Five Reasons Not to Use Epoxy on Concrete Garage Floors

Wondering if you should invest in an epoxy coating for your garage’s concrete flooring? While coating a concrete garage floor protects the surface and makes it easier to clean, not all coatings are created equal, and epoxy isn’t necessarily the best option. Here are the truths about concrete and epoxy that you need to know.

Poor adhesion

Homeowners who invest in epoxy coatings for their garage flooring are in for a surprise in the not-so-distant future. Epoxy and concrete garage flooring simply don’t mix. While it has far stronger adhesion to concrete surfaces when compared to paint, compared to polyurea, there’s a world of difference. Epoxy coatings have weak adhesion. Polyurea has a 15-year warranty against chipping, peeling and delamination, but epoxy coatings don’t last nearly that long. It’s simply a better investment to choose polyurea over epoxy.

Long curing times

It takes several days for epoxy to fully cure—up to five days, in fact. This presents a major inconvenience for homeowners and business owners who choose epoxy coatings for their concrete floors. Polyurea only takes 24 hours to fully cure. The long cure time of epoxy also creates a greater risk of bugs and other contaminants to damage the surface. In terms of timelines, it just makes more sense to choose polyurea over epoxy.

Fading

Many homeowners like to get creative with the colors of an epoxy coating. While it may look good upon installation, the color just isn’t going to last. UV exposure instantly makes epoxy coatings fade. In contrast, polyurea is 100 percent UV stable and will hold up to even the harshest UV rays. That means you can use it on garage floors, patios, walkways and other surfaces regardless of their UV exposure.

Poor heat resistance

Epoxy coatings don’t hold up well to high heat. If you park your car on an epoxy-coated concrete floor on a hot summer day, the ambient heat as well as the weight of your vehicle can cause the coating to stick to your tires. This failure is called “hot tire pickup,” and it’s a common complaint regarding epoxy coatings. Polyurea, on the other hand, chemically bonds with your concrete. You’ll never have to worry about the surface coming up on days when the temperature gets too hot.

Specific application requirements

Epoxy coatings can’t be applied in cold-weather conditions—they simply won’t stick to the concrete. Polyurea, however, can be applied at temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. It gives you more flexibility in terms of when you invest in a new coating.

If you’re looking to give your garage floor or any other concrete surface a long-lasting coating, pay close attention to the need-to-know truths about concrete and epoxy. They could keep you from making a poor, expensive decision. For long-lasting coatings that are worth the investment, reach out to the team at Kwiatkowski Construction Co., Inc. We can advise you on the right coating for your concrete and provide skillful installation that gives you the best bang for your buck.

Categorised in: Concrete Flooring

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