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What is Epoxy Paint?

 

 

Introduction

Epoxy paint and epoxy floor coating are terms that are often used interchangeably. If you were to buy epoxy paints to use as a floor coating at a home improvement store, you may see both the two terms used on the can or kit. (Another term you may see is the epoxy sealant.)

Paint companies may also sell their proprietary epoxy paints. The epoxy coating doesn’t technically paint, even though the name may be used. Straight epoxy paint will contain both acrylic paint and epoxy in the mix, sometimes called 1-part epoxy paint. The acrylic formula can allow for customizations in coloring, and this type of epoxy paints dries like regular paint. The epoxy component is attributed to the paint’s resistance to chemical stains on the floor like gasoline or oil, so it’s often used on garage and workroom floors.

Why Epoxy Coating is used

The epoxy coating uses a mix of two separate components to coat your floor. Kits bought at the hardware or home improvement store will have you mix one-part epoxy resin with a polyamine hardener. Unlike epoxy paints, this mix will cure instead of dry. A concrete floor will benefit from this hard curing because the process seals the porous concrete. The resin gives the floor a shine, and an epoxy floor coating protects the floor from stains, spills, and scratches.

Epoxy Paint and Epoxy Coating Uses

Ready for a floor refresh? Epoxy paints formulated for garage floors comes in a variety of colors to add a bit of personality to a standard garage. From metallic blues to clean, fresh creams to neutral tones of gray, applying epoxy paints to your floor can not only brighten the space but also protect it from tire marks, oil stains, spills, scuffs, peels, and cracks.

An epoxy concrete floor made from a mix of seals and adds extra shine. The same can be applied to a basement floor to prevent abrasions and to stand up to any lingering moisture in the space since epoxy paints is moisture resistant. Using epoxy paints in the kitchen protects your countertops from stains from tomato sauce, coffee, and other spills.

Is Epoxy Flooring Scratch Resistant?

The amount of epoxy will affect how scratch-resistant an epoxy floor coating can truly be. The thicker epoxy coating uses a mix of resin and hardener that prevents scratches when something heavy is dropped on the surface. Epoxy paints with a lower epoxy mix may still show scratches given the right amount of force or sharpness of the object.

Compared to tile, wood, or other flooring covers, an epoxy floor coating is considered the most scratch-resistant. High-traffic areas, outdoor spaces, decks, workspaces, and areas with lots of moisture like pool floors or saunas are excellent candidates for epoxy floor coatings because of their scratch, moisture, and abrasion resistance.

Is Epoxy Flooring Cheaper Than Tile?

Depending on the size of your space, an epoxy floor coating kit or epoxy paints is an inexpensive flooring option that lasts for years. Epoxy paints can cost as little as $30 a gallon, which is enough to cover a few hundred square feet of space. Compared to floor tiles that can range from a few cents to tens of dollars per tile, epoxy paints is much cheaper.

The benefits of an epoxy floor coating outweigh tile as well; epoxy paints is tougher, stronger, and more durable than a standard tile. While an epoxy concrete floor is hard to damage, tiles can eventually warp or break. The only downside to epoxy coating is that it may yellow over time depending on how clear the resin is and how much exposure to the sun the floor experiences. This mainly affects clear and off-white epoxy coatings, not epoxy paints.