Is epoxy flooring good?
Is it advisable to use epoxy flooring in homes? Epoxy is an industrial product with a long history of performance and appearance in commercial buildings, warehouses, and garages, it repels most chemicals, isn’t easy to chip or crack, and is easily cleaned with plain water in many cases. In recent years, decorative epoxy products have become popular in home garages and utility rooms, and for some, it is the flooring of choice for the living area as well. With professional installation and modern designs incorporated into the product, it is durable and beautiful in any setting.
Would I buy it? Even having installed it and worked on it, I would say no, as a matter of taste and personal preference. Would I recommend it to someone who might prefer it? No, but I wouldn’t try to convince someone to not use it, either. I don’t like it, as a living area floor, preferring something more traditional and maybe a little warmer and with some give to it. Plank flooring, synthetic or engineered wood can be laid on a cushion layer, as can modern linoleum and vinyl composition tile. They are not as durable and require a little maintenance, but I like them more.
If you decide to go with epoxy, you need to make sure the builder knows your plan so the finished concrete slab can be protected from spills like oil or oil based paints, and to keep it from being spalled by falling tools or objects. These can cause long term problems with the finish and adhesion. When it is time to apply the floor covering, make sure you have trained people doing the work, especially if using one of the new designer products. Installation must be done correctly to avoid problems with the finished product.
I worked at a facility that coated their concrete floors with epoxy. It looked very cool for the first month until it started to get scratched up, then after a year it was horrible in appearance.
The slightest amount of dust on the surface tended to make the floor very slippery and if there was any type of grease or moisture on the floor it became dangerous. The scratches that developed gave the floor some traction but it was still like walking on ice in places. As the weather and temperature changed the concrete moved more than the epoxy so the epoxy started to get fine cracks in it, like a lacquer finish on wood. These cracks collected dirt and crud which were impossible to clean. After 3 years the facility owners paid very big money to remove the epoxy and apply a new skim coat to the floor.
Everyday Living Benefits of Epoxy Flooring
The floors are one of the most important, yet often discounted, elements of any residential, commercial, or industrial space. Not only that the floors add an aesthetic element to your area, these also ensure your safety and improve the productivity of your day-to-day tasks. As such, it is a must that you opt for a flooring solution that can withstand the hustle and bustle of your space’s daily activities. One of the sought after flooring solutions is epoxy flooring.
It is durable.
One of the things we love the most about epoxy flooring coatings Gold Coast is that it can endure the wear and tear caused by strenuous activities. In fact, it is tougher and lasts longer than your conventional flooring system
It is easy to maintain.
Cleaning and maintaining an epoxy interior flooring Sunshine Coast is a breeze. Because of its resin and glossy finish, almost all substances or liquid that spilled over can be mopped and wiped with ease. This means that there’s no need for you to get overly concerned or anxious about getting unsightly blotches on the floor.
It is unique and impressive.
An epoxy flooring system can definitely add an extra aesthetic value to your space as it comes in a multitude of finishes – flake, metallic, and polished concrete. We highly recommend a polished concrete coating for residential and commercial buildings since it exudes sophistication and style.
It is economical.
Unlike the traditional flooring options such as hardwood and vinyl, epoxy is a more economical alternative. Installing an epoxy flooring system is highly affordable, not to mention that it can stand the tests of time. In addition, it will help you save a lot of money from buying unnecessary cleaning tools and products since stains and dirt can be easily managed.
EPOXY FLOORING: DURABLE AND BEAUTIFUL
What Is Epoxy Flooring?
We’re glad you asked. Epoxy is a type of resinous polymer that becomes highly durable and impermeable when dried and cured. The very nature of the epoxy makes it ideal for garage floors. After all, garages often take a lot of beatings, from cars to car repairs to woodworking to equipment storage. You spend a lot of time in your garage, and you need a floor that can withstand frequent use. Sure, you drag things and you drop things, but in the end, you’re proud of a job well done. Of course, having an easy-to-clean floor would make things even better!
Epoxy Is Strong and Durable
As mentioned previously, epoxy is one tough material. It is perfect for creating a durable floor that can withstand all sorts of rough treatment. Spill some engine oil while giving your Ford Mustang an oil change? Not a problem. The flooring is stain-resistant, which will make cleanup a breeze. Simply wipe up any spills with a cloth or non-scratch scrubbing pad and water.
Dropped your morning mug of coffee? Epoxy floors are forgiving, too. Dropped items won’t damage the epoxy (and that coffee won’t stain the concrete anymore!); just make sure you’re not dragging heavy machinery equipment across the floor, since something that heavy could leave a cut mark or two. Ask a buddy to help lift the equipment if you need to move it around.
Epoxy’s Color Options
What’s your fancy: tile red, green leaf, adobe beige or red clay? Don’t worry if you don’t like those colors. We have plenty of other beautiful options that are sure to give your garage just the right look. Whether you’re choosing a complementary color for your collectible cars or you just want something sleek and high-class, you’ll have no difficulties finding what you need.
We offer two types of epoxy floor coatings: decorative chip and solid. Decorative chip floor coating is ideal if you want a bit of color depth but can’t decide which one works best. It’s also ideal if you – and let’s be honest here – tend to sweep a little less frequently than you should. Dirt, what dirt? If you love the look of high-gloss shine and a monochrome finish, you’ll probably be drawn to our solid garage floor coating. We also offer custom colors and custom blends upon request.
DECORATIVE EPOXY FLOORING – TIPS TO MAKE SURE CONTRACTORS GET PAID
Perhaps the biggest reason why it’s so tough, in my opinion, has something to do with the lower profile of resin flooring compared to the traditional flooring options. Unlike tiles, for instance, not everyone has seen resin flooring and not everyone knows what they can reasonably expect to see at handover. In my experience this gap leads to much higher levels of expectation and a much smaller margin for error when it comes to installation.
With that in mind, epoxy contractors looking to make a decent go of the decorative game must be armed with the necessary tools. Firstly, they have to be prepared to work hard to get everyone on the same page before a project begins, and, secondly, they have to deliver on their promises when it’s time to apply. If you don’t get those two basics right, dispute will follow dispute and the decorative epoxy flooring caper can turn very ugly.
Who is your client?
The first thing a contractor needs to understand is their client. In other words, who is the key decision maker? Who are they trying to satisfy? Strange though it may seem, this is not always a clear-cut thing, especially when shopfitters or builders are involved. These businesses typically have their own agendas in mind – budgets, timelines and incentives – that have nothing to do with the floor owner and this can lead to all kinds of friction if not taken into account. At the start of each job, say to yourself: “Right, who is the one person that is actually making the decisions?”
A sampleboard is simply a must
As I’ve declared previously in this blog, sampleboards are the ultimate application tool yet few contractors get into the habit of doing them. In this context, they are by far the best way to make sure clients know what the floor will look like at the end of the job – colours, design, gloss, defects and everything else. You can talk about these until you’re blue in the face, but I can assure you it doesn’t sink in until they’re holding a sampleboard.
Get everything on file
Getting into the habit of documenting everything has a number of advantages for contractors over the course of a project, beginning right at the start with the quoting process. Setting up a professional proposal template that goes beyond just a price and details the full scope of the project, all the inclusions/exclusions and even your requirements to get the job done, not only presents your business in the best possible light, it also plays a key role in getting everyone onto that same page I mentioned before.
REASONS TO CONSIDER METALLIC EPOXY FLOORING
Epoxy floor coatings have become one of the most popular flooring solutions for interior designs in both residential and commercial fields. Don’t worry, plain dull floors are not being installed all over the place, metallic epoxy floors can be beautiful additions to any space. These floors can take your interior floors from drab to fab! Why should you give metallic epoxy floors a chance? There are 3 main reasons we will discuss not including epoxy floorings many benefits.
Metallic Epoxy Floor Benefits
Appearance: these floors create 3D illusions by manipulating pigmentation in the metallic mixture. They provide a clean elegance that is resistant to all types of blemishes.
Resistance: metallic floors express high levels of resistance that are frequently praised in commercial settings. These floors can handle high-levels of wear, foot-traffic, water, impact, scratching, and so much more.
Protective: concrete is extremely porous and without proper protection, it can damage very quickly. Metallic epoxy coatings protect concrete from soaking up harmful liquids and creates protection against grease, cracks, and other permanent stains.
Longevity: with a metallic epoxy floor, your concrete’s lifespan more than doubles in expectancy.Variety: for true flooring artwork, you will not want to miss out on all things metallic epoxy. These floors offer a play with colors that can never be duplicated.
Safety: metallic epoxy floors may look slippery, but don’t let the gloss fool you! These floors create a safe and durable surface with qualities that include slip, stain, and chemical resistance.
Do metallic epoxy floors and regular epoxy floors share benefits?
YES! With a little bonus. Metallic epoxy floors increase light reflectivity, create works of art on surfaces, and truly cannot be duplicated. These surfaces are heat and slip-resistant, making them fantastic options for homes and commercial properties. Metallic epoxy floors are also great for areas that are trying to hide blemishes!
What Is Metallic Epoxy’s True Benefit?
The price! These are the most affordable decorative flooring option when compared to other flooring materials on the market. This type of epoxy does not require extra maintenance, nor does it require special attention and preservation. These floors are installed to be used no matter what type of environment they are installed in! So, installation pricing is all that you need to worry about.
Longevity, Is There a Lifespan Worth Noting?
The lifespan for any floor depends on the amount of usage and neglect. With proper maintenance and low foot-traffic, metallic epoxy floors can last over 30-years; however, with high foot-traffic, the lifespan can be between a decade or two, but with proper care and attention they can last just as long as residential floors.