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.
Difference between paint floor and epoxy flooring. An epoxy coating however is tried and tested to stay intact and durable for a very long time. 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. Prior to applying epoxy floor coatings the two parts must be mixed together. This thickness is ideal for high traffic areas or floors that are always exposed to heavy impact extreme temperature and chemicals.
Wait there s a difference. 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. They are also resistant to staining and are chemical and abrasion resistant. Epoxy paint is a resin polymer that has been used to protect concrete garage flooring for decades.
Epoxy floors are harder more durable and have a much higher compression strength than polyurethanes. It is even resistant to hot tire peel and tire marks. In fact only an expert contractor might be able to tell the difference. 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.
Here are some qualities to look for in an epoxy floor coating. This has a minimum thickness of 2 millimeters of epoxy floor coat. Your epoxy coating s percentage of solids is what determines the durability and performance of the floor coating. Unlike paint epoxy floor coatings cure rather than dry.
Differences between epoxy and acrylic sealers. What is the difference between floor paint and floor coating. 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. Most epoxy paints that are available in your average building supply store have a low percentage of solids.
High epoxy solids percentage. Here is a chart you can quickly glance at to obtain the main differences between epoxy and acrylic sealers. Usually you just open a can of paint and paint away. Generally a polyurethane floor coating is highly flexible and elastic while epoxy flooring is harder and more brittle.
These are differences that affect the end user of the floor. 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. 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. This type of product is best left for diy home garage projects and is never an appropriate choice in industrial settings.
Yes there is but not a big one. 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. Epoxy paint is essentially latex paint with a small amount of added epoxy for increased durability. This is why they are the preferred choice for heavy duty industries warehouses and logistics centers with heavy forklift traffic.