Residential garages are used for storage, recreation, and privacy. Commercial garages often function as storage space for office supplies and equipment such as forklifts in addition to being a place for conducting business operations. To accommodate these functions, it’s essential to have a long-lasting and high functioning garage floor. Luckily, epoxy coating can greatly benefit use of a garage. With League City Decorative Concrete, you can learn about this resin coating and its advantages, as well as our other services.
Epoxy floor coating can be mistaken for paint. However, this protective finish is different than paint. Paint dries and epoxy coating cures. Latex and water-based paints dry when their water ingredient evaporates, while the resin in oil paints reacts to oxygen to dry. Epoxy floor coating hardens by a process called thermosetting. It cures depending on the temperature of the surrounding environment. This finish forms into a floor coating when it reacts to the organic compound polyamine. The resulting material is known for its durability and longevity.
Before epoxy floor coating is applied, the garage floor has to be prepared. This strong finish is typically used with concrete flooring. The concrete surface must be clean and porous. Enough tiny holes much be present in the concrete for the epoxy to stick. Because of this requirement, concrete must be cured prior to epoxy application.
Adherence to sealed or polished concrete can be difficult. It’s a good idea to remove substances such as grease, grime, and chalk. Cracks, crevices, uneven surface areas, and missing pieces of concrete should be repaired beforehand. A concrete floor should also be tested for the presence of old sealants.
Perform a “water test” to see whether water soaks into the pores of the concrete. Remove old sealants and finishes to promote effective epoxy thermosetting. It’s imperative to correctly follow all manufacturer’s instructions when performing a do-it-yourself epoxy floor coating application.
When automobiles drive over the concrete in a garage, the friction can result in fine dust particles. A durable epoxy floor coating can help prevent dust accumulation. The epoxy floor coating forms a barrier that protects the underlying concrete. It’s also easy to maintain an epoxy floor coating.
Grease, dirt, grime, and many materials can usually be easily be wiped away. Clean residential garages by using a nylon sponge and household cleanser. Using circular motions helps to thoroughly remove unwanted substances. The texture of epoxy floor coating helps to prevent stains. This assists in keeping garage floors sanitary.
A difference exists between epoxy floor coating and epoxy flooring. Epoxy flooring is typically classified as having multiple epoxy layers deeper than 2 millimeters. Epoxy floor coating has a thickness of less than 2 millimeters. Epoxy is a copolymer. This resin coating is comprised of short chain polymers. The end of each chain consists of epoxide groups. These coatings have two components which form a hardened coating after a chemical process called thermosetting.
Epoxy floor coating is used by many homeowners as a way to preserve the underlying garage flooring. Many manufacturers offer warranties that last 15, 20, 30 years or more. It’s not uncommon for a manufacturer of epoxy floor coating to offer a lifetime warranty. This saves a homeowner money since concrete can be damaged from contact with hash chemicals and extreme weather conditions. Also, homeowners can use a garage for recreation and household chores without worrying about damage to concrete floors. Business owners can use garages for more functions due to the added durability epoxy floor coating offers.
Although a homeowner can apply these coating, it is really best to let a professional install it since it has to be prepared very carefully. Whichever way it’s applied, this finish can vastly enhance the functionality and strength of garage floors. This can also increase the market value and visual appeal of a residential or commercial property.
Numerous benefits are associated with an epoxy floor finish. This floor coating has a high resistance to extreme temperatures. The results of the thermosetting process enables an epoxy floor coating to maintain its distinct characteristics during some of the coldest summer and hottest summer months. This gives homeowners and business owners the opportunities to use garages for numerous functions.
Epoxy floor coating also prevents damage to concrete from harsh chemicals. Also, many harsh chemicals can easily be extracted from the surface of an epoxy floor coating. Epoxy floor coating is environmentally friendly as well. Epoxy is a strong substance that does not easily erode after when it’s properly formed.
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