Epoxy flooring specialist with over 25 years of experience helping residential, commercial & industrial projects.
For those homeowners or commercial building owners who want to update the look of their home or business, there are many options for flooring. Two options that are gaining popularity are polished concrete flooring and epoxy flooring. Both types of flooring create a shiny, impressive look, that makes it hard to choose between them. This guide will walk you through the differences between polished concrete and epoxy flooring to help you make an informed decision about which option is right for your home or business.
A professional moisture testing company can test the levels of moisture in your room to narrow down the flooring option choices. The chemical compound that makes up epoxy flooring cannot adhere to surfaces with too much moisture content. There are methods that can be used to reduce the humidity in a home but it can be difficult to reduce the humidity levels to those required to apply epoxy flooring.
So, if the room getting new flooring has high humidity levels, polished concrete flooring might be the best option.
Polished concrete floors are limited to use on concrete. This makes it unfeasible for floors that are not concrete. Epoxy flooring can be used on just about any hard surface which makes it ideal for many homes.
Adding color to a floor is a good way to add character and personality to a home. There are concrete dyes on the market to use to dye concrete floors in your home or business. Epoxy flooring comes in many colors and patterns that can be applied to floors to create the unique look you want.
After the epoxy is applied to floors, it takes 18 to 24 hours to cure and harden enough for people to walk on it without causing damage. Polished concrete floors have much longer curing times of between two and four weeks. So, homeowners or business owners who are in a hurry to use the space after new flooring is applied might want to choose the epoxy flooring option.
One big advantage of epoxy flooring is that it can be used both indoors and outdoors. Epoxy can be combined with aggregate gravel to create a patio space anywhere you choose. You just create a frame and flatten the area. For outside use, it is advised to put a UV protectant in the mixture so the flooring will not yellow over time.
Polished concrete floors can also be used for outdoor areas.
In Vancouver, BC, both options are long-lasting and affordable. To get help deciding which option will work best, you can have a professional from Swift Epoxy Flooring come to the space you plan to update and advise you on the option that would work best with existing conditions.
No matter which type of flooring is chosen for a space, it is important that that flooring be durable and long-lasting. It should stand up to anything that is thrown its way. A garage or showroom floor will get hard use at the same time the owner will want the floor to look nice and new looking.
No matter where epoxy flooring is installed it must be durable and attractive. But is it scratch-resistant?
Epoxy flooring is durable because it contains several layers of hardeners and resins that equal a depth of two millimeters. This allows the flooring to resist materials that might mar, scratch, break, or crack its foundation.
One of the most important considerations when choosing a hard flooring is whether it is scratch-resistant. Epoxy floors have coatings that will last longer than any other type of flooring and are scratch-resistant due to their chemical composition.
But, when there is a special need, there are coatings to make epoxy flooring even more scratch-resistant including urethane and a variety of top coatings.
Epoxy flooring is one of the most durable applications available. It will resist chemicals, stains, cracks, and scratches.
Epoxy flooring is the perfect choice for areas where heavy equipment is used because it is impact-resistant. In garages where tools can be dropped and cars or trucks are parked, epoxy is the flooring surface to choose.
Epoxy floors have a flexural strength of more than 10,000 psi which is really strong. In addition, there are more coatings to add for additional strength when needed. These floors are also easy to replace when the time comes.
Polished concrete is very durable and scratch-resistant. But if there are deep stains or imperfections in the concrete slab when it is poured and other pre-existing conditions, they may be visible through the new polished and dyed surface. It is important for the flooring contractor to identify blemishes and manage a customer’s expectations. Once a concrete floor has this polished finish, no additional blemishes or stains will occur. The finished floor will last permanently and will not suffer water damage, delamination, lifting, or breaking.
Epoxy and polished concrete floors are very strong and durable. They are a safe and green choice for flooring. In addition, they are both very easy to maintain. Plain water or water with a small amount of ammonia will keep them clean and take care of spills. Epoxy floors will last 5 to 10 years or longer depending on the conditions and use. Polished concrete will last as long as the concrete slab lasts.
Epoxy is one of the strongest floors on the market. Polished concrete surfaces are very strong. Both of these floor finishes are competitive in price with other types of flooring and will last for years.
Contact Swift Epoxy Flooring Vancouver for more information about epoxy flooring and polished concrete flooring options.
We are proud to bring all of our amazing concrete coatings to our neighbors in Vancouver with a strong warranty and a free quote.
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