Difference Between Paint Floor And Epoxy Flooring

Prior to applying epoxy floor coatings the two parts must be mixed together.

Difference between paint floor and epoxy flooring.

Epoxy floor coating is a much more technical process that requires the expertise of a flooring professional to properly install. Epoxy paint is a resin polymer that has been used to protect concrete garage flooring for decades. An epoxy coating however is tried and tested to stay intact and durable for a very long time. This thickness is ideal for high traffic areas or floors that are always exposed to heavy impact extreme temperature and chemicals.

Unlike paint epoxy floor coatings cure rather than dry. Epoxy floor coatings are two component materials consisting of epoxy resin and a polyamine hardener. This is why they are the preferred choice for heavy duty industries warehouses and logistics centers with heavy forklift traffic. In fact only an expert contractor might be able to tell the difference.

While epoxy paint can enhance the color of the garage floor just like most paints it is prone to scratch off peel away and fade. Most epoxy paints that are available in your average building supply store have a low percentage of solids. They are also resistant to staining and are chemical and abrasion resistant. Polyurethane floors are usually softer and more elastic which makes them more resistant to scratching as their elasticity tends to absorb some of the impact.

Differences between epoxy and acrylic sealers. Wait there s a difference. This means that floors that can stand up to chemical attack from organic acids as well as sugar malt caustic and powerful cleaning agents are required. Yes there is but not a big one.

Generally a polyurethane floor coating is highly flexible and elastic while epoxy flooring is harder and more brittle. As a general rule of thumb epoxy works best indoors so this chemical resistant and slip free surface is perfect for the garage environment where spills and puddles can create a challenge. Epoxy floors are harder more durable and have a much higher compression strength than polyurethanes. To exemplify this some epoxy coatings are heat resistant to temperatures up to 65 c whereas pu systems are available that can tolerate 120 c.

This has a minimum thickness of 2 millimeters of epoxy floor coat. What is the difference between floor paint and floor coating. Your epoxy coating s percentage of solids is what determines the durability and performance of the floor coating. Usually you just open a can of paint and paint away.

Here is a chart you can quickly glance at to obtain the main differences between epoxy and acrylic sealers. Epoxy paint is essentially latex paint with a small amount of added epoxy for increased durability. This type of product is best left for diy home garage projects and is never an appropriate choice in industrial settings. This makes polyurethane coatings more resistant to scratches and similar damage and is why you ll often find urethane resin floors in heavy traffic areas such as multi storey car parks.

Here are some qualities to look for in an epoxy floor coating. It is even resistant to hot tire peel and tire marks. High epoxy solids percentage. The superior chemical resistance of pu floors has made them popular in the food beverage industry where corrosive acids and by products are found in large quantities.