When it comes to deciding upon which is the best epoxy flooring out there, you will quickly discover that epoxy is the best way to go. You may run across garage floor coverings in your search for a garage floor coating.
The difference between the two is that garage floor coatings, like epoxy, are a permanent option that adheres to your flooring. Floor coverings on the other hand, like tiles and mats, are removable.
Concrete Paint, Cheap But Low Quality
Other options for garage floors coating is paint. The paint is applied to the garage flooring using paint rollers, with a thin coat that adheres to the concrete floor. The paint coating is either oil-based or latex. Paint coatings are a great option when you have a concrete floor that is already damaged by oil spills, rust, and grease, but with all paints, after time the paint coating can begin to chip away. This is another reason why epoxy flooring is the best floor coating to go on top of your concrete floor, because it will not chip away and is incredibly resilient.
Durable Epoxy Flooring
Epoxy floor coating is much more durable and will protect your floor for a lifetime. What exactly is an epoxy floor coating? Epoxy is a synthetic resin that consists of a polymer resin and a hardener that is placed on top of concrete to give it a decorative look, and most importantly, to protect the concrete underneath. It typically takes several layers of the resin and hardener, that when properly mixed, create a chemical bond which then sits and cures, creating a tight adhesion to the concrete below. This process creates a plastic type material that is sturdy and strong.
Epoxy Flake Floor
Depending upon the decorative look you are going for there are a few different options for epoxy floor coatings. One of the most popular in epoxy flooring is the epoxy flake floor, also known as epoxy flake coating. This flooring is created using various shapes, colors, and sizes of flakes that are then scattered over the epoxy base coat.
The epoxy base coat can be colored and then applying a clear sealer that is sturdy and resistant completes the flooring. Once this step is completed you have yourself a stylish floor that is not only durable and easy to clean, but fun to look at as well.
Terrazzo Flooring
Another option for epoxy flooring is the epoxy terrazzo flooring. Here the colored or clear epoxy is mixed with aggregates such as granite, marble, and glass. Once the epoxy is set, it is then ground with a floor grinder that has diamond abrasives.
Furthermore, the terrazzo flooring is polished, leaving a stunning finish. This flooring is extremely easy to clean and lasts for years.
Epoxy Screed
A less commonly used epoxy flooring is the epoxy screed. This technique is considered to be between a medium and a heavy-duty type of flooring and usually is laid prior to another coating like an anti-slip coat or a self-leveling epoxy. Epoxy screeds are more often used within industrial businesses since they are so strong and cure so quickly.
Epoxy Flooring Cost
After all of this, you may be wondering about epoxy flooring cost. There are several factors that go into calculating the cost of epoxy flooring. This includes the materials used, labor required, how large the area is, whether it is for commercial or residential use, the condition of the underlying flooring, time given to complete the job, and any additional topcoats added.
Type Of Epoxy Flooring
Depending upon which type of epoxy flooring you go with determines the pricing of the materials. A regular, clear epoxy coating will cost you less then a colored epoxy coating. Furthermore, an epoxy containing colors and elements like flakes, aggregates, or glitter will certainly cost more then a simple clear coat.
$4-$15 Per Square Foot
Pricing usually goes between 4 dollars to 15 dollars for each square foot. The labor required also goes into the epoxy flooring cost. The more simple a design you choose with epoxy flooring, the less money it will cost. However, if you choose a design with more elaborate colors, elements, and patterns within the epoxy flooring, it will take much more time and effort to install, costing you more.
Size Of Area Needing Epoxy Flooring
The size of the area to be coated in epoxy also plays a factor in determining the price. For example, a garage, concrete floor will cost less to complete then a warehouse concrete floor. A slab of concrete in a small shed will cost less then a garage floor and so on.
Commercial Or Residential?
Another factor is if the epoxy flooring is being installed in a commercial building or a residential building. Commercial buildings require a lot of standards by the city, county, and state and are typically larger then residential properties. Commercial flooring may require non-slip epoxy coatings while residential owners get to choose whether or not they want that kind of feature. Residential properties have the freedom of getting as creative as they want with the style of their epoxy flooring, which will cost more, while commercial properties may be limited in their choices.
Condition Of Concrete Needing Epoxy Flooring
One factor that may really up your epoxy flooring cost is the condition of the underlying flooring. If there is damage to the flooring it must be addressed before the epoxy coating can be applied. If not, you run the risk of the epoxy not setting properly and the risk of it not looking the way you expect it to.
Any repairs or refurbishing should be completed before an epoxy coating is laid down. This may cost you more in the short term but is well worth it in the long run.
Additional Top Coats
Lastly, if you decide you want any additions, such as topcoats applied, then it will cost more to have your epoxy flooring done then if you just go with one coating.
You cannot go wrong with an epoxy concrete floor. Epoxy concrete floors are easy to clean, quick to install, and are incredibly durable and resilient.
