The Pros and Cons of Epoxy Flooring

Epoxy flooring systems are all the rage in commercial and industrial facilities due to their durability, resistance to damage from impact and heavy traffic, and a plethora of design and customizable options. However, epoxy flooring is also quickly growing in demand for residential spaces as well. Many homeowners are opting for epoxy coatings in their kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and entryways due to its combined practicality and aesthetic qualities. Despite its many great qualities, there are definitely pros and cons of epoxy flooring to consider. We’d like to help you understand what to expect, precautions to take, and other details to help you make the right decision for your commercial or residential space.

The Pros of Epoxy Flooring

• Accessible pricing: When compared with other types of flooring, epoxy flooring has a great price per square foot. Because it can be installed over existing flooring materials, you save a bundle on installation costs. The pricing is one of the greatest advantages to installing an epoxy flooring system.

• Resistant to damage: Epoxy floors are extremely durable and can withstand damage from just about anything from spilled oil, gas, bleach, to industrial cleaning materials. This is one of the main reasons that epoxy is so often applied in industrial, commercial, and healthcare settings. It can also withstand high temperatures and humidity and is resistant to bacteria and accumulated germs.

• Long-lasting: Epoxy coatings are one of the longest-lasting flooring materials out there. When installed by an experienced professional, they can last several decades without any need for repair and without any sign of age.

• Customizable: One of the greatest advantages of epoxy flooring is its plethora of design choices. It comes in every color, finish, texture, and style. You can also get creative with customized flakes, metallic tints, geometric patterns, embedded logos, you name it.

The Downsides of Epoxy Flooring

• Removal: Once you have chosen your epoxy type and design and it’s been laid, it´s pretty much permanent. Removing epoxy or changing the color design is extremely labor-intensive and can be quite expensive. So make sure you´re sure when you make your design decisions.

• Moisture: Epoxy flooring requires an experienced professional to apply it due to the need for meticulous preparation. The surface must be completely free of moisture or humidity to avoid adherence problems. Epoxy applied to a surface with moisture can cause the material to bubble or buckle, necessitating costly repairs.

• Application: Aside from the meticulous preparation that must go into laying an epoxy floor, the application process can also be a bit time-consuming. It will take several days to dry completely, meaning you will need to plan to isolate the area completely for at least a few days between layers and after the last layer has been applied to ensure that it is 100% dry.

• Slippery: This con is relative to the type of epoxy that you have applied. Glossy finishes or epoxies that are applied without texture can be fairly slippery when wet. However, you can easily mitigate this risk by texturizing the coating with flaking, anti-skid coatings, nonslip additives, or other texturizing methods. 

Not sure if epoxy flooring is the right choice for your space? Give us a call at (786) 460-1275 now for a free consultation!