Epoxy resins are more properly known as polyepoxides. They have a large number of different applications, such as being made into adhesives, wind turbine composites and electrical insulators. When they are combined, so-called two-part epoxy coatings are also ideal for flooring applications. Typically, epoxy floor coating is suited to industrial buildings to provide a protective layer over a concrete floor. That said, many householders will also have a floor coating made from epoxy in places like kitchens, garages and around their swimming pool. What do you need to know about epoxy flooring if you are considering a new floor coating for your home?
The Main Properties of Epoxy Floors
When it is installed properly, a high-performance epoxy floor coating will provide a flat and smooth surface that is ideal for walking over as well as driving over with vehicles, such as forklift trucks and distribution trolleys. What's more, epoxy resins will form a durable floor coating for a surface that will last for a very long time indeed, whether or not it will be exposed to heavy loads. Additionally, a floor coating of this type is easy to clean and to maintain. This means that in warehouses, laboratories and factories, for example, it provides a clean and safe surface for both workers and stock.
The Benefits of Epoxy Floors
One of the main reasons to install a floor coating made from an epoxy resin is that it will provide a pleasant aesthetic. To put it simply, epoxy floors are reflective, which means that they can brighten entire rooms because light bounces off them. Indeed, floors of this type can also be combined with pigments to provide a range of colour finishes. You can even use different colours to mark out individual areas, such as the routes of walkways, for example.
What's even more attractive is that epoxy flooring requires no cutting or particular layout to install – unlike tiled flooring systems. When it is installed, epoxy flooring can also deal with imperfections in the substrate. Cracked sections of concrete or uneven surfaces can be remedied by an epoxy coating, for instance.
What You Need For an Epoxy Floor Coating
Epoxy resins need to be applied to a porous substrate to form a good floor coating. That is why it is so often used over a concrete surface, of course. When it is installed, a primer will need to be rolled onto the concrete just like paint. The second part of the resin is applied in much the same manner to form a thin layer afterwards.