Epoxy Garage Floors in Denver, Colorado
Many home and business owners in Denver, Colorado, are familiar with epoxy floors even though it takes quite a long curing time. Epoxy is popular with garage flooring due to its aesthetic and protective properties, in addition to the fact that it is easy to clean. Epoxy floors have similar characteristics to Polyurea flooring products, although the latter has elastic flexibility that gives it a slight edge due to longer-lasting and smooth surfaces.
What is Epoxy?
Epoxy is a chemical product that produces strong adhesives, primers, and flooring coatings. This floor coating product gives aesthetically appealing flooring that comes in diverse color effects and designs. Besides, it is possible to combine it with other products to provide a gripping texture that prevents skidding. Are epoxy floors challenging to apply?
- How to Prepare Before Application of Epoxy on Your Garage Floor
- Check and remove any pre-existing coating, such as polyurethane, since their presence would cause epoxy reactions and diminish their quality.
- Clean the floor thoroughly and remove any greasy or oily residues using an appropriate grease removal agent, which you can purchase from any reputable hardware near you.
- Scrub the floor thoroughly for any other solid residue like rubber until it is clear.
- Check your epoxy floor kit for the etching product provided- use a scrub and follow the instructions given.
Leave the floor to dry completely before applying the garage floor epoxy.
The Application Process
1. Ensure you have enough supply to apply two coats of epoxy.
2. Wear protective gear like eye lenses, a mask covering the nose and mouth, and boots to protect you against the health hazards of solvent-based epoxy.
3. Apply a compatible epoxy primer before you add the first coating of your epoxy and leave it to dry completely- use a nap roller with handle to apply. The preparatory substance makes epoxy more durable.
4. Mix the epoxy parts as per the instructions( this is why an expert needs to handle the process), and apply the first coat using the roller- give it one day and one night before it completely dries.
5. If the first coat dries without cracks or any uneven patches, apply the second coating. In case there were cracks, use an epoxy filler to cover them and wait for 12 hours drying period.
6. Leave it for an entire day to dry, just like the first coat.
Comparing Epoxy to Concrete Polishing
While concrete polishing is immune to undesirable effects such as scratching or coming off, epoxy floors are not. With proper care, concrete floor cleans easily without the use of specialized products, whereas epoxy floors require special cleaning agents for it to shine.
Yet, epoxy floors are skid-resistant and more resistant to water penetration than concrete- it is also strong in the face of chemical reactions. Some chemicals can destroy concrete, if they spill on it, leaving stains or corrosive impact.
You can make even the imbalance between concrete and epoxy floors by making some concrete epoxy combination. That is, by adding two perfects coatings of epoxy on top of concrete flooring. Epoxy, in this case, hides the imperfections of concrete and enhances the floor’s appearance aesthetically.
The concrete epoxy floors end up looking near perfect, with only replacement of the epoxy layer required every five years. Beyond that, the epoxy layer loses its durable qualities.
Your garage is prone to oil spills and grease stains, among other dirt-causing agents that include chemicals. Since this damages the concrete floor, it is in your best interest to consider adding an epoxy layer on top of the concrete. The garage floor epoxy will add protection to the concrete and give it a beautiful view, but before that, you can weigh its right sides against the bad ones.
Advantages of Epoxy Flooring
• Epoxy is less costly as you can superimpose it on other floorings like concrete- there are no costs like removing the existing floor first before installing.
• If installed correctly by qualified technicians, epoxy offers reliable protection for concrete against cracking and dirt- proper installation reduces the chances of peeling off.
• Epoxy is a good reflector of light- a quality that enhances your safety inside the garage since you can see clearly.
• It provides varieties of colors, and customized patterns from which you can enhance the beauty of your floor.
• Epoxy rarely cracks from the impact of regular traffic- this makes it more durable.
• Epoxy floors are smooth and beautiful, making them easy to clean.
Disadvantages
• It can easily cause accidents due to the slippery nature, especially when fluids spill on the floor.
• Although epoxy in itself is immune to cracks, it requires replacement as soon as it starts showing signs of wearing out.
• Epoxy can produce a foul smell- quite a turn-off.
• Its durability depends on how the installer applies it- any mistake in the installation will make it less useful in the end.
• Its application process is so demanding that it takes time to dry. You can only apply the second layer after the previous one has dried.
• It is not easy to remove epoxy when you want to replace it without damaging the floor- this leads to additional costs.
Polyurea Flooring: An Alternative to Epoxy floors
This type of flooring is more efficient compared to many other materials. It lasts longer, and its protective qualities are more pronounced. Polyurea can withstand harsh climatic and chemical impacts that cause damage- it does so on its own without any additive while applying.
Polyurea withstands exposure to ultraviolet rays, which other products cannot resist. The curing process for Polyurea is almost instant, and it dries correctly, hence making it a perfect coating material. Can you choose Polyurea over Epoxy?
A Case for Polyurea against Epoxy Flooring
Generally, both flooring products share some characteristics such as durability, beauty, and ability to protect the concrete against water. The two have glaring differences too that influence their respective suitability. Whereas epoxy is sturdy, Polyurea is elastic- a quality that makes it easy to adjust to extreme temperature effects of expansion, which means cracks are rare on polyurethane. Look for the more effective Polyurea protective coating options, quotes, and installation from qualified installers in Denver, Colorado.
