Epoxy Flooring Available
Epoxy flooring has gained popularity over recent years everywhere, from residential homes to commercial businesses to industrial complexes.
Most people know about the various styles of epoxy flooring, such as standard epoxy, metallic epoxy, and decorative flake epoxy. However, not a lot of people know about the different types of epoxy out there.
In the article below, we’ll discuss these types of epoxy and what separates them. Continue reading to learn more!
The first type of epoxy that we’ll discuss is solvent-based epoxy. As the name suggests, this kind of epoxy is made using solvents, while the solids only make up around 30 to 70 percent of the epoxy. This type of epoxy flooring is now seen less and less due to the nature of the solvents that make up the floor. This is because most of the time, the amount or types of solvent used in the epoxy’s makeup is not compliant with the Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) regulations. Out of the three types of epoxy flooring, solvent-based are currently the least used type.
Water-based epoxy flooring is our second type of epoxy. These epoxy floor coatings typically spread out thinly over the substrate and aren’t as durable or resistant as our next type. Water-based epoxy flooring is what you’ll usually find in a do-it-yourself epoxy flooring kit from the Big Box stores. Water-based epoxy is more often used as a primer or sealer instead of a complete flooring system thanks to its ability to permeate porous surfaces. Water-based epoxies generally give concrete a smooth, glossy finish and protect against stains, abrasions, and some chemicals. However, the longevity of this type of epoxy floor coating doesn’t always allow home and business owners to take advantage of these benefits. The main reason for choosing a water-based epoxy over our next type is that it’s more affordable, meaning many home and business owners can apply more layers as the epoxy wears out.
Our last type of epoxy flooring is 100% solids epoxy. This is the most durable, long-lasting type of epoxy flooring available. When you talk about professionally-installed epoxy floors, this is the type of epoxy that is being referred to. 100% solids epoxy can last for 25 years or more when properly installed and maintained. It’s highly resistant to heavy volumes of foot and vehicle traffic, abrasions, chemicals, and impacts. This epoxy type uses hardeners that allow the resin to dry to a solid state as it bonds with the underlying concrete. These floors can be applied as thick as two millimeters to achieve superior protection. 100% solids epoxy is the highest quality of epoxy floor coatings available and is what makes up a genuine epoxy flooring system.
Epoxy flooring is an excellent choice for home and business owners alike. However, there are significant differences between the three types of epoxy that separate the DIY kits from professional-grade epoxy flooring. The three types are solvent-based epoxy, water-based epoxy, and 100% solids epoxy. Solvent-based epoxy is rarely used today due to the VOC’s contained in it. Water-based epoxy is what is most commonly found in DIY kits. 100% solids epoxy is the high-quality epoxy that makes up professional-grade epoxy flooring systems.