Hello World! Welcome Friends! In any residential or commercial establishment, its skeletal structure acts as a safety barrier from the outside elements. Involving the flooring, roof, and walls, this structure also undergoes varying degrees of wear and tear over the years.
On average, wood or tile flooring is expected to last for at least 25 to 30 years. However, this depends on the establishment. For instance – industrial facilities or buildings that endure heavy traffic throughout the day are vulnerable to premature damage.
The same can be said of residential structures, with children and pets jumping and running across the hardwood floors. So, must you anticipate flooring installation every few years? Not only is this an expensive endeavor, but changing the flooring is not at all easy.
Even for relatively simple materials like laminate and vinyl, the process involves precision cutting via careful calculations. Epoxy floors, dating back to the mid-1900s, can come to the rescue.
In this article, we will delve deeper into epoxy flooring to understand if it’s worth the money.
What Are Epoxy Floors or Epoxy Floor Coating?
When epoxy flooring was discovered back in the 1930s, this commercial polymer was used to protect airplane coatings. Then, the military used it during World War II to safeguard concrete surfaces from heavy traffic and machinery.
In simple terms, an epoxy floor is a kind of synthetic resin flooring system that can be easily laid above a layer of concrete, wood, or tiles. It is usually clear in color and creates a sort of plastic-like coating that is stain-resistant and durable.
The basic components of an epoxy floor include one part of resin and the other part being a hardener. The flooring experts may add additives to make the coating compatible for a variety of floor applications.
Reasons Why Epoxy Flooring is a Popular Choice
The epoxy flooring market was valued at $2.3 billion in 2022 and is growing at a CAGR of 5.50%. This means it may have a value of $3.53 billion by 2030. If you wish to get epoxy floors today but are sitting on the fence wondering if they’re worth your dollar, you’re not alone.
This flooring option can be a bit expensive, but the reasons below will tell you why it’s worth the investment.
Highly Durable
So, how durable can epoxy floors be? With proper maintenance, they can easily last anywhere from 10 to 20 years. Some factors that determine epoxy coating’s longevity include traffic, thickness, and maintenance.
In the case of residential establishments, these floors may have a longer lifespan (up to 30 years). The coating is normally five times thicker than regular paint and can easily resist chemicals, heavy traffic, and abrasion. If you choose a reputable service provider of surface finishes, there’s no need to worry about applying a new layer anytime soon.
Anti-Slip Properties
In most cases, the flooring expert will add an aggregate to the epoxy resin coating, thereby making it anti-slip. This is precisely why epoxy coating is an ideal choice for moisture-heavy areas like bakeries, food processing plants, breweries, and commercial kitchens.
The anti-slip feature of epoxy floors will also give you the peace of mind that your staff members and clients are safe from any slip-and-fall accidents.
Excellent Adhesion
Again, if the underlying surface is correctly prepared, the epoxy coating can adhere to it securely. As a result, you will find a hard-wearing new finish on the wood, concrete, or other flooring surfaces. This process will also keep the floor free from stains, grease, and moisture.
Extremely Hygienic
We previously mentioned that epoxy floors can last for decades with proper maintenance. The next good news is that these floors are low-maintenance due to being inherently hygienic. In other words, the coating is resistant to stains, germs, dirt, and whatnot.
As a result, not much is going to stick to the resin’s surface. This means the floor becomes easy to sweep, clean, and sanitize. Since there is no danger of odor or blemishes, epoxy floors are hygienic choices for food processing plants and other facilities vulnerable to microbial contamination.
Ease of Application
According to New Finish, epoxy floor coating is easy to apply on properly prepared floors. This means all apparent imperfections and dirt/grime must be removed before the resin coating can be applied.
The process is best performed by a specialist team of flooring experts. They will have the required equipment, training, and knowledge to layer the epoxy coating correctly.
Wide Variety of Colors and Finishes
Removing epoxy floors is indeed a labor-intensive and costly task. This is why it is important to choose the right finish or color from the get-go. On the bright side, you get to select from a wide range of colors and finishes for a bespoke aesthetic look.
This includes exotic colors like teal, coral, and wine. In terms of finishes, you can choose among self-leveling coating, flake, gravel, or vapor barriers.
Are There Any Disadvantages?
To conclude whether epoxy coatings on floors are a worthwhile investment, we cannot neglect discussing the possible disadvantages. Let’s take a look at them.
Proper Preparation and Correct Application Are a Must
To achieve an excellent epoxy coat finish, the underlying surface must be prepared thoroughly. This may require specialist equipment like a diamond-headed vacuum grinder to fill any cracks, clean any grease or stains, etc.
Similarly, the epoxy coating must be applied correctly. Failure in any of these two preparatory measures can impact the coating’s durability and effectiveness. However, choosing an experienced flooring expert is enough to eliminate this problem.
Difficulty in Removal
As aforementioned, it is not an easy task to remove epoxy coating from a floor completely. In most cases, a new layer would be applied over the previous one if the coating has maxed out its life expectancy.
In case you want to change it altogether due to a different color preference, buckle up for a time-consuming and funds-draining endeavor. This issue can be eliminated by selecting the right color and finish from the start.
2024 is expected to be a year of redefinition for epoxy-coated flooring. Some key trends include bold and vibrant colors like electric blues, luxurious metallic finish, and customized designs and patterns.
If you want your establishment to look and feel unique, along with being highly functional, there’s no denying that epoxy floors are the way to go. Just ensure that you entrust your project to reliable and experienced hands.
Click the links below for any posts you have missed:
From Blueprint to Reality: Planning Your Eco-Friendly Home
Tips for Selling Your Home Faster
The Art of Tablescaping: Enhancing Dining Experiences with Charger Plates
Things that Your Pets Need at Home
The Future of Reflection: Embracing Technology with Smart LED Bathroom Mirrors
Protect Your Home Investment: 6 Practical Roof Maintenance Tips
I’d love for you to join my email list! You’ll receive a notification straight to your inbox which will include links to my latest home project posts! Simply enter your address below.
Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful day/night depending on where you are in the world! Go with God and remember to be kind to one another!
Toodles,
[…] Are Epoxy Floors Worth the Money? […]