Debunking the cons of epoxy floors

The epoxy flooring popularity is taking over other popular flooring options. Every flooring option has its pros and cons and epoxy coatings are no different.

We've decided to have a look at some of the most popular cons of epoxy flooring out there and see if we can debunk them.

Epoxy emits strong toxic fumes

Partially true.
Epoxy coatings only emit strong fumes which can be toxic during the application process, while the epoxy is still wet.

When applying epoxy to your floors, the area needs to be well ventilated and it's advisable to wear a mask and safety goggles to protect yourself.

However, once the epoxy is cured, it does not emit any fumes, making it completely safe both for humans and pets in residential and commercial settings.

Epoxy Flooring Is Slippery when wet

True.
As epoxy is non-porous, meaning nothing can soak into it, it can become slippery when wet. But don't let this put you off the epoxy. As long as anti-slip is added to the final coat of epoxy coating, epoxy can become slip-resistant and used in areas that can get wet. One good example is an epoxy flake and its use around pools, public bathrooms, and changing rooms.

Anti-slip agents are usually at an additional cost, but they can help you achieve different anti-slip ratings, depending on the area where epoxy is used.

Anti-slip agents are usually added in the final coat of epoxy in the form of silica sand or aluminum oxide.

Long curing times

True.
On average epoxy takes up to 96 hours to fully cure. This means that after 96 hours your floor will be fully ready to hold your car, move furniture, or heavy equipment on it.

Having said that depending on the product used, most epoxies can withstand light foot traffic after 24-48 hours. However, as a rule of thumb to prevent any damages to your brand new epoxy floor, flooring experts recommend waiting the full 96 hours before using your new epoxy floor.

To put this into a time frame. Double garage with two coats of 100% solids epoxy takes two days to complete + 4 days of curing time. This means that you will not be able to use your garage for a total of 6/7 days. If you choose a different type of epoxy flooring, this time frame can go up to 11/12 days.

Temporary flooring solution

False.
Companies that specialize in other flooring options will say that to install epoxy flooring, you will need to first install steel, concrete, or wooden base to hold the epoxy, making it a temporary flooring option. But the truth is that this is the case for every flooring option out there.

No matter what floor you choose eg tiles, carpet, wooden floor, you do need a base to lay it on, for example, a concrete slab, which is part of the foundations of every building.

Epoxy bonds best to a concrete slab, which is the base flooring for every building. There is no need to install a steel or wooden base, as epoxy to do not bond property to these surfaces.

Costly Maintenance

False.
With a regular cleaning schedule, you can keep your epoxy floor looking like new for longer. All epoxy requires is a microfiber mop, a bucket of water, and some floor cleaning detergent. There is no need for expensive cleaning acids and cleaning chemicals and definitely no need for protective gear to clean your floor. To learn more about how to keep your epoxy looking brand new, you can read here.

Epoxy dis-coloring

Partially true.
Epoxy on its own is not UV stable, meaning if exposed to direct sunlight over time it will start to yellowing. However, this can be prevented by using a UV stable polyurethane topcoat, which also gives an extra layer of protection for your epoxy floor.

Difficult installation process

Partially true.
In order to install epoxy and ensure its longevity and durability, the base floor needs to be prepared correctly. The best way to do this is to grind the concrete slab. Another trick to the success of epoxy is to be mixed properly before laying it on the floor. As epoxy consists of two parts that need to be mixed together, with a short shelf life after being mixed, time management is from an essence when installing epoxy.

This is why so many DIY kits fail and why epoxy specialists recommend using an epoxy flooring expert to install the floor. To learn more about how to save money by using an epoxy flooring company you can read here.

Epoxy Flooring Is Hard to remove

True.
If done properly, epoxy penetrates into and bonds with the concrete slab, making it very hard to remove. Depending on the type of epoxy finish, the epoxy coat can be anything between 3 to 250 mils thick. The easiest way to remove epoxy is to mechanically grind it off. Depending on the size of the area, this can take from one day to a couple of days.

Epoxy doesn't adhere in a moist environment.

True.
But then again what floor does? If you put carpet down in a basement filled with moisture, you are guaranteed the carpet to become mold-infested. The wooden floor would also get damaged if there is moisture, tile glue would not dry properly, making the tiles unstable.

If you want to put any kind of floor in a room with moisture issues, you need to first solve the moisture problem before moving on to the floor. Correct floor preparation will guarantee your floor stays on for long, no matter what flooring option you choose.

If there is moisture trapped underneath epoxy flooring, there is a chance the epoxy to start lifting and peeling off. To learn more about epoxy and moisture you can read here.

Cracks and chips on the high impact area

False.
Compared to other flooring options epoxy flooring is extremely durable. High-performance epoxies can withstand anything thrown at them, from high foot traffic to heavy machinery. This is why epoxies are the number one choice after concrete flooring for warehouses.

Of course, if tools are constantly dropped onto the floor or extreme pressure is applied over the epoxy or the floor hasn't been prepared properly the epoxy will chip and crack, but this applies to every flooring solution out there.

Need to install new coats frequently

False.
If the floor has been prepared correctly, a quality epoxy coating has been used and the epoxy is looked after, there is no need for new coats to be installed for at least 5 years.

As a rule of thumb, it is recommended epoxy be re-sealed every couple of years, to preserve its durability and longevity, but then again wooden floors need to be sanded and resealed every couple of years.

Epoxy has its negatives, but what floor doesn't?

The truth is if you are looking for hard-wearing, easy to maintain and long-lasting floor, epoxy flooring is your choice.

If you are considering epoxy flooring for your next project, why not fill in our quote form and we will get back to you with the best options.