Maintenance guide for epoxy floors, caring for the epoxy floor.
Epoxy floors are a tough, resilient and very durable type of floor coating used in multiple applications; garage floors, sunroom floors, high traffic hallways and walkways or warehouses. Areas, where machinery and other large tools are being used, a durable epoxy surface makes a great choice for a flooring surface. Even when these heavy objects are being shifted around on the floor continuously, the epoxy floor surface will maintain a very high luster. Epoxy floors are pretty easy to maintain as long as you follow some ground rules.
How to care for your epoxy floors.
You will want to provide at least minimal maintenance for an epoxy floor to keep it in top shape. Even though they are low maintenance, common sense should prevail in caring for them. In this blog, we have listed the best practices in caring for your epoxy floors.
Keep the surfaces dirt and grit free.
Especially if you are moving machinery or vehicles on and off the floor. Dirt and grit will embed or scratch an epoxy floor if allowed to remain there. It’s a good idea if you remove all sand or dirt on a regular basis because even though Epoxy floors are tough they can start to show the damage from multiple scratches over time. Best way to do that is to use a shop vacuum with a soft brush attachment. How often you vacuum depends on how much dirt and grit are tracked onto the floor. When it comes time to move heavy machinery across the floor, take extra precautions to ensure the surface is dust and grit free.
Avoid using soap-based cleaners.
Soap-based floor cleaners leave a haze on the epoxy flooring that builds up over time. Epoxy floors do not need soap, warm water, and a good mop or deck-scrubbing brush should be just fine. If you need extra scrubbing power use something like soft soap to aid you with the tougher spills.
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Often you only need to vacuum or sweep a small area of the floor where something has been spilled or tracked in. The liquidthat has been spilled needs to be vacuumed up along with any dirt and grime with a shop vac and then clean the area with a mop and warm water. Epoxy floors are highly water resistant and very easy to clean when liquid spills occur.
Heavily soiled epoxy floors.
The best way to clean up a dirty epoxy floor is as follows: Sweep and vacuum the entire area carefully. Remove all items in the way to get to the floor. Once you have removed all the surface dirt, grime, and grit, use a hard foam mop and warm/hot water to get rid of all the built-up dirt. After that, you can use a clear ammonia/water mix (at 2-3 ounces ammonia per gallon of hot water) for second mopping.
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. Some stains, suchas rust, need to be lightly scrubbed with a kitchen scrubbing sponge or a soft deck brush and warm water. Avoid using steel wool or harsh chemicals like comet, they are too abrasive. Use soft-scrub and a moderately abrasive scrubbing pad or brush. Don’t ever use any cleaning compounds with citrus or acid in them. Citrus cleaners and vinegar will break down the epoxy catalyst and must be avoided.
Oil, car chemicals and other chemicals.
Wiped up antifreeze, oil and other car-related chemicals with shop towels or a paper towel and dispose of properly. The important thing about car spills is to not allow them to sit on the floor surface for too long. Even engine oil has chemicals that could be potentially hazardous to an epoxy floor. Clean up spilled gas immediately, because it will damage the surface of an epoxy floor if allowed to sit for too long. Paint, household cleaners and other abrasive liquids need to be cleaned up immediately. To clean, wipe them up with shop towels as soon as the spill occurs.
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Epoxy floor coatings for the best in beauty, durability and low- maintenance.
Epoxy floors are a great choice in floor coating for multiple light industrial or residential applications. Caring for your floor will take a minimum amount of time, but it needs to be done regularly. The superior epoxy floor coating products from Pli-Dek are designed to be hassle-free and maintain their glow for many years after the installation. Ready to learn more about how to care for your epoxy floor coatings? Pleasecontact us.
FAQs
Are epoxy floors easy to maintain? ›
Epoxy flooring is easy to maintain by keeping dirt and debris off of it through regular sweeping. A broom that has a soft bristle or even a clue commercial dust mop is perfect for sweeping up dirt, sand, debris, and other elements like dust, wood shavings, and trash that mess up your floor.
What are the disadvantages of epoxy flooring? ›- Epoxy floors are hard and therefore there is contact noise during walking. ...
- Without underfloor heating an epoxy floor feels somewhat cold, similar to tiled floors.
- If there are unevennesses or cracks in the substrate, ripples can become visible in the floor.
Epoxy floors do not need soap, warm water, and a good mop or deck-scrubbing brush should be just fine. If you need extra scrubbing power use something like soft soap to aid you with the tougher spills.
How many years will epoxy floor last? ›For residential spaces that use epoxy flooring—like patios or garages—homeowners can expect to keep their epoxy flooring looking great for even longer. Typically, residential epoxy flooring can last up to 10 years with proper care!
Are epoxy floors high maintenance? ›In terms of daily maintenance, epoxy floors are pretty low-key. They don't need much, but a daily sweep and mop should be part of the cleaning routine.
What floor is better than epoxy? ›Polyurea has a higher resistance to chemicals than epoxy and is U.V. stable. It's better for garage floors and exterior spaces, and for protecting your floor against stains, damage, chemicals and wear. They are light reflective, easy to clean, and long-lasting.
Why epoxy floors fail? ›The most common reasons for a failure in your epoxy floor coating are, the floor was not properly prepared, the epoxy floor coating used was water based or other low grade type of epoxy, the epoxy was not rated for the type of traffic on it and or the floor has an issue such as moisture, oil stains, corrosion or ...
What can damage epoxy floor? ›- Stained or wet concrete – If your concrete is old and used, chances are some oil, chemicals and water have been spilled on it. ...
- Sealant on concrete – If there is a seal on your concrete floor, it prevents the epoxy from properly bonding with the concrete.
The chemicals in epoxy resin systems can affect your health when they come in contact with your skin, or if they evaporate or form a mist or dust in the air you breathe. The main effects of overexposure are irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and skin, skin allergies, and asthma.
How do you keep epoxy floors shiny? ›Clean the epoxy with warm or hot water, and Dawn Dish soap is one of the best cleaners for epoxy flooring. That's enough to keep the shiny epoxy floor looking awesome. If there are still spots left, you should consider purchasing an epoxy cleaning solution or an all-purpose surface cleaner.
Can you pressure wash epoxy floor? ›
If the garage epoxy floor becomes extremely dirty you can mix up some dish washing liquid or some Simple Green and wash the floor down with that and a garden hose. Pressure washing is now no longer necessary but OK to do if you want to. Just don't zero point the nozzle.
Can you use a steam mop on epoxy floors? ›3. Once you apply the solution, use a mop with hot water to clean the floor and rinse frequently to rid your mop of the accumulated dirt and your floor of the soapy residual. We have also found that Steam Mop's do an excellent job as well.
Does epoxy floor increase home value? ›Epoxy Garage Floors: The Most Cost Effective Way to Increase Your Homes Value. Epoxy garage flooring can increase a home's value by up to $8 per square foot! That's a lot of money considering that an epoxy floor is a relatively fast and comparatively inexpensive upgrade.
Is epoxy floor better than concrete? ›Epoxy is More Durable
That's because it's made of heavy-duty, resin-based polymers that are impact resistant, as well as heat and fire resistant. In fact, epoxy flooring can typically last for up to 20 years. Also, epoxy is much easier to clean than concrete, making it extremely low maintenance.
The strengths of epoxy flooring are relative affordability, high customizability, and great durability. On the other hand, the weaknesses of this material include long curing time, difficult installation process, and its possible slipperiness when wet or oily.
How long does an epoxy floor last living room? ›Durable, Eco-Friendly Floors
The longevity of an epoxy floor system will vary based on thickness, use and maintenance. Typically, epoxy floors last between 10 and 20 years; much longer than a painted concrete floor, which will chip and wear quickly in high-traffic areas.
Even though epoxy floors are extremely durable, they can get damaged by grease, oil or water. The damage won't happen immediately, but you should still clean the mess before you forget about it. If left for too long, even water can start to degrade your epoxy floor.
Are epoxy floors slippery in winter? ›Garage floors aren't the only things that are vulnerable to a wet floor! Snow and ice melt, and can create puddles. Epoxy floor coatings are slip resistant and are easy to clean and dry. Plus, they require little maintenance.
Is there something better than epoxy? ›Polyurethanes are softer, more flexible and offer better color and gloss retention. They perform well as structural protection, are more versatile in terms of protecting assets in harsh weather conditions and offer better impact resistance than epoxy and urethane coatings.
Is there anything better than epoxy? ›Polyurea is more durable than epoxy and more flexible because it is an elastomer. It is also chemical resistant and can withstand stable heat up to 266℉ and 430℉ for a shorter amount of time according to Corrosionpedia. Polyurea is UV resistant and will not yellow in the sun.
Why do people like epoxy floors? ›
The smooth surface of the epoxy makes it easy to clean. It repels chemicals, laundry products, automotive products, home improvement fluids, and more. Because it doesn't have cracks, crevices or grout, there is no place for dirt to hide on an epoxy floor.
Are epoxy floors easy to scratch? ›Epoxy flooring is one of the most durable applications available. It is resistant to chemicals, stains, cracks, and scratches. Not only that, but it is the perfect choice where heavy equipment is used because along with everything else - it is impact resistant.
Will epoxy floor crack? ›Do Epoxy Floors Crack? Epoxy floors are very rigid. As a material, epoxy has very little flexibility, so slight shifts in the foundation can lead to cracks forming in an epoxy coating, leaving you with cracked floors that are difficult to repair without recoating with a new layer of epoxy–an expensive proposition.
What are the pros and cons of epoxy? ›In a Nutshell: Pros and Cons of Epoxy Floors
The strengths of epoxy flooring are relative affordability, high customizability, and great durability. On the other hand, the weaknesses of this material include long curing time, difficult installation process, and its possible slipperiness when wet or oily.
The cost to epoxy a floor will run between $2 and $5 per square foot in material to seal your surface with a high-performance epoxy or urethane. If you decide to paint the floor first, estimate an extra $1.45 to $3 per square foot. The range in epoxy floor prices comes down to the type of epoxy used.
Is epoxy flooring smelly? ›Epoxy Floor Coatings Have Strong Fumes
The smell is similar to that of ammonia. The pungent smell of epoxy does more than just make the application job uncomfortable. It can have side effects that affect your health. For instance, you may notice inflammation in your eyes, throat, and eyes.
Tile can be durable, but it's also prone to cracks and chips. Epoxy flooring can last for many years without chipping, cracking, fading, or coming loose.