All You Need to Know About Waterproof Epoxy Flooring
Epoxy floors have been a popular choice of flooring in the home or in businesses, for many years. If you’re only just learning about what it is now, you’ve come to the right place. In this blog, we will explore everything you need to know about it, including what it is, its advantages and disadvantages, how to measure its thickness of it, and how long it lasts. Keep reading to find out whether it’s the best choice for your flooring needs.
What is epoxy flooring?
Epoxy flooring is a special type of coating that protects your floors. It is made from a mixture of resin and a hardening agent that forms a plastic-like coat. Usually, more than one layer is applied and when dried, it creates a durable, stain resistant, and easy to clean floor surface. Generally, epoxy floors should be at least 2mm thick, otherwise they are referred to as epoxy floor coatings. You can customise epoxy floors with your own choice of colour and design so it suits your needs and your space’s aesthetic.
Types of epoxy floors
There are many different types of epoxy floors that you can choose from, such as:
Self-levelling
Used to create a smooth, levelled surface, self-levelling floors are a popular choice for high traffic areas such as kitchens and living rooms. They’re most suitable for use over cracked or damaged concrete floors.
Self-dispersing
This option is ideal for high traffic areas such as industrial settings. It is very strong and durable.
Mortar
The strongest option of all, mortar epoxy floors are made up of solid epoxies mixed with graded or quartz sand. They’re great for repairing cracks before applying another level of epoxy.
Gravelled
The most complicated type of epoxy available, gravelled floors are the most difficult to lay down, however, they have great anti-slip properties. Their design can include brand logos, images, and other decorative details.
Terrazzo
Epoxy terrazzo floors are mainly decorative and usually used in large spaces that want an aesthetic appeal.
Anti-static
In certain work environments where electro-static charge can be dangerous, it’s best to choose anti-static epoxy floors.
Flaked
Chosen for their aesthetic appearance, flaked floors have coloured flakes or chips within the mixture for a decorative effect. You can choose from various colours to suit your preference. The flakes make the floor’s surface slightly rougher which can add anti-slip properties.
Applications
Epoxy is used in a range of different settings, residential, commercial, and industrial. Here are the main applications:
- Kitchens
- Living rooms
- Bathrooms
- Schools
- Hospitals
- Garages
- Basements
- Offices
- Factories
- Warehouses
Advantages of epoxy flooring
There are numerous benefits of investing in epoxy flooring for your home or facility which include:
- Cost effectiveness
- Stain resistance
- Easy cleaning
- Durability – resistant to chemicals, oil, gas, and other strong liquids
- Versatility – can be used indoor and outdoor
- Waterproof
- Anti-bacterial
- Little or no maintenance needed
- Protection of floor underneath
- Customisable
- Can brighten interior spaces
Disadvantages of epoxy flooring
Some downsides of epoxy floors are:
- Takes days to cure
- Can get slippery
- Arduous installation process (floor needs thorough cleaning, humidity has to be low throughout application process)
- Difficult to remove if you change your mind
How long do epoxy floors last?
Once you’ve installed an epoxy floor coating, it will last you years. The general range is 10-20 years, however, it will also depend on whether the floor is a light or heavy traffic area. With proper care and maintenance, your floor will last even longer.
Contact Hychem for epoxy flooring for your home or business
Want to learn more about investing in epoxy flooring for your residential or commercial space? Get in touch with the experts and we can help you improve the safety, durability, and aesthetics of your floor. We specialise in all kinds of epoxy solutions so speak to our team to find out what’s best for you. Want to learn the difference between epoxy and resin flooring, or how to clean your epoxy floor? Check out our other blogs.