Types of Epoxy Floor Coatings
Epoxy floors and epoxy coatings are becoming
increasingly popular for use as commercial and industrial flooring. There are a
number of different types of epoxy coatings that can be used on floors including
self-leveling epoxy coatings, self-dispersing epoxy coatings, mortar epoxy
coatings, graveled epoxy coatings, epoxy terrazzo coatings, epoxy antistatic
coatings, and vapor barrier epoxy coatings. Each of these types of epoxy
coatings offers distinct advantages and disadvantages when compared to the
others.
Epoxy
Coating Choices for Flooring:
Self-Dispersing Epoxy Coatings for
Floors:
This type of epoxy coating is commonly used in areas
that receive frequent forklift or heavy truck traffic as it has very good
mechanical strength. Another type of this durable epoxy coating is self-dispersing
epoxy with quartz sand. This type of epoxy coating is commonly used in food
processing industries or other locations where liquids are present because it
has good anti-slip characteristics.
Self-Leveling
Epoxy Coatings for Floors:
Self-leveling epoxy coatings are easy to install over
new and old concrete floors as they level easily creating a seamless and smooth
surface. Self-leveling epoxy coatings can be used in kitchens, dining rooms,
storage places, garages, warehouses, office buildings, and more.
Mortar
Epoxy Coatings for Floors:
This is the strongest of all epoxy floors. This type
of epoxy coating is commonly used in heavy industry applications and can also
be used to repair cracks before lying other types of epoxy floors.
Graveled
Epoxy Coatings for Floors:
Graveled epoxy coatings are the most decorative epoxy
flooring choice and they can be used for adding logotypes, brand marks, and decorative
details to floors.
Epoxy
Terrazzo Floor Coatings:
This type of epoxy flooring is very decorative and
easy to clean. Epoxy terrazzo flooring is commonly used in large areas
including hallways and entrances of commercial buildings, schools, and office
buildings.
Epoxy
Antistatic Floor Coatings:
This specialized epoxy coating is designed for use
where static-sensitive electronic components are in permanent use and a
static-free environment is most important such as in laboratories, hospitals,
and electronics equipment manufacturing plants.
Vapor
Barrier Epoxy Coatings:
Liquid epoxy vapor barriers are applied directly over
concrete floors to provide an impenetrable surface that reduces vapor
transmission to nearly zero. These epoxy coatings are typically applied prior
to adding the final flooring surface including sheet vinyl, tile, carpet, or
hardwood floors.
Epoxy
Flaked Floor Coatings:
This is not exactly a type of epoxy flooring, but
rather a style of applying epoxy coatings. With this epoxy flooring technique,
multi colored flakes or chips are added over the epoxy coating while it is
still wet in order to provide a decorative finish or look.
The
100% Solids Epoxy Floor Coating:
This is the most durable type of epoxy material in a
flooring system, which professional installers use and recommend. This type of
floor coating can last up to 20 years, even when subjected to heavy human
traffic or in surfaces that require protection against hot tire marks, possible
abrasions and from chemical reactions of chemically potent substances.
Professional installers make use of hardeners that will allow the epoxy floor
coating to dry up into solid form, as it bonds with the concrete substrate.
The
Water-Based Epoxy Floor Coating:
This type of floor coating is more of a primer and a
sealer, since it spreads out thinly and does not possess the same degree of
durability and resistance as the 100% solids used in a complete flooring
system. This is the type of epoxy floor coating included in a do-it-yourself
kit touted as more user-friendly than that of the 100% solids. Due to its
ability to penetrate into porous surfaces, its use as a primer or sealer over
degreased concrete surface, works well enough. As such, it gives a concrete
surface a smooth and glossy finish with protective capabilities against stains,
abrasion and chemical reactions.
The
Solvent-Based Epoxy Floor Coating:
As its name implies, this type of epoxy floor coating
makes use of solvents when used as floor sealer and primer, similar to the
water-based type. Solvent-based epoxy contains solids ranging from 30 to 70
percent; thus, achieving only a thin layer. Moreover, its very nature as a
solvent-based epoxy floor coating makes it a less favorable choice, as the
amount and/or type of solvent used are often non-compliant with the Volatile
Organic Compound (VOC) regulations. Of the three types of epoxy floor coating,
Chicago installers and DIY users, rarely include the solvent-based type even as
a primer or sealer in an epoxy flooring system.
Cooling
Tower Epoxy Coatings:
Epoxy coatings are also useful for cooling tower
protection and maintenance. With the elevated moisture, heat, and minerals
common in cooling towers controlling corrosion and scaling is a full-time job.
Cooling tower epoxy coatings are specially designed to withstand the high heat
and harsh conditions. Cooling towers last longer and owners enjoy significant
savings when protected with epoxy coatings.
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