of application is strenuous and requires ample preparation to ensure a lasting, perfect finish. Contact the professionals at Old Crow Painting to give your business beautiful, durable epoxy flooring!