Epoxy Floor Coating

Epoxy flooring is one of the most versatile floor coatings for industrial and commercial spaces. Not only does epoxy offer superior hardness, but it also has a long lifespan with relatively low maintenance.

Considering epoxy flooring for your facility? Start with this quick guide:

Epoxy Floor Coating: Preparation & Installation

Epoxy flooring is known for its durability and long lifespan, but it will only perform that way if the surface is properly prepared before the coating is applied. To put it bluntly, the epoxy floor may fail prematurely without meticulous preparation.

Key steps include:

• Testing for moisture, oil, and harmful chemicals
• Removing old coatings (if needed)
• Repairing and cleaning the surface
• Mechanically preparing the floor

Maintaining consistent temperature and humidity is essential for a successful installation, but these conditions must be managed by you, within the facility. We’ll guide you on what’s needed beforehand and help ensure the environment is properly set. Once the coating is applied, maintaining those conditions is key to allowing the floor to cure correctly and perform long-term. It’s a shared process, and we’re here to support you throughout.

Here’s a peek at the process from start to finish:

The Benefits of Epoxy Flooring

1. Durability

An epoxy floor coating forms a tough, impact-resistant surface that withstands heavy foot traffic and protects the concrete beneath. Even in high-use environments, it maintains both performance and appearance.

2. Longevity

Epoxy is, by far, one of the longest-lasting floor coatings available. With proper installation and suitable conditions, industrial epoxy flooring can last 5–10 years or more before needing a recoat or touch-up.

3.Health & Hygiene

Epoxy’s non-porous surface prevents mold and bacteria from growing in the concrete below. Some formulations include antimicrobial additives, making epoxy floors ideal for healthcare, veterinary, and food-related industries.

4. Safety

• Slip Resistance: Aggregates can be added to the epoxy mix to reduce the risk of slips. This is especially important in manufacturing and warehouse environments.
• Electrostatic Protection: ESD epoxy floors reduce static discharge, protecting sensitive equipment and personnel in electronics manufacturing settings.
• Floor Striping: Integrated striping in epoxy flooring helps organize workflow, direct foot and vehicle traffic, and improve safety in busy spaces like warehouses.

5. Regulatory Compliance

When installed correctly, epoxy floor coating can meet USDA standards, making it a smart choice for food & beverage facilities, medical labs, and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

6. Aesthetics

Epoxy floors are available in a wide range of colors, textures, and finishes to suit your space.

Epoxy vs. Other Forms of Flooring Treatments

Epoxy coating can be applied to tile, vinyl, and metal, but it is most commonly used to coat concrete floors. However, it’s not the only option. Concrete sealers, polished concrete, and urethane each offer their own advantages.

Concrete Sealers

Most sealants or concrete sealers are ideal for some indoor and outdoor spaces because they are relatively inexpensive and require minimal surface preparation.

Polished Concrete

Recognized for its glass-like appearance, polished concrete not only makes concrete floors more beautiful, but it also increases the floor’s durability, safety and cleanliness.

Urethane

While urethane has many similarities to epoxy, one thing that sets a urethane coating apart is that it lasts longer. Sometimes urethane coatings are applied over epoxy coatings to increase durability, chemical resistance, and color stability.

Installation Considerations for Epoxy Floor Coating

Cost

Epoxy floor coating is more expensive than options like concrete polishing or basic sealers, largely due to the detailed installation process. Improper conditions, such as incorrect temperatures or humidity, can lead to bubbling, blistering, or poor adhesion to the floor, which may result in installation complications.

Time

The most important consideration before epoxy floor installation is the proper cleaning and preparation of the floor. Because this step must be done with precision, it can extend the overall installation timeline.