This article will show you the desirable features of hospital floorings as well as the best hospital flooring materials.

Healthcare Flooring Requirements

In selecting the best healthcare flooring, you should consider the following hospital flooring features.

1. Slip resistance

When choosing flooring solutions for your healthcare facilities, you’ve got to choose textured materials that will be stable for people to walk on: the ones that’ll prevent people from slipping or falling.

The hospital floors should also be smooth and without edges and or height differences. This is so that when patients navigate various areas, they will not experience any marked changes that will cause them to trip over.

2. Give/Soft flooring

Slip-resistant floors are good enough to prevent people from tumbling over: however, extra precautions should be taken to ensure the safety of patients in the hospital.

When picking hospital flooring design options, you should allow for a certain level of softness or flexibility to guard against falling. This can be achieved with the material of choice or the underlay.

This way, when people fall to the ground, the impact won’t be too much. So instead of breaking their bones or sustaining serious injuries, they may have little bruises.

And two clinical flooring materials that fit this criterion are rubber and vinyl flooring. These materials don’t only heighten employee and patient satisfaction, they can also prevent the damage of some equipment that will fall on them.

3. Cushioning

You should select healthcare floorings that will make it very easy for people to walk around especially since the clinical staff is always on their feet all day.

A cushioned floor will also aid the easy movement of patients that have trouble walking and reduce repetitive stress injuries to staff’s ankles, feet, and knees.

4. Sanitation

Hospital floorings are bound by strict standards to avoid bacteria, moisture, allergens, and moisture from contaminating the environment.

They should also be sanitary enough to resist urine, acids, blood, and disinfectants.

So the best hospital flooring options for your healthcare facility are the ones that will be easy to clean and maintain. The seams must be sealed, and the hospital need flooring with a thick coating that’s scratch-resistant.

Plus you need to eliminate every wall-floor gap by flashing the floor up the walls.

The hospital floor should also be sealed and spill-resistant to avoid germs and microbes from breeding and spreading.

And finally, they should give off little to no Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) to maintain better indoor air quality.

5. Noise absorption

In hospitals, a certain level of quiet and calm is needed as many sleeping patients and doctors are trying to concentrate.

So your floor should be able to absorb noise and not distract patients and employees by echoing every footfall sound.

6. Aesthetic

Welcoming and clean healthcare facilities can help calm and reassure patients and visitors. Plus they can make the healthcare providers feel comfortable and enjoy doing their jobs.

The floors also have their ways of communicating professionalism.

So when selecting your hospital flooring material, you should put color, texture, and other flooring designs into consideration. And you also need floors that can reflect and amplify lighting.

7. ROI and life cycle cost

For your hospital floorings, you don’t need to break the bank.

A good choice will fall within your installation budget, is easy to maintain, and fits the medical load requirements.

So despite the heavy foot traffic, cart traffic, and patient transport in hospitals, the floor should be built to last long.

And it should also be low maintenance and able to resist stains, wear, and other chemicals for a long time. This is so it wouldn’t spend too much always repairing or changing the floor.

What Is The Best Hospital Flooring?

Now we know the criteria to consider when selecting the best healthcare flooring, we’re going to answer the question: What floor is best for health, and why hospitals use it.

It’s important to note that clinical flooring specifications are very strict.

This is because you’re not only providing people with surfaces to walk on and for your medical equipment to be mounted on, you’re trying to create a relaxing and healing environment for patients.

Vinyl Flooring

Looking for the best flooring in the healthcare industry? The best hospital flooring material you can get is vinyl, also called Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC).

The simple reasons are vinyl is very hygienic, resilient, and it easily meets the requirements expected of modern clinical surfaces and interiors.

Here are the best types of vinyl flooring that are suitable for your hospital floors.

1. Luxury vinyl tile (LVT)

Luxury vinyl tile is a wonderful flooring invention that’s built to last and offers a short installation time.

It is made with a synthetic material that is formed from mixing polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin, calcium carbonate, and stabilizers.

These chemicals make LVT fantastically durable, water-proof, and easy to maintain. And its ability to withstand heavy human traffic has made it become one of the most popular flooring materials in the healthcare industry.

And one of the main reasons LVT was developed was to create a home-like appearance in hospitals. And such floors have been shown under the evidence-based design to help patients in their healing process.

They’re also wear and stain-resistant, so they can’t be affected by fluid and bloodstains. Furthermore, they’re easy to clean and you wouldn’t need to buy expensive cleaning products to maintain the flooring material. Neither will you need to wax or excessively polish the surface.

LVT also offers almost limitless design options and is easy to install. And the photographic print process it has on tile means it can be made to look like stone and wood and any other material of your choice.

2. Sheet vinyl

Sheet vinyl flooring is another popular hospital flooring surface that’s very hygienic.

Its non-porous nature makes it not support the breeding of germs and dirt. And it has little seams because it comes in 4, 5, or 6-foot wide rolls; actually, it has no seams and cracks when they’re fitted correctly.

It’s a wise clinical flooring option for repelling bacteria and other microbes because of the coved skirting that makes its edges to be fitted along the corners of hospital walls.

In addition, the flooring can create a monolithic seamless surface that can be easily cleaned and maintained. Sheet vinyl floors are easy to install, reduce noise and vibration levels, chemical resistant, and also offer aesthetic designs.

3. Vinyl Composition Tile (VCT)

If you’re looking for economical hospital flooring, Vinyl Composition Tile (VCT) is one of the most economical you can find.

This extremely durable healthcare flooring tile is made from limestone, color pigments, a thermostatic binder, and fillers.

However, these flooring products require a higher level of maintenance than the other vinyl floors on this list: as you’ll need to wax, strip, and polish them.

So if you’re opting for this medical flooring for your healthcare establishment, you’ll need to factor these into your budget.

Other Cool Flooring Options

1. Rubber Flooring

Sheet rubber flooring is another fantastic hygienic hospital flooring material.

It’s resilient like vinyl, has noise cancellation properties, and sanitary. It’s also easy to seal and maintain, durable, and a smart choice when considering impact effects.

Rubber floors come in a wide variety of styles and designs; thereby elevating hospital interior décor with its seamless installation.

Its durability ensures it can withstand heavy foot traffic and very tough hospital conditions for a long time. And the closed surface of a rubber floor makes it wear-resistant and easy to clean.

Another interesting feature of sheet rubber floorings that makes them the right flooring for hospitals is that they’re resistant to disinfectants and non-sensitive to stains and other chemicals.

And when you consider indoor air quality, their low VOC emission helps ensure the hospital is a healthy environment for both patients, patient’s families, and clinic staff.

2. Linoleum

Although linoleum flooring popularity has waned, it remains a top choice for hospital floors.

This material is particularly favored by buyers that hold environmental impact in high regard. It is made from natural materials such as cork dust, linseed oil, and jute fiber.

Linoleum is also widely used because of its sanitary and antimicrobial properties in withstanding bacteria and germs.

3. Terrazzo flooring

Terrazzo floors are premium and highly durable hospital flooring options.

They’re low maintenance and can last for a long time–say decades. Their strength makes them capable of withstanding heavy foot and rolling equipment carts.

The flooring surface is also handicap-friendly and can be gotten in recyclable materials.

Best Hospital Flooring Options Based on Area of Installation

For a healing environment as large as a hospital, one flooring type can’t be relied upon to do the job.

Secondly, different hospital areas require different flooring needs to carry out their caring duties. Some areas carry more pressure and human traffic than others. And some others are more exposed to chemicals, fluids, and stains.

All these have to be put into consideration when picking the right flooring for various hospital areas and conditions.

So here are the various areas and the floorings most appropriate for them.

Entrance areas

The first place patients, families, and visitors set foot on in the hospital is the entrance.

That means you’ll want a floor that’s welcoming and creates a positive, professional, and relaxing first impression. The flooring also has to be durable as entrance areas get the most foot traffic and rolling loads.

Considering these factors, terrazzo and LVT will be the most appropriate materials to install here.

They’re both very durable and withstand high amounts of human traffic. Plus LVT offers a wide variety of design opportunities.

Corridors and clinical areas

The hallways of corridors experience high human traffic and the rolling of loads like equipment carts, wheelchairs, stretchers, and med carts. This indicates that the flooring should be durable and resilient.

And because of its position and function, it needs to be quickly installed not to disrupt clinical activities. While clinical areas need flooring that will support evidence-based design and aid patients’ healing and stress reduction.

So for these areas, rubber sheets and LVT present the best options.

Both come in textures, colors, and designs that are home-like. They’re durable and save time on installation as they can come with protective coatings and pre-applied adhesives.

Emergency and operating rooms

For these rooms, you’ll need to think about infection control. That means materials that are easy to clean and resilient, and can repel germs are what you need.

So the best hospital flooring options for operating rooms are LVT, linoleum, sheet vinyl, and sheet rubber with dri fit tape (a double-sided adhesive) because of their flash coving.

Another floor type that does the job is resin flooring.

Patient rooms

Creating a care setting and an ambiance that makes patients feel at home can facilitate their healing.

So linoleum, LVT, and sheet tile that have natural looks are the best options for patient rooms. They’re durable and can be installed rapidly. And they’re cheaper than natural materials.

Nurse’s stations and treatment areas

These areas are used 24/7, so they need to be resilient and promote stress reduction.

So the best flooring for nurse’s stations and treatment areas will be luxury vinyl tile, bio-based tile (BBT), and sheet tile that are made from low-VOC materials.

Cafeterias

Cafeteria flooring should be relaxing, slip-resistant, and able to hide scuffs and scratches.

So the best types of flooring for cafeterias are the ones with natural looks. They include LVT, sheet vinyl, and tile.

Tools for Selecting Healthcare Flooring Material

• LEED for healthcare: this flooring rating system takes indoor air quality and evidence-based design into account. It was developed by the U.S Green Building Council (USGBC).
• Green Guide for Healthcare (GGHC): this is a best-practices guide for the construction and operation of healthcare facilities. And it also dictates how healthy and sustainable designs should be made.
• ecoScorecard: a tool to show floorings that comply with the most popular rating systems.
• Floorscore: a rating system to evaluate floors for VOC emissions. This was developed by the Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI) and Scientific Certification Systems (SCS).

The post What Is The Best Hospital Flooring Material? appeared first on Infinity Epoxy Floors | Best Epoxy Contractor In The Tri-State.

The result…

Flooring with a durable finish that also catches the eye with its shiny surface and colors.

This self-leveling epoxy coating can be used in a wide variety of applications. They can be applied on tabletops, countertops, concrete floors, tile, wood, and other flooring types in industrial, residential, and commercial settings.

However, today, we’ll be discussing how to apply a self-leveling epoxy flooring system to give our old (or new) floors a facelift.

How to Apply Self-leveling Epoxy Flooring: Step by Step Guide

1. Dry your concrete flooring surface

Before you can apply self-leveling epoxy flooring on your concrete floor, you first have to dry the surface of every moisture, grease. Make sure there are no loose particles and dust.

2. Prepare your concrete floors

This stage is, particularly for old concrete floors. You can prepare the concrete surface by grinding with a grinder; milling; grouting; sandblasting, etc. This is to get all the grime and dirt out and level your floor.

Plus it also opens up the pores to allow the primer to penetrate the floor while providing better anchoring for the epoxy floor coating.

3. Vacuum the floor

After you complete the grinding of the surface, use your vacuum cleaner to clean the flooring and make sure there’s no dust or dirt left on it.

You need to be thorough with this stage because, in the next step, we’ll be applying our primer.

4. Apply your epoxy primer

Next up is the application of our epoxy primer. A water-based primer presents a good choice because it doesn’t smell so bad. We prime floors for a couple of reasons;

• To promote better adhesion of the self-leveling epoxy coating to the substrate.
• It also helps seal the floor to make it non-porous.

You can use rollers to apply the epoxy primer. Just do it with pressure so you can feel the primer penetrating the floor.

Depending on the need the experience and performance you desire of your flooring, another layer may be needed.

5. Patch the cracks on your flooring

Another thing the epoxy primer does is make the cracks on concrete floors more visible.

When your primer is dry and you find that your floors have got cracks, you should patch them to ensure your flooring is level.

6. Apply a base coat to seal the concrete

So we’ll apply our base coat to make sure our flooring is well sealed and that there are no bubbles. Also, sprinkle some quartz sand to enhance better bonding before applying the topcoat.

7. Vacuum the flooring again

Get rid of every dirt and dust that the other steps of this project may have produced. If you skip this stage, these nuisances will show up on your self-leveling epoxy flooring.

8. Prepare your self-leveling epoxy

Now, we’ll mix the whole of component B (hardener) with component A (epoxy) in a bucket. Afterward, add some quartz sand and stir the mixture for about 3 minutes with a low-revolution mixer.

Avoid general sand as it contains many particles that contain moisture.

The quartz makes the epoxy coating thicker, more viscous, and improves its resistance.

9. Apply the mixed products with a notched epoxy spreader

Then pour your self-leveling epoxy coating on the edges of your substrate where it meets the wall and slowly spread with a notched trowel. A notched trowel ensures the thickness is evenly spread throughout the flooring.

And if you’re wondering how thick you can pour epoxy floor; a thickness of 2.5 mm is perfect! Simply use a 5 mm notched trowel, and it’ll give you a 2.5-mm thick epoxy flooring.

There, you’ve got your self-leveling epoxy flooring, but there’s one more thing.

10. Remove bubbles with spiked rollers

Finally, it’s common for self-leveling epoxy flooring to have bubbles. So finish off your epoxy flooring by using a spiked roller to get rid of them.

So you see, high-gloss epoxy floors are not difficult to install. And their applications come with a lot of benefits.

Benefits of Self-leveling Epoxy Flooring System

1. Appearance

Compared to roller-applied epoxies, self-leveling epoxy flooring presents a smoother finish with many colorful applications. And because of its thickness, this flooring solution may hide imperfections on your flooring.

And the additives and various colors can create a stunning and high-gloss that’ll enhance the appeal of your work or residential space.

2. Durability

Self-leveling epoxy coatings are strong enough to resist wear and tear from exposure to heavy foot traffic and large machinery.

Their thickness ensures they’re a wise long-term flooring solution.

3. Ease of maintenance

Self-leveling epoxy flooring is easy to clean and maintain. And you won’t have to spend so much on buying cleaning products.

These are some of the reasons it’s favored in the food and pharmaceutical industries. You can even get a self-leveling epoxy floor coating with antimicrobial agents.

4. Slip resistance

Despite the shiny appearance of self-leveling epoxy floor coating, they’re safe to walk on when wet. Their slip resistance makes them good flooring options in cafeterias and places with high exposure to water and liquid spills.

5. Chemical resistance

Self-leveling epoxy flooring is resistant to most chemical spills; including caustic chemicals in labs and pharmaceutical facilities.

They’re also resistant to damage, and exposure to UV radiation won’t fade their colors.

The post What are Self-leveling Flooring Epoxy, Their Benefits, and Applications? appeared first on Infinity Epoxy Floors | Best Epoxy Contractor In The Tri-State.

However, special care needs to be taken to ensure the epoxy floor is kept clean all the time regardless of whether it’s installed in the garage, living area, industrial environment, commercial center, or high-traffic hallways.

This guide will show you how to maintain, clean epoxy floor, and keep it shining for a long time coming.

How to Clean Epoxy Garage Floors

Performing routine maintenance cleaning on your epoxy floor is enough to keep it clean, sparkling, and make it last long for you. And here’s how to go about that;

1. Keep the surfaces dirt and grit-free

If you allow dirt and grit to remain on your epoxy floor, they can embed in the epoxy and scratch the floor coating over time. This is especially so when you’re always moving heavy machinery or cars on your epoxy garage floors.

To avoid this, regularly use a soft dust mop or a shop vacuum with a soft brush attachment to sweep away sand, dirt, and loose debris from the epoxy floor. You can do this once or twice a week depending on the amount of dirt your epoxy garage accumulates.

And if your epoxy garage floors have got an anti-slip aggregate (like aluminum oxide) added to its formulation, you’ll be better off using a soft bristle push broom than a regular dust mop: this is more effective against dirt for such floors.

Epoxy flooring surface is tough, resilient, and resistant to abrasion, but that doesn’t mean prolonged exposure to grime, dirt, and grit can’t damage it over time.

So to extend the lifespan of your flooring surface, take extra precautions to make sure your epoxy floor is always free of dirt.

2. Spot cleaning

Epoxy floors exhibit excellent water resistance, and this makes it super easy to clean liquid spills off the floors.

So when you’ve got water, spills, or dirt that needs to be attended to immediately, you don’t need to wait till your next scheduled date to clean the whole commercial, garage or industrial floor.

Spot cleaning can do the magic; plus, it’s easy to do. Simply vacuum the spilled liquid alongside every dirt in that area with a shop vacuum. Then wipe the area with a mop and warm water. And if the affected area is very small, a soft scrub pad will be OK.

But be careful not to scrub too hard so you don’t degloss the epoxy surface.

3. Cleaning oils, car chemicals, and other chemicals

It’s a known fact that compared to other resin floors, most epoxy floor solutions are not so resistant to many chemicals.

Engine oil particularly contains chemical agents that can be harmful to your epoxy coating. Hence, the more reason you shouldn’t allow this and any other chemical to sit on your epoxy floor for long.

So to protect your epoxy floor coating, wipe up the following liquids and chemicals with a shop towel or paper towel as soon as possible;

• Engine oil spills
• Gas spills
• Paint
• Antifreeze
• Harsh household cleaners
• Abrasive or coarse liquids
• And other chemicals from cars

Also, use a gentle cleanser like Windex if the spill is sticky or leaves a film on your epoxy floors. To ensure the durability of your epoxy, the best thing you can do is to clean it immediately these chemicals come in contact with it.

It’s also advisable you keep a neutralizing agent in your garage. You can first neutralize the chemicals before washing them with water and using a soft cloth or squeegee to drain liquid.

Always clean the epoxy floor so these chemicals don’t discolor and possibly reduce the performance of your floor.

4. Cleaning stains from epoxy flooring

You can use warm water and a kitchen scrubbing sponge or a soft deck brush to get rid of stains like rust. However, you should scrub lightly for the best results.

And avoid using steel wool and harsh chemicals like Comet.

Deep Cleaning and Removing Tough Stains from your Epoxy Garage Floor

You should strive to deep clean your epoxy floor coatings once a month. To do this, you’ll have to move your tools, vehicles, and other items out of the way so you can reach hidden areas.

When you do this, you’ll be able to keep your epoxy garage floor in good shape and prolong its lifespan.

There are some stains and marks that won’t come off by only using a mop. You’ll need something more powerful in situations like these. But first, what cleaner is safe to use on epoxy floors?

What is the best cleaner for epoxy floors?

Diluted ammonia is the best epoxy floor coating cleaning solution, and it’s simple to make.

You can make this cleaning solution at your home or workshop by adding half cup of ammonia to a gallon (3.8 L) of hot water (that is, 2 – 3 ounces of ammonia per gallon of hot water). With this preparation, this cleaner is completely safe for your epoxy floors.

Another very effective epoxy flooring cleansing solution is diluted Simple Green Epoxy Cleaner. Simply add half cup of Simple Green to 1 gallon of hot water (that is, 1 part of Simple Green to 8 parts of hot water). This cleaner is also safe, but ensure the cleaner isn’t too concentrated as it can leave a film on your epoxy floor.

And finally, another great cleansing solution for epoxy floors is Windex. Mix Windex with water in this ratio: 1 part of Windex to 3 parts of water. This will do an amazing job in cutting through residue without leaving a film on your epoxy floor surface.

Whichever mixture you prefer, mix both the cleaner and water in a bucket.

But first, you’ll want to remove furniture or anything that will stand in your way from cleaning thoroughly. Then remove the excess dirt with a broom before vacuuming.

And after that, you can apply the solution to your epoxy floor with a hard foam mop or microfiber cloth. Then rinse off the detergent with clean water and leave to air-dry or use a soft towel.

1. Remove stubborn stains with a stiff nylon brush

Now you’ve got your home-made cleaner, you can clean the stubborn stains and spots on your epoxy floor with either your Simple Green or ammonia solutions.

Then scrub the floor with a stiff nylon brush. Repeat till all stains are gone, and rinse with water and dry with a towel when you’re done.

2. Clean tough rust stains with a lactic acid-based cleaner

Some rust might require more than a scrubbing sponge and water to go off.

So for this, you’ll have to prepare a lactic acid-based cleaner solution. You can do this by adding equal parts of the lactic acid-based cleanser (like CLR) and water (that is, 1 part lactic acid-based cleaner and 1 part water).

So you’ll have to apply this solution directly to the area and scrub with a scrub brush to clean your epoxy floor. For best practices, the cleanser SHOULDN’T sit on your garage floor for MORE THAN 2 MINUTES, and don’t forget to rinse with cold water.

You can also use this cleansing solution to get rid of salt film and grease on your epoxy floor surface.

3. Remove tire marks with a degreaser

It’s very common to have tire marks on your garage floors. But getting them off is not really a problem if you know what to do.

The only thing is that you’ll have to get the marks off immediately they’re made, as they’ll be difficult to come off if they stay long on the floors.

Saturate the area you’ve got the tire marks with a concrete degreaser product, and leave it for 5 – 10 minutes. Then scrub with a stiff very hard with a stiff bristle nylon brush. You might need to reapply the cleanser and scrub a few more times if the stain remains.

After you scrub the marks are off, rinse with water and dry with a towel.

Maintaining your Epoxy Floor

1. Treat your epoxy garage floor like the other rooms in your house

Ensure to use a walk-off mat at the entrance of your garage. This will collect dirt, sand, and moisture from under your feet and save you from cleaning your floors all the time.

Also, use soft pads under bicycle and motorcycle kickstands. you don’t need anything fancy: a computer mouse pad will suffice.

Also, place a piece of cardboard if you’re going to leave your car in the garage for a long time.

2. Use a welding mat

If you weld in your home, factory, or warehouse, this mat can help you prevent damage from being done to your epoxy floors.

You can still take extra care by placing heavy equipment or tools on plywood to ensure too much pressure is not applied to your epoxy floor.

Even though epoxy coatings are very durable, you can make them more durable by adhering to these epoxy maintenance best practices.

3. Strictly avoid these floor cleaning products

When cleaning your epoxy floors, AVOID USING citrus cleaners or vinegar as they contain acids that can degloss you’re the finish of your epoxy floor coatings.

Also, avoid using soap-based cleaners as they can leave streak marks or a residue on your epoxy coating surface.

Soap-based cleaners are capable of dulling the shine of your epoxy floors and also making the floors more slippery when it gets wet.

In conclusion

Caring for epoxy floors, as we’ve seen, isn’t difficult.

As simple as sweeping regularly (more like every day) can work wonders. And if you adhere to these simple practices in caring for your epoxy floor, you should be fine, and the floor will also last longer than you expect.

And if you’re too busy to undertake the thorough cleaning by yourself, you can always contact professional epoxy floor cleaners to help out.

FAQs

How can I sterilize my epoxy floors without stripping the epoxy?

A simple and safe way to sterilize epoxy floors without stripping the epoxy coating is by mopping the floor with a mixture of one-third (1/3) cup of regular dish-washing liquid and 5 liters of warm water.

This is completely safe and it won’t leave a film or strip your epoxy.

Can you pressure wash epoxy garage floors?

Yes, you can. But you don’t need to because epoxy floors are easy to clean. Cleaning with a mop and a bristle brush is okay to do the cleaning job.

The post How to Clean Epoxy Floors: The Only Maintenance Guide You’ll Need appeared first on Infinity Epoxy Floors | Best Epoxy Contractor In The Tri-State.

This is a common question industrial facilities owners commonly ask when they’re looking for a floor for their work surfaces that’s easy to clean, durable, and aesthetic.

We’ve juxtaposed both rivals and highlighted all their differences, pros, and cons in this article. By the time you’re done reading, you’ll have more than enough information to pick the right floor for your facility project.

Epoxy vs Polyurethane Coating System

1. Cost-Effectiveness

Generally, epoxy coatings are slightly cheaper than polyurethane coatings. Although, prices may differ depending on the brand.

But when we talk about cost-effectiveness, a polyurethane floor typically lasts twice as long as an epoxy floor. This makes polyurethanes more cost-effective.

2. Durability

Epoxy floors are harder and offer more rigidity than polyurethane floors. The film thickness of epoxies can correct hairline cracks and minor concrete blemishes.

So epoxies are great for floors that carry heavy equipment like forklift trucks. However, more epoxy coating may be needed depending on the kind of desired performance.

Polyurethane floor coating, on the other hand, also offers much better durability and better flexibility.

3. Resistance

Epoxies are very resistant to acids but are not too friendly with chemicals in some industries and manufacturing environments. But polyurethane coat provides much better impact resistance, abrasion resistance, and chemical resistance.

This makes them valuable in a wide range of industries, including food processing facilities.

Polyurethanes are also resistant to stains from tires and a wide range and concentrations of chemicals. And they have better scratch resistance, making them ideal for car parks and places with high foot traffic.

Furthermore, in the epoxy vs polyurethane coating system battle, PU systems demonstrate better UV resistance. And this makes polyurethane topcoat a more realistic option than the epoxy topcoat.

4. Longevity

Polyurethanes flooring system is a much long-lasting flooring solution than epoxies. Added to their strength, they’re more resistant to extreme temperatures (whether hot or cold). They also cure faster, making it easier to extend their working life by adding newer coatings.

Epoxies on the other side of the debate, take a longer time to cure, are more brittle, plus their UV resistance is low; so they’re less long-lasting.

5. Versatility

While it might seem like polyurethanes are winning this battle, don’t hold your breath, yet. Epoxies are suitable for a wider range of applications.

Plus their high-glossy aesthetic effects can add more beauty to your space.

Epoxies are available in more styles, colors, and decorative options; giving designers the power to install floors that are not only functional but look awesome and unique.

And except there’s a special need for PU systems, you’ll most likely get a sparkling epoxy surface that’ll suit your needs.

This makes them find application in large-scale commercial centers like airports; customer-handling points like hotel lobbies; and heavy-duty industries that use heavy equipment.

6. Maintenance

Like other types of resin flooring, both resin flooring are easy to clean. But polyurethane flooring will withstand harsher cleaning products more than its flooring counterpart.

That said, the epoxy vs polyurethane coatings grand debate just got started.

To get a clearer picture of the different types of epoxy and polyurethane coatings, here’s everything you need to know in more detail.

Epoxy Coatings

On the basic level, epoxies are made by mixing epoxy resin and polyamine hardener.

And the resulting epoxies coating bond very well with other flooring types like concrete floor surfaces to create a durable surface with high impact resistance, chemical resistance, UV resistance, etc.

They’re widely known as being surface tolerant, and this is why an epoxy primer can either serve as a topcoat or an intermediate coating. And the chemical resistance of epoxy coatings has made them a favorite on the production floor of any industrial facility seeking protection against chemicals.

However, all epoxy coatings are not the same. There are different types of epoxies formulated for various specific purposes;

1. 100% Solids Epoxy Resin

These epoxy resins can be applied as primers, intermediate coatings, or a topcoat.

You can mix them with different aggregates to resurface your concrete. And they can also be used as a base coat or a binder for mixing color quartz and metallic flakes for color flakes. 100% solid epoxy typically gives off little or no odor and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).

Although, they’ve got a short pot life (around 20 – 40 minutes) and can’t be recoated till about 6 hours.

2. High Solids Epoxies

High solid epoxy comprises a small amount of epoxy and hardeners that are fast-cure and low-temperature-cure.

And these make them a great choice for short turnaround time projects (thereby boosting productivity) and also suitable for installation in colder months.

High solids epoxies are high-performance that can be used on concrete, steel, and galvanized steel as they offer outstanding protection against acids and alkalis.

3. Cycloaliphatic & Novolac Epoxies

These epoxy floors offer high performance against harsh chemical spills.

This makes them ideal choices for trenches, internal tank linings, pump pads, and other places that are exposed to chemical spills.

4. Water-based Epoxies

Water-based epoxies have little to no odor and low VOC.

But they don’t do a great job resisting chemicals and other solvents 100% solids will take care of. And a water-based epoxy floor will be a good choice for less demanding areas like locker rooms, control rooms, and concrete flooring with light traffic.

5. Polyamide Epoxy Coating

This floor coating is mostly used as a primer and topcoat. They’re more economical and very durable.

However, their performance can’t be compared to those of high solids and 100% solids. So they’re better applied as coats on surfaces with less exposure to chemicals.

6. Phenalkamines

These epoxies are great flooring solutions in that they have a great adhesion rate, long pot life, and resist chemicals effectively.

Phenalkamine-cured epoxies are fast-setting and can be coated twice on the same day. They can be applied in low temperatures, and are low viscous; so they can be used for line stripping facilities.

7. Polyester epoxies

These are two-component epoxies with a non-yellowing coating.

It can be used as an anti-graffiti coat as it’s a high-gloss, hard, and tile-like finish with outstanding wash and scrubbable features.

They’re unique in the sense that they can withstand chemical and abrasive pressure.

Polyurethane Coatings

Polyurethane systems coating is very resistant to sunlight, chemical spills, impact and offers better abrasion resistance abrasion than epoxy coatings.

They’ve also got great gloss retention and color stability as they don’t fade easily. However, in their application, they’re very sensitive to humidity. So it’s best to apply them at times when the humidity is really low–say late morning to afternoon.

Below are some of the common types of polyurethanes;

1. Polyester Polyurethanes

Polyurethanes are made with polyester which gives them a durable finish. They’ve also got an excellent shine and color retention.

And they’re the polyurethanes most resistant to scratch, impact, chemicals, and abrasion.

Their best application will be to be used as finish coating in aircraft hangars, steel surfaces, and high traffic areas that are exposed to chemicals including grease, oil, gas, salt, caustic, and several acids.

Truly, they’re a great CRU (Chemical Resistant Urethane).

2. Moisture Cured Urethane Coating

These coatings can usually handle much higher temperatures than epoxies and two-component urethanes.

They’re one-component that can cure off moisture and humidity and also create a durable finish.

The drawback here is that because of their aromatic composition, they lose their color with time.

3. Acrylic Polyurethanes

Acrylic polyurethanes are made from aliphatic compounds which gives them their stable and durable finish.

However, these polyurethanes are best known for their color retention, high gloss, and their ability to withstand UV radiations.

This makes them suited for exterior steel surfaces.

So that ends the epoxy vs polyurethane debate. Hope you now have enough information to choose the right flooring material for your floor project?

FAQs

Is epoxy better than polyurethane?

Both are outstanding flooring solutions. But depending on the application, polyurethane coat is better suited to places with heavy traffic, extensive chemical spills, and more sunlight exposure.

And epoxies present a more aesthetic finish and can also be used in spaces with interior residential and commercial centers with high foot traffic.

Can you use polyurethanes like epoxy?

Yes, you can! As a matter of fact, polyurethanes provide more durability and offer a lot of stylish and creative designs.

Which is better epoxy or urethane?

This depends largely on the application. If you desire a more beautiful finish, epoxies are better. And if you prefer a more durable finish, urethane is better.

How long does polyurethane last on concrete?

Polyurethanes last, on average, twice as long as epoxy. So they can last around 10 years on a concrete floor coating where epoxies last 5 years.

The post Polyurethane vs Epoxy: The Floor Coatings Grand Battle appeared first on Infinity Epoxy Floors | Best Epoxy Contractor In The Tri-State.

And if you’re planning on embarking on a seamless resin floor project, this article will show you all you need to know to make an informed decision.

What are Resin Floors?

Basically, resin flooring is a mixture of synthetic resin and a hardener to form a hardened and durable but plastic-like surface.

A coat of the resin flooring solution is then applied as a liquid to a substrate–mostly concrete. Both the resin and the underlying layer then chemically bond to create the thick, decorative finish capable of impact resistance.

If you then desire a thicker and more durable flooring with more performance characteristics like chemical resistance, you’ll need to add more layers of the resin flooring coating. And in some cases, other components such as aggregates, pigments, decorative flakes.

This will not only make your resin floor more attractive but harder than concrete flooring. This makes it better than polished concrete flooring.

However, you’ll mostly require this more durable finish when your resin floors will be used in high-traffic, industrial, or commercial environments like pharmacies, logistics areas, and public areas.

Types of Resin Flooring

The three main resin floor types are listed below;

1. Epoxy flooring resin

Epoxy resin is the most popular resin flooring type in restaurants, industrial and healthcare facilities.

Epoxy flooring system is made up of epoxy resin (epichlorohydrin) and polyamine hardener. Epoxy resin flooring is particularly durable and provides great protection to the underlying flooring material.

Decorative flakes and aggregates can be added to your terrazzo epoxy floor to make it more beautiful, colorful, and increase the opportunity for a wide range of design options.

You can also request yours to have features such as self-smoothing and anti-slip; all these to suit your operational and branding needs.

Unlike other seamless resins, epoxy flooring type has a slower cure rate and may require more than one seal coating to make it non-porous.

2. Polyurethane resin flooring

Polyurethane resin flooring is much thicker than the other resin floor types. They’ve got an average faster curing rate than epoxy resin flooring systems.

And polyurethane floors have also got higher resistance to extreme heat (without cracking) and are more tolerant to chemical spills. They also tend to last longer than other resin floors.

The only drawback here is that they’re quite expensive. However, polyurethane resin floors are best suited for food-grade flooring like kitchens, bakeries, and workshops where ovens are used a lot.

3. Cementitious urethane flooring

Cementitious urethane flooring system is made by mixing Portland cement with modified urethane, water, and aggregates.

This mixture results in the formation of a surface that is impervious to liquids and chemicals. And these flooring systems can withstand temperatures of -200°C and +115°C without crazing or cracking.

Isn’t that awesome?

Sometimes both polyurethane and cementitious urethane floor coatings are installed over epoxy floors to make the latter harder and more resistant to chemicals and abrasion.

4. Methyl methacrylate systems

MMA and PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) resin floorings are named after the methyl methacrylate catalyst in their formulation.

These synthetic materials are a mixture of fine sand and resin. And they’re usually applied in layers.

They cure within two hours; meaning they have the shortest curing time of all resin floors. So they’re perfect for interiors that need to be completed in a short time. MMA resin floors can also be installed at extremely low temperatures.

They’re also very resistant to chemical substances and heavy equipment. So they can be installed on concrete, steel, tile flooring, and other resin materials.

Advantages of Resin Floors

Resin flooring has so many advantages and therefore, is an excellent alternative to many other flooring types for a number of reasons. They include;

1. Durability

This is the number one reason people prefer to install resin floorings in industrial space.

With hardeners added to the resin floors fixture, this flooring option is ‘built’ to carry so much weight and withstand a lot of pressure from;

• vehicular and foot traffic.
• heavy loads and tools.
• and still, be resistant to general abrasion.

These make the flooring materials stronger than concrete floor, survive wear and tear, and last long. They can last you for years without you having to repair or change them.

The resilient nature of resin floorings also makes them offer protection to the substrate (concrete floor) lying under them. And need I say that they can also withstand high temperatures like that of fire?

This is one of the major reasons they’re a preferred choice in production sites that use heavy machinery.

2. Variety of Design Options

Another important feature of the resin floor is its beauty and the ambiance it brings to the surfaces it is applied upon. So with seamless resin floors, you’re getting a flooring material that’s durable and beautiful–a fantastic combo.

But that’s not all: it’s fully customizable. You could get creative and choose whatever color suits your personality and will be right for your interiors.

There’s also a wide range of aggregates that can be added to your resin floors to create stunning finishes that will catch the attention of anyone that sets eyes on it. Some of the aggregates you can add to your resin floor coating include;

• Granite
• Sparkling crystals
• Glass
• Stone

And the resin flooring can even be made to look like concrete, granite, or quartz stone.

3. Offers Chemical Resistance

Resin floors are not only resistant to heavyweight, they’re resistant to the effects of chemicals.

Be it chemicals from automobiles, spills, or harsh cleaners, a resin floor will show no sign of damage done to it when they come in contact with its surface. This feature also ensures it doesn’t have cracks.

And the interesting thing is that whether it is used in domestic buildings or industrial or commercial flooring, it can continue to resist these harmful chemicals for years.

Concrete, on the other hand, is weakened by chemicals. This is another reason why people choose resin flooring options to most other flooring types.

4. Sustainability and Ease of Cleaning

The seamless resin floors are easy to clean and maintain. They also play a role in sustainability in that you don’t need special or harsh cleaning products and equipment (that can harm the environment) to maintain your flooring and keep it shining and glossy.

Their non-porous surface makes it difficult for water or any liquid to seep through. And it also prevents bacteria and other harmful microbes from hiding and growing in crevices as there’s none.

All you’ve got to do is adhere to a simple cleaning routine and always wipe off stains and spills immediately you see them.

Is a Resin Floor Expensive?

One common question most people looking to upgrade their floors ask is: How much does resin flooring cost?

There’s no direct answer to this question as there are various resin flooring solutions. However, the cost of resin flooring is dependent on a couple of factors.

• The size of the area: The price of installing a resin flooring solution in a large flooring area will be more expensive than that for a smaller area. However, the cost per square meter for the larger area will be lower.
• The substrate: Your substrate may be damaged and need to be fixed before installing the flooring solution. This will also drive the cost up.
• The quality of the resin: Some flooring solutions are more durable than others. Some also have features (like the speed of cure, resistance to sunlight, heat, and chemicals) that are better than others. These will also impact the cost of the resin flooring.

That said, the cost of epoxy flooring in the United States was around $3 and $12 in 2019 according to HomeAdvisor. And around $1,407 to $2,942.

How Long Do Resin Floors Last?

When installed in a high-traffic space or commercial property, an epoxy resin floor will last around 2 to 3 years. But when used in a residential property, you can expect it to last up to 10 years and more.

Keep in mind that the other resin flooring are more durable than epoxy.

The post Resin Flooring: Types, Advantages, and Cost appeared first on Infinity Epoxy Floors | Best Epoxy Contractor In The Tri-State.

Epoxy floors have many applications that can range from being used at home, to the garage floor, and then in high-traffic workspaces in warehouses and factories.

The big question is: are they a good flooring option for your floor?

This article will tell you all the benefits of epoxy flooring as well as answer your other burning questions about epoxy floor coating.

What is Epoxy Floor Coating?

Epoxy floor coating is a mixture of epoxide resin, polyamine hardener, and other additives.

Since it is mixed, when epoxy is placed on your wood, tile, or concrete floors, it reacts chemically to form a hard plastic on the floor. This reaction then brings about a firm bond that confers some distinct and impressive qualities on the applied surfaces.

Epoxy cures quickly and gives the floors more stability and endurance. And this makes the flooring solution widely used in commercial and industrial floors.

However, when epoxy is not used as a floor coating, it’s mostly used as an adhesive.

Now we know what epoxy flooring is and what it’s made of, let’s take a deep dive into the advantages of epoxy flooring?

11 Benefits of Epoxy Flooring Solution

1. Durability

One of the most durable flooring solutions you can get is epoxy flooring. In fact, the only floor type better than epoxy is concrete.

The floor coating is tough and will make your floors last longer than most other conventional flooring options–carpet, wood, and tiles. It’s been developed to help deal with the effects of wear and tear in high-traffic areas.

This flooring material can last up to 10 years depending on where you use it.

If longevity is one of your primary aims for choosing a flooring solution, epoxy floor coatings will make a great choice. And after the first installation, epoxy will not need to be replaced regularly.

This makes epoxy floor coatings a firm choice for garages and basements.

2. Highly Resistant

Epoxy floors demonstrate high resistance to many troublesome elements and chemicals that will usually harm other flooring solutions.

It can withstand heat, chemical spills, emissions, shock, and water better than many other types of flooring. And this makes epoxy flooring very suitable for spaces like garages and other high-traffic areas in companies. Indeed, epoxy flooring is the toughest flooring you can get.

Here are some of the elements epoxy is resistant to;

Heat

Epoxy coating becomes heat-resistant when dried. But the heat-resistance is to temperatures of not more than 200 degrees Fahrenheit.

The good news is you can achieve a greater level of heat resistance by adding Phosphorus to the mixture. The more the amount of phosphorus contained in your epoxy, the better the heat-resistance your epoxy flooring will have.

Furthermore, epoxy floor coating is able to resist problems associated with being exposed to sunlight. Some of the problems include fading and damages as a result of having a dried-out surface.

All these add to the benefits of epoxy flooring as a solution for your kitchen and garage floor.

Water and slip-resistant

Epoxy floors are water-resistant, and so their non-porous nature makes them not soak up water. However, the wet epoxy surface may become very slippery and a bit difficult to walk on.

But you can give your epoxy floors a firmer grip by adding an anti-slip aggregate. This will greatly reduce the risk of you or anyone falling or slipping and you wouldn’t have to get scared of spills on your epoxy.

Chemical

One of the most important advantages of epoxy floors is that harmful chemicals emitted from cars will not affect them.

So you can easily clean oil spills, brake fluids, and other chemicals that pour onto the surface of your garage floor. The dense layering of the epoxy floor coating will make it difficult for such chemicals to seep through to the concrete floor underneath.

More so, epoxy flooring can resist other chemicals such as industrial solvents, harsh cleaners, including red wine. This makes an epoxy floor a formidable flooring material for both domestic uses and industrial or manufacturing plants.

Shock

Epoxy flooring has been made to handle the shock of heavy machinery sitting on its surface or tools that will fall on it.

These industrial facilities or tools you use at home will not leave a scratch or mark on the epoxy surface even though they’ve been doing so with your previous floors.

3. Low Maintenance

One of the problems with concrete floors is that they easily pick up dust particles and release them to other surfaces in the garage or home. But with an installed epoxy floor, this menace can be contained.

Sweeping a floor with epoxy coatings is easy, and you don’t have to do much to maintain the shine and brightness of the epoxy.

Epoxy is also easy to clean because of its glossy finish and resins. Cleaning regularly with soap or detergent and water is enough to maintain the beauty and shine of the epoxy flooring. Doing this will help you have a seamless surface that will last you for many years.

In addition, salt that clings to tires from wintry roads doesn’t affect epoxy.

Other benefits of epoxy flooring that may interest you are that they’re hygienic and can be painted to hide chips and cracks. The resin in epoxy coating inhibits the growth of mold, germs, bacteria, and other contaminants in hidden nooks of your floor.

Caveat: Don’t clean your epoxy flooring with acidic products as they can dull the shiny surface.

4. Cost-Effectiveness

If some people want to work on their floors, they’ll have to first remove the old floor, purchase a set of new tiles, hardwood, or vinyl before installing them. All these are expensive and time-consuming.

A more cost-effective option will be to revamp your floor with an epoxy coating finish, which in this case, you don’t have to remove the original flooring system.

With this application, you’ll be giving your space a smooth and brand new look with the epoxy. Plus you’ll be getting all the other benefits of epoxy flooring. And should your epoxy suffer any dent over time, it’s very affordable to fix it. Installation costs are also low.

Secondly, the cost per square foot is considerably cheaper than other flooring types.

Plus epoxy floors require minimal maintenance effort and you won’t have to spend money on special cleaning products and tools.

5. Unique Appearance

Epoxy flooring has got a shiny and seamless surface that looks smooth and appealing to the eyes.

And this has made it a more attractive alternative to other types of floors. You can pick from a range of colors and designs as they also serve decorative functions. You can even make it look like a concrete floor as epoxy offers a variety of finishes like metallic, flake, and polished concrete.

And epoxy flooring is fully customizable and can brighten the interior of your building due to its shiny high-gloss; this makes it perfect for homes, hotel lobbies and other spaces people visit often.

6. Environmentally friendly

The installation process of epoxy flooring doesn’t produce as much waste as does other flooring types installation; thus, making it eco-friendly

Secondly, it doesn’t pose an environmental pollution threat as it doesn’t erode or flake. And you don’t need harsh chemicals to maintain it.

Another point is that, when you want to change other flooring types, you’ll need all sorts of equipment to cut or them up. But with epoxy flooring, you basically roll it out and the equipment you need is significantly less.

7. Safety

The anti-slip coating is a safety measure in epoxy flooring that makes it stable and safe to walk on without you fearing you’ll slip or fall.

You can request sand, gravel, polymer grit, aluminum oxide, or mortar to be added to the epoxy so it can have a firmer grip on your shoes and feet.

And the shiny surface of epoxy flooring reflects light giving more illumination and visibility to your room or where it’s installed. This also makes it easy to spot cracks and bumps that could lead to accidents.

These factors will ensure you and your family’s safety, including company staff if it’s used in areas where machinery is being operated.

8. Strength

Epoxy was designed to carry so much weight and that’s why the polyamine hardener was added to it to increase its tenacity.

The flexural strength of most epoxy floors has been rated to be thrice as strong as concrete floors. So adding it to your concrete can increase the strength from 3, 000 psi (pounds per square inch) to 10,000 psi.

This is particularly beneficial in withstanding the weight of heavy machinery, high foot or machine traffic levels, and extreme temperatures.

9. Protection

Because of the strength of epoxy floor, it is meant to seal and protect other floorings.

It will protect the underlying surface from wear and tear and cracking open; thus acting as a protective shield. The bonding of the epoxy and the underlying floor will also protect the latter from defects and stains as the former doesn’t absorb stains.

10. Boundary Marker

In industries, epoxy coat has found use as a way of marking certain areas to distinguish them from others.

You can epoxy coatings to indicate a zone is for storing machinery, another for work, and another for truck traffic.

11. Increased Productivity

Epoxy flooring can actually improve your company’s productivity by first cutting down the time you spend on replacing or repairing damaged floors.

It will also allow for the faster and smoother movement of facilities in the workplace. And finally, they also save you cost as you won’t have to bother about fixing it regularly

Now you know the advantages of epoxy flooring, how about some disadvantages?

Disadvantages of Epoxy Flooring

1. Smell

When epoxy gets wet, they emit strong fumes that smell like ammonia.

2. Slippery

Oil-covered epoxy flooring can be very slippery, and it could even get more slippery when wet. This makes them not a great choice for places that are prone to spills.

However, an anti-slip can help fix this issue.

3. Temporary

Epoxy flooring is a temporary solution for your floor as it eventually bows to the pressure of wear and tear. They also crack and chip with time.

The chips, if not immediately fixed, can result in a larger area peeling off.

4. Tedious Preparation

The steps leading up to the coating application can be tiring.

You’ll first have to clean the concrete floor and make sure there’s no grease or oil. And then you’ll fill the cracks (if any). All these processes make it a tedious venture.

However, this isn’t much of a problem as you can use some hand tools to speed up the process.

5. Difficult to Remove

It’s quite difficult and labor-intensive if you’d like to change the colors and designs of your installed epoxy. Removing the coating can also be difficult in conditions where you want to repair the floor.

6. Sensitivity

It is best to apply the epoxy flooring at the time of the year when humidity is low as moisture can impact the durability of the floor.

And you’ll also need to adhere to specific instructions when applying your epoxy flooring as failure to do this can lead to the flooring getting scratched easily or not lasting long.

Is epoxy flooring better than tiles?

One common question usually asked is if epoxy coating is better than tile flooring. Here is a comparison of the two.

1. Appearance

Both epoxy and tile floors are good looking. Tiles come with a lot of customizable options like size, tile type, color, and layout to give your home or office a stylish and modern ambiance.

Epoxy, on the other hand, is a shiny and high-glossy material that is fully customizable to create the look you desire. It can even be made to look like quartz or granite stone. This is one of the major pros that make people prefer it.

However, the shiny appeal of epoxy floors gives them an edge over their rival.

2. Maintenance

As we discussed earlier, epoxy floors are strong and won’t break if a heavy object falls on them. But tile is not as strong and can easily crack or break if such accidents happen.

This means you’ll likely be repairing or changing your tile floor quite often.

Secondly, all you need to do for the surface is sweep or mop it often. And if you feel like installing or changing it, it’s just a surface that can be rolled away.

Conversely, with tiles, you’ll have to monitor the grout closely for cracks. You might need to re-grout or reseal your tiles (which can be quite expensive and time-consuming) when it’s damaged.

Epoxy floor gets a point over its competitor here.

3. Stains and Dirt

Both tiles and epoxy are stain-resistant.

But you’ll have to catch and clean chemical spills real quick should they land on your tile. If not, the grout lines (and some tiles) can absorb these stains, leaving a permanent mark. And you might need to repair the affected area or seek professional help.

Epoxy floor is non-porous and won’t absorb stains. A quick mop will do the magic and your floor will be as good as new.

I think we know who the winner is in this category.

4. Durability

For your commercial flooring, you’ll need something that’s high-performance, will last long, and won’t need constant repairs.

Both floor types are durable but tiles are prone to cracks. Epoxy can last a long time without cracking, chipping, fading, or coming loose. Once cured, it will remain in place till you want to change it by yourself.

How long do Epoxy floors last?

Epoxy flooring can last up to 3 years when used in commercial places (such as restaurants, factories, or garages) that experience lots of daily foot or vehicle traffic. That is according to Epoxy Colorado.

And for residential areas like your home, you can expect it to last for up to 10 years; albeit with proper care.

But you can extend the lifespan of your epoxy flooring by sweeping the floor daily to get rid of grit, dirt, and dust. And you should clean it with a mild scrubber or mop the flooring once a week to keep it shining.

And if you may, you can reapply the coating after a few years.

So are epoxy floors worth it?

Now you know the pros of epoxy flooring and basically every other critical information you need to make a purchasing decision.

Even though they’re affordable, they’re not the cheapest kind of floor in the market. And in a situation where you’ll have to repair the concrete before applying the epoxy, that can make the overall price shoot up.

So is it really worth it to have epoxy floor installed in your home, garage, or company? Yes, epoxy flooring is worth it. Here are the reasons.

Added to the benefits we’ve established, coating buildings with epoxy flooring can increase the value of your property and make them more marketable. You could find buyers that will be willing to pay you the worth of your buildings.

Secondly, your family will be safe when you’ve got epoxy flooring installed. It’s resistant to fluctuating temperatures and fire.

You could get a warranty when you employ the services of a professional to help with the coating application.

And finally, you won’t be the only one gushing about your beautiful floors. Your friends will wish they lived in your house.

FAQs

Is epoxy permanent?

No, epoxy is not permanent. You can change the colors and design whenever you like. And if you want to get it off your floors, you wouldn’t have any problems doing that.

Is epoxy flooring waterproof?

Yes, it is. Its non-porous surface prevents water from seeping through it.

Does epoxy flooring crack?

Yes, epoxy flooring cracks after exposure to a high level of machinery and/or foot traffic.

Is epoxy floor coating good for homes?

Yes, epoxy floor coating is a good choice for your home. It’ll beautify your home and make it safe for you and your family to live in.

The post 11 Benefits of Epoxy Flooring + All Your Epoxy Coating Questions Answered appeared first on Infinity Epoxy Floors | Best Epoxy Contractor In The Tri-State.

However, due to the amount of stress put on garage floors from vehicles, dropped tools, oil spills, heat, and more, you’re left with two main garage flooring options – interlocking tiles or epoxy flooring.

These are the floor covering options that can actually survive in a garage environment!

Here we compare garage floor tiles vs epoxy floor paint, looking to find the best garage floor option to meet your needs.

Let’s get to it!

The Pros and Cons of Epoxy Flooring

Pros of Garage Floor Epoxy

• Safe & sanitary
• Easy to clean
• Very durable
• Anti-slip options
• Many colors & designs
• Can hide dirt & scratches
• Withstands spilled chemicals & oils
• Withstands dropped tools & objects
• Suitable for foot & vehicle traffic

There’s a reason that this paint is so popular as a garage floor coating – it’s designed to withstand the stress that garages face on a day-to-day basis.  Easily installed over concrete, these versatile garage floor coatings can come in color flake patterns that 

make it easier to hide dirt and scratches on the floor.

Now that’s low maintenance!

This coating is non-porous and doesn’t have any gaps or grout lines, so it’s very easy to clean and grime/dirt/bacteria have nowhere to hide. It’s also very durable – it takes a long time for this garage flooring to crack under the force of dropped tools or car parts, for example.

Furthermore, epoxy garage floors don’t succumb to spilled chemicals, oils, and fluids in general. You’re able to make a mess when changing your oil or wiper fluid without worrying about destroying your floor. You are also very unlikely to stain epoxy coating or do any serious damage to it.

Cons of Garage Floor Epoxy

• Hard to install
• Toxic fumes when installing
• Can crack & chip (eventually)
• Slippery when wet
• Strong concrete floor needed

There aren’t too many downsides to epoxy coating in your garage, but there are some things to keep in mind when searching for the best flooring solution.

The biggest downside with this type of garage flooring is that it’s very hard to install. It’s very difficult for one or two people to install this type of flooring if they don’t have experience… the humidity must be right, it has to cure correctly, and there are toxic fumes that one must avoid.

Leave it to the professionals!

Also, while this paint is very durable, it can crack and chip away eventually, especially in high-impact areas. For this type of garage flooring, you must also have a decent concrete base floor and keep in mind that this paint can be slippery when wet.

The Pros and Cons of Garage Floor Tile

Pros of Garage Floor Tiles

• Easy to install
• No toxic fumes when installing
• Can go over low-quality wood & concrete
• Softer underfoot
• Decent impact resistance
• Easy to renovate

Garage floor tile does have some upsides over epoxy paint, mainly when it comes to its convenience and ease of installation. Unlike paint, garage floor tiles can go over a slightly uneven surface, including wooden floors and low-quality concrete floors that wouldn’t be suitable for epoxied floors.

Interlocking tiles are also softer underfoot, which is an added bonus… though most people aren’t walking around their garage for comfort and leisure.

Garage tiles also have decent impact resistance, though you should get high-quality rigid tiles if possible. Cheaper garage floor tile is often plastic, vinyl, or PVC, which tends to break and stain. Just make sure you’re getting high-quality rubber floor mats instead of floor mat made from cheap PVC or vinyl.

Cons of Garage Floor Tiles

• Not simple to clean
• Surface can be uneven & bumpy
• Cheaper tiles susceptible to staining
• Water damage likely
• Can’t take as much weight
• Contract & expand in the heat/sunlight
• Easier to lose small screws etc. in gaps
• Look cheaper

First things first, garage floor tile is not simple to clean. 

When it comes to tiles vs epoxy, you’ll find that tiles have lots of gaps in the grout lines where dirt, grime, mold, and bacteria can get in, making this type of product much less hygienic than epoxy overall.

The surface of the tiles can also be uneven and bumpy, which is not ideal for toolboxes and garage equipment with wheels. Ideally, you need to be investing in high-spec tiles that are going to stand the test of time… cheap plastic tiles will quickly go to waste in a garage.

And let’s not forget about stains!

This type of flooring stains much more easily and cannot take as much weight or stress as epoxy or concrete can. If you’re looking for flooring that can survive the toughest conditions when it comes to tiles vs epoxy, epoxy paint will win every time.

Is epoxy flooring better than tiles?

Yes, epoxy flooring is better than tiles on the whole.

Most flooring types have their upsides and downsides, but epoxy is able to resist more stress, force, heat, and moisture than tile can.

What is better than epoxy for the garage floor?

The only thing better than epoxy for your garage floor is polyurethane coatings. 

However, these types of floors are very expensive and it’s more than what most people need for how they use their home garage.

Should I epoxy my garage floor?

Yes you should epoxy your garage floor!

Though the installation is inconvenient and takes some time, epoxy flooring is one of the best, most cost effective options for a garage floor.

It’s durable, stain resistant, and it can withstand oils and chemicals. It can’t grow mold and it’s incredibly easy to wash. 

It’s much better than tile on many fronts!

Are garage floor tiles any good?

Garage floor tiles are only good if you spend quite a lot of money on them, something that most people don’t like to do!

Your home garage tile can look decent if you get the high-cost interlocking floor mat product made from strong rubber or similar materials.

However, we would recommend an epoxy covering installation over an interlocking tile installation any day!

Does epoxy flooring crack?

Epoxy flooring can crack, but only after you’ve subjected it to large amounts of pressure in high-impact areas over a very long period of time.

In everyday home garages, your epoxied floor is unlikely to crack with normal use.

Is epoxy flooring cheaper than garage tiles?

Epoxy flooring is cheaper than garage tiles if you’re getting decent tile that will stick around for years to come. If you’re buying super cheap garage tile, you’re basically wasting your time.

Here’s the cost of epoxy flooring vs floor tile:

• Epoxy Paint Floor – $2.50 per sq ft (DIY) or $4+ per sq ft
• Garage Floor Tiles – $4 – $5 per sq ft for anything decent 

Once you factor in the cost of materials, professional installation, and how long each type of flooring will last, epoxy is clearly cheaper and more cost effective for your home in the long run.

The bottom line

When it comes to epoxy vs garage floor tiles, it’s clear that epoxy paint coverings are the best option, especially for a home garage. 

While you may like the look of interlocking tiles, paint coatings do come in various colors and styles, including color flake designs which help to hide dirt.

On the whole, these paint floor coverings are just better suited to what you need in a home garage!

The post Garage Floor Tiles vs Epoxy appeared first on Infinity Epoxy Floors | Best Epoxy Contractor In The Tri-State.