Is your work floor flaking or showing signs of wear and tear? It might be time to renovate it with more durable material.

One of the options we suggest that you opt for is epoxy flooring as it is long-lasting and perfect for maintaining a commercial space with heavy traffic. But that’s just one among numerous advantages which makes it the go-to option for many people.

However, simply applying an epoxy coat may not be sustainable as several factors affect longevity. Hence, we’ve highlighted the most important points in today’s guide to help you make a worthwhile investment.

Without further ado, read on to find out how long epoxy coating might last, provided you follow the correct procedure.

Longevity of Epoxy Floors

Technician Wearing Epoxy Floor Equipment

What Is Epoxy Flooring?

For those who don’t know, epoxy flooring is a two-part flooring technique comprising a hardener and resin. That’s why it’s also called resinous or polymer flooring and forms a durable coat over other industrial surfaces.

You can apply a base layer of concrete, VCT, wood, and tile before adding the epoxy coat. This is because the resin and hardener mixture produces a chemical reaction, allowing it to adhere tightly to the surface by creating a plastic layer.

Additionally, it offers a reduced curing time, ensuring that it doesn’t take long to renovate a commercial space.

Factors that Determine the Lifespan of Epoxy Coating

Although there’s no way to determine the durability of epoxy coating, certain factors may influence how long the flooring lasts.

1. Sunlight

Epoxy coating is more durable than other surfaces, but it’s still susceptible to sunlight because it contains UV rays. Hence, prolonged exposure to the sun proves harmful, and it damages the floor, leading to fading.

Over time the coating turns dusty and features a chalk-like colour, thereby reducing its lifespan. Needless to say, it would be best to use epoxy coating in areas with no exposure to direct sunlight. 

2. Thickness

The toughness of epoxy coating depends on the thickness of the surface. In other words, a thicker surface will last longer than a thinner epoxy coat.

3. Footfall

One of the major factors that determine the longevity of epoxy coating is the amount of footfall the surface receives. Areas with high traffic incur more stress which may cause the material to wear out sooner.

Similarly, operating heavy machinery is another reason the epoxy layer may lose its robustness, thereby exposing the floor underneath. To prevent this, you can add an extra topcoat layer to protect against quick deterioration.

4. Under Flooring

You must note that even after applying the epoxy coating, it’s important to take care of the under-flooring. This is because if the bottom layer is weak, the durable top layer will fail to have the desired impact.

Meaning, it’s crucial for both the surfaces to be well-built to deliver effective and long-lasting performance. Consequently, while choosing the materials, you must ensure that the under-flooring has a PSI value between 2,500 and 3,000.

Not to mention, you should discuss the maintenance of the bottom surface with the flooring experts before applying a suitable epoxy layer.

5. Top Coat

Another vital factor that you must consider while buying the materials is the nature of the topcoat. Long story short, a premium-quality epoxy layer will be worth the investment and last longer than cheap flooring.

Plus, it is possible to infuse other materials with the resin and hardener mixture, to make the surface durable. You can also apply a slip-resistant coat to your epoxy floors. For instance, urethane may prevent abrasion, thanks to its scratch-resistant properties, making it a popular option for epoxy coating.

6. Maintenance

Moving on, irrespective of the flooring, maintenance is pivotal to guarantee long-lasting performance. That said, it isn’t much of a hassle, and all you need to do is clean the floor at regular intervals.

We recommend using soft mops to wipe the surface as they don’t cause abrasions. On the other hand, if you use pads or brushes, they may remove the protective top layer, thereby increasing the chance of damage.

Speaking of damage, don’t ponder over a cracked floor, as it would be best to fix it right away. Also, ensure that there’s no debris buildup as even minute dust particles can scratch the surface.

7. Installation

After you’ve got all the materials ready, it comes down to the manner of installation to ensure that the floor is durable. You need to hire a well-equipped service who will prep the floor properly, providing more chances for the epoxy layer to bind to the underflooring.

If the prep is incorrect, the top layer will fail to withstand daily use and break down quickly. 

Average Duration Of Epoxy Coating 

Depending on all the above factors and regular maintenance, epoxy floors can last for 10 to 20 years in a commercial setting. That said, you need to be aware of the tell-tale signs of deterioration to solve the problem quickly.

As soon as you find the floor breaking down or scuffing, contact the renovation team to take care of the issue. Fortunately, there’s no need to change the entire flooring, even for maintenance purposes.

You can simply fix the damaged areas by pouring epoxy or by restructuring and recoating the surface.

Benefits Of Epoxy Coating

In this section, we’ve highlighted some of the benefits of epoxy floors to help you make an informed decision.

Epoxy Technicians Preparing Floor

1. Low Cost

Epoxy floors are extremely cost-effective, making them a popular option for most people. As you’ve seen, it doesn’t take much to repair damaged floors as the cost per square foot is lower than other surfaces.

2. Eco-Friendly

One of the best things about epoxy floors is that they’re eco-friendly. You don’t need to worry about flaking or erosion, meaning there’s no chance for the materials to pollute the environment.

3. Easy Installation

Even though prepping the floor is tricky, installation is smooth and doesn’t leave behind much waste. The shorter cure time is perfect for renovating commercial and industrial spaces.

Epoxy Flooring: Making It Last!

That’s all for today; hopefully, you’ve got a better idea about the longevity of epoxy floors and how to take proper care of the surface.

We’ll leave you with this tip: ask the installation team to recommend ways in which you can carry out proper maintenance. Rest assured, the flooring should last more than a decade with regular dusting and cleaning.

See you next time with another interesting topic. Till then, take care!