Epoxy floors are strong, beautiful, and durable. They’re an excellent choice for around the house. However, many a homeowner has noticed that their epoxy floor coatings turn yellow over time and wonder why this is and whether or not it can be prevented. Unfortunately, the fact that epoxy floor coatings turn yellow is very common and not reversible. However, there are steps that you can take in order to slow the process down.
Here’s what you need to know about why epoxy floor coatings turn yellow and what you can do in order to slow the yellowing process down.
Why Epoxy Floor Coatings Turn Yellow
It’s both common and natural for epoxy floors to yellow in time. If your epoxy floors are turning yellow, this doesn’t mean that there’s something wrong with them. It just means that the chemicals in the epoxy are reacting to their environmental factors. Yellowing doesn’t automatically mean that your floors are damaged or corroded.
Some of the reasons why epoxy floor coatings turn yellow include:
- UV light. This is the most common cause for yellowing. If you have a tendency to leave your garage door open, you’ll likely notice your epoxy floors yellowing faster, because they are getting more exposure to UV light. This is because UV light speeds up the degradation process in the polymers. Prolonged exposure to UV light can also end up reducing your epoxy coating’s glossiness, as well as cause chalking and cracking.
- Oxidation. If the epoxy hardener is exposed to oxygen, it starts to turn yellow from oxidation. The concern of oxidation is why epoxy has a limited shelf life.
- Extreme heat. Although rare, extended exposure to high temperatures can cause your epoxy to yellow over time.
- Moisture. Epoxy floor coatings are generally moisture resistant, but if your container of epoxy is left in a moist environment, this can result in discoloration.
Can You Prevent Yellowing?
As it is natural that epoxy floor coatings turn yellow with extended exposure to the above factors, you can’t entirely keep it from happening. However, you can slow the process down.
You can cover your epoxy floor with a sealer that is UV resistant. This can both protect your coating from stains and fading, as well as slow down the yellowing process.
You can also slow down the yellowing process by ensuring that you clean your floor coating properly. This means avoiding citrus and vinegar-based cleaners, because those can end up breaking down your coating’s glossiness. You also want to avoid soap-based cleaners, as those will leave a hazy film on your coating that attracts dirt.
If you don’t want the eventual yellowing to be as prominent, you can opt for an epoxy coating that is either dark or that has a yellow base.
It is most common that epoxy floor coatings turn yellow where they are exposed to sunlight. This is why the first areas to yellow are at the front of your garage or by windows that a lot of sunlight comes through. Thus, you could slow down the yellowing process by keeping your garage closed and using curtains and/or blinds.
Are There Epoxy Floor Coatings That Won’t Yellow?
All epoxy floor coatings will turn yellow eventually. How long it takes for them to yellow depends on their quality, any additives, and how much exposure to UV light they get. This is why DIY epoxy kits tend to turn yellow faster than professional epoxy coatings, because they are lower quality and generally do not have additives to slow the yellowing process down.
If there is a company that tells you that their epoxy coatings won’t turn yellow at all, you should take your business elsewhere. This is because even if your epoxy floor coatings have UV stabilizers in them, these only slow the yellowing process down. If exposed to the right conditions, the epoxy floor coatings will still turn yellow, it’s just a matter of how long it takes for them to do so.
However, there are floor coating options that are not epoxy that won’t turn yellow over time. If you want a beautiful, strong, and durable floor coating that won’t turn yellow, you will want to go with a polyaspartic floor coating. Polyaspartic coatings are UV stable, which means that they can maintain their color without turning yellow for years to come.
Solid Custom Floor Coatings provides professional floor coating services. We can provide you with beautiful floor coatings that can look good and keep your floors protected for years to come. Contact us today to learn more.
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