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All types of flooring have their own pros and cons and some coatings work for some spaces better than others. When determining what is the right flooring option for you, you have to consider many factors. Where the coatings will be applied, what elements the floor will be exposed to (UV rays, vehicle traffic, etc.). This is why it is so important to research each coatings option, their benefits and downfalls, and of course find the best option for your needs and budget.
When it comes to concrete coatings, epoxy coatings used to be the best available option. In recent years, polyurea and polyaspartic coatings have taken over the coatings industry. Polyurea and polyaspartic are superior to epoxy in almost every way. While epoxy can be a good solution in some circumstances but it can have a lot of downfalls. Let’s go over why epoxy is a bad concrete floor coating option for your garage, basement, business, and outdoor surfaces.
Epoxy coatings are generally still used in industrial, warehouse settings. This is due to the fact that they are a cheaper option than polyurea and polyaspartic coatings and more practical for larger spaces. Even though they are ideal for warehouse settings, this does not mean they are ideal for your garage or basement.
Installation Time
Epoxy floor coatings take up to five days to fully dry and cure. This can create a huge inconvenience as your space will be out of service for five days. Having your business shut down, not being able to park in your garage, keeping kids off the basement floor; it can all be a huge hassle. Longer cure times also leaves more room for bugs and other objects to fall onto and cure into your floor. This is one of the main advantages of polyurea/polyaspartic coatings as they only have a 24 hour cure time.
Epoxy Coatings Do Not Adhere As Well
When it comes to adhesion, epoxy coatings and polyurea/polyaspartic coatings are not even comparable. Epoxy does not adhere to the concrete as well as polyurea/polyaspartic coatings and is more likely to fail. Polyurea/polyaspartic coatings typically come with a warranty that is 3x longer than epoxy for a reason. They adhere much better to the concrete and are much more durable. Epoxy is known to chip, peel, and is susceptible to hot tire pick-up. This means that after your tires get hot from driving and you pull into your garage, it will begin to peel the epoxy up over time. Polyurea/polyaspartic coatings, however, are not susceptible to hot tire pickup.
Temperatures Limit Installs For Epoxy
Epoxy coatings should not be installed in temperatures lower than 55 degrees fahrenheit. In most states around the country, especially Iowa, this limits your garage installation periods to the warmer months. With polyurea/polyaspartic coatings, you do not have to wait for spring to get the floor of your dreams. Polyurea/polyaspartic coatings are able to be installed in low temperatures, allowing for year round applications.
No Flexibility
Here in Iowa we experience extreme temperature changes which causes the concrete to move. Epoxy is so thick and hard that it is unable to move with the concrete when it expands and contracts. Not being able to move with the concrete causes the epoxy to crack, lift, chip and peel over time. Polyurea/polyaspartic coatings are much thinner and more flexible than epoxy. Their flexibility and thinness allows them to move with the concrete to prevent the coating from failing.
Not UV Stable
Epoxy coatings are not 100% UV stable and UV exposure will cause them to fade and discolor. That can be a major bummer after your garage floor begins to fade and for people looking for outdoor applications. Patios, pool decks, porches, driveways, sidewalks are all off limits for epoxy coatings. Polyurea/polyaspartic coatings on the other hand are UV stable and can be applied outdoors.
Conclusion
As you can see, epoxy coatings are not comparable to polyurea/polyaspartic coatings in any way. This is why we use Polyurea/polyaspartic coatings here at Durable Coatings. We need to live up to our name and provide the most durable coatings possible. Our Polyurea/polyaspartic coatings system paired with our professional installers is the reason we are the highest rated coatings company in Iowa. If you live in Des Moines, Ames, or any of the surrounding areas, give us a call! We provide free estimates and are happy to come out and provide you with a quote!
