Yes, Epoxy Flooring is Worth the Cost. Here's Why (2023)

FAQs

Are epoxy floors worth the cost? ›

Garage floor epoxy projects can cost anywhere between $1,500 to $3,000 on average, which may seem like a dealbreaker to some consumers. However, epoxy floors are a long-term investment that will last for years, making them well worth the time and investment.

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.

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!

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.

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. By removing the presence of any small particles, you'll keep the floor free of scratches and reduce wear and tear.

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 ...

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.

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.

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.

What is the most durable flooring on the market? ›

“Tile is the highest-rated flooring among the categories we test,” says Enrique de Paz, who leads flooring testing at Consumer Reports. “It doesn't wear out, scratch, or stain. Its color doesn't fade, it's waterproof, and it is surprisingly slip-resistant, even when wet.

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.

Most experts agree that epoxy is safe to walk on after about 25 hours (that extra hour counts) and polyaspartic is ready after about 6 hours. But it's still a good idea to wait the full 48 - 72 hours before exposing your new floor to any heavy traffic or heavy equipment.

Once it's fully cured, you can apply a new layer of epoxy. A good epoxy patching kit can replace mortar to speed up this process. If the damage is far more extensive than a handful of minor cracks and chips, you may need to take more extreme measures to repair the flooring.

Due to its immense strength and resistance to moisture and chemicals, epoxy resin does not readily scratch, helping it to maintain its glossy finish without additional steps for years after installation.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Do not use Epoxies when temperatures of the air or the substrate will drop below 50 degrees F. Without first consulting with Epoxy.com Tech service for cold installation. Do not forget to allow extra time for epoxy to cure when working at lower temperatures.

After the curing process, epoxy flooring systems are no longer considered toxic. Completely air out the space with the epoxy flooring before taking a deep breath and looking at your new flooring with satisfaction.

When epoxy fumes are inhaled, they can affect the nose, throat, and lungs. Most symptoms from the inhalation of epoxy involve inflammation and therefore irritation of the nose, throat, and lungs. Repetitive and high amounts of exposure to these fumes can result in sensitization and asthma.

One of the main issues facing epoxy flooring and other coatings for the garage is how slippery it becomes when wet. With manufacturers recommending a wide array of anti-slip additives from aluminum oxide, sand, or polymer-based grit such as shark grip, it can be overwhelming.

An epoxy floor can peel for many reasons, some of them related to the surrounding conditions as professionals apply it. An epoxy floor can peel if during application or setting: The temperature is too high. The temperature is too low.

Installing an epoxy floor gives your home an elegant and glossy appearance. The surface may lose its sparkle due to high foot traffic as the years go by. As such, scheduling for thorough epoxy cleaning once or twice a year can restore your floor's lost glory.

Is vinyl or epoxy flooring better? ›

With proper engineering and additives, epoxy floors protect the concrete substrate from cracks, moisture, grease, and stains. On the other hand, vinyl flooring can rip and tear easily. This can be a detriment if water permeates the product and causes mold, mildew, and bacteria to form.

Solid hardwood flooring is considered the safest and least toxic option as it's completely natural and free from any toxins. Solid hardwood floors are made of planks milled from a single piece of timber, which makes it a healthy flooring option.

Updating the garage floor with a fresh epoxy coating can increase the property's value and make the space more aesthetically pleasing. Furthermore, epoxy floors are durable, cost-effective, and require less maintenance than other flooring types.

Most homeowners spend between $1,100 to $3,500 for garage floor epoxy. This amount is worth the cost because of the upgraded function and appearance. Plus, these home renovations can have a positive impact on your home value, which means you can recover a portion of the cost inequity when it is time to sell.

While epoxy coatings themselves do not crack in extreme heat or cold, concrete does. Epoxy coatings cannot withstand the stresses associated with concrete cracks due to settling, dry shrinkage or other factors.

Typical Epoxy Flooring Costs

Having a professional install an epoxy floor over the existing slab in your garage typically costs between $3 and $12 per square foot. A one-car garage is usually about 250 square feet and can cost between $750 to $3,000, depending on the type of coating.

An epoxy coating requires a clean and slightly porous surface to adhere properly. Epoxy may not bond to sealed or polished concrete. The concrete also must be fully cured. Before apply epoxy floor coating, it is important to patch and repair all major cracks and chips in the concrete surface and to remove all grease.

Abstract. The effects of water on uncured epoxies and epoxy composites are studied. Experiments show that water causes an increase in the cure rate of epoxy materials at low degrees of cure and a decrease in cure rate and total cure at high degrees of cure.

Is epoxy flooring good for high traffic areas? ›

Epoxy floor coatings are ideal for a variety of commercial and industrial needs, especially areas that see a lot of foot traffic or even a lot of vehicle traffic, like forklifts and machinery.

Epoxy flooring contains several layers of hardeners or resins that must equal a depth of two millimeters to be considered an official epoxy floor. Anything less is just a coating. That alone makes it a hardy material that resists materials that will scratch, mar, break, or crack its foundation.

Moisture is one of the factors that cause epoxy flooring to peel. After washing your floor, allow it to dry. Let it sit for at least 24 hours before having a professional apply new resin after washing your concrete flooring.

In hot Houston summers, cold epoxy floors also are a great way to save money in energy consumption by cutting down on your electricity bill. The epoxy floors stay cool, so you don't have to crank up the air conditioner.

Is epoxy flooring more expensive than tile? The answer to the question of whether epoxy flooring is more expensive than tile is no. Tiled floors are durable for many years and support the sustainable projects of the facilities with many advantages they offer.

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.

Epoxy is Water and Oil Resistant

Unlike some flooring materials that absorb in water and weaken over time, or form oil stains to impact the aesthetics of your floor, epoxy is resistant to water and oil stains. In a kitchen setting thats prone to water and oil spillages, epoxy is a lifesaver.

Many epoxy floors claim to be waterproof, but unless they are a resin-rich poured floor, they are only temporarily waterproof. The amount of aggregate needed for most quartz epoxy flooring leads to voids, which allow liquids to penetrate. They rely on a thin top coat of sealant to keep the water out.

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.

Epoxy flooring is long-lasting and highly durable. It is five times thicker than normal paint, it is waterproof and has excellent abrasion and chemical resistance which extends its life and durability.

Is epoxy cheaper than concrete? ›

Epoxy paint for garage flooring is somewhat more expensive than regular concrete paint, and the labor associated with its application is a bit more intensive as well, especially since proper prepping of the floor is essential before the epoxy can be applied.