The need for an epoxy floor coating was sparked in the early 1970's when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) became involved in the debate about the toxic paints that were on the floors of many U.S. buildings. These paints had been banned but their hazardous effects remained. The EPA decided to require that these harmful paints are removed from the floors in order to improve air quality in the home. Floor coatings can protect against such adverse effects of the paint and help protect your family and environment. Incase you are wondering which floor coating is better, polyurea vs epoxy, find out more here.
There are two types of epoxies currently available. One of these is a paint and one of these is a sealant. Each of these floor coating works in a slightly different way, plays different roles, and has unique benefits in certain applications. Both offer protection against chemical erosion, excessive wear and damage, and environmental staining.
The polyaspartic coatings systems are quite popular in homes with higher ceilings because they offer the appearance of a higher quality floor. They work by providing a sturdy covering that will outlast and resist damage from heavy traffic. It does not scratch or dent and comes in two basic finishes; gloss and matte. A popular use of this type of flooring system is to imitate natural stone, brick, marble, or granite. This type of surface also works great in kitchens and bathrooms.
Floors coated with vinyl film offer an attractive surface to kitchen counter tops, appliances, showers, stairways, stairs, hallways, fireplaces, and pool surrounds. The vinyl film works great for protecting against stains and heat damage but does require a little more maintenance than epoxy floor coating systems. It must be removed regularly and cleaned to keep it looking new. Also, floorguard epoxy systems do not offer as much durability as polished concrete, which is used for driveways, walkways, garages, and cement floors. Floorguard is best suited for flat surfaces and is less expensive than many other types of coatings.
The epoxy garage floor system is the most durable among the three types of coatings. It is made up of three parts including a protective layer, a hardening layer, and the colored coating. It is easy to clean, but epoxy is not as durable as concrete floors, so it should be used in a contained environment. The carpet and sheet vinyl must be cleaned after installation. Floormats made of this flooring system also come in several colors, each with its own purpose.
One of the least cost effective options is polyaspartic. This garage floor coating system is usually installed on top of plywood, but can also be installed on ground that is not level. Polyaspartic coatings wear down quickly if they are exposed to weather, heat, chemicals, grease and friction. However, polyaspartic is still considered the most affordable method of protecting concrete floors. Get more details about epoxy here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epoxy.
