One of the most common reasons for installing epoxy flooring is its relatively affordable price combined with high quality. However, price isn’t the only advantage. Can epoxy floors mimic natural stone, terrazzo, or even wood? What are the significant qualities and drawbacks of epoxy floors?
Epoxy floors, also known as epoxy resin floors, were once reserved for factory floors, warehouses, and various commercial spaces. However, the quality of epoxy flooring has recommended it even for private, residential, and commercial properties. Alongside numerous qualities, the popularity of epoxy floors has been boosted by their affordable price and the advancement of technology, which allows for an endless array of colors and patterns.
Today, epoxy floors can faithfully replicate stone, terrazzo, old brick, and even wood textures. They can be smooth and glossy, making maintenance easier, or have different textures to reduce the risk of slipping.
How Much Does Installing Epoxy Flooring Cost?
For residential purposes, the cost ranges from 10 to 30 dollars per square meter, while for thicker floors for special purposes, the price per square meter goes above 50 dollars. Of course, the cost will depend on various factors such as the amount of preparatory work, the quality of materials used, and whether it’s a special color or pattern.
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It’s important to note that this text is not a do-it-yourself guide for installing epoxy flooring. It’s a complex job that should be left to professionals. Here, we’ll focus on all the advantages and disadvantages of epoxy flooring.
The foundation of epoxy flooring is epoxy resin with additives such as cement sand, various reinforcements, and hardeners that provide better mechanical characteristics and more. Various pigments are added to epoxy resins to achieve desired shades and patterns. Depending on the additives used, the final texture can be defined, whether it’s a high-gloss, matte, or rough surface.
How Are Epoxy Floors Installed?
Epoxy flooring can be poured on a homogeneous, dry, and firm substrate. This can be concrete, stone, ceramic, etc. Typically, the substrate is concrete since it needs to be flat. If the substrate isn’t flat enough or otherwise unsuitable for pouring epoxy resin, a quick-drying screed may be applied beforehand.
However, before installing epoxy flooring, it’s essential to ensure the substrate is dry, with moisture levels ranging from three to five percent. Epoxy is not vapor-permeable, so after installation, all moisture in the substrate would remain trapped.
Epoxy resin is applied to the floor in several layers. The first layer is very thin, serving as a primer to seal pores and cracks in the substrate and create a good base for the second layer. In spaces where heavier loads are expected, such as industrial or warehouse spaces, a third layer is usually applied, resulting in a thicker epoxy floor with higher strength and pressure resistance.
As mentioned, installing epoxy floors is a job for professionals. It requires experience to assess whether the substrate is suitable for pouring epoxy resin, and often the substrate needs preparation. Additionally, preparing the resin itself is complex, especially if there are specific requirements regarding color, pattern, or texture.
Advantages of Epoxy Floors
If installed properly, epoxy floors can last for decades. They are resistant to mechanical damage, chemicals, oils, so it’s not uncommon for them to transition from commercial to residential spaces. They are most popular for hallways, garages, and recreational areas.
However, today’s epoxy floors can also have a very attractive appearance, faithfully mimicking stone, terrazzo, brick, wooden surfaces, making them suitable for kitchens, dining rooms, and living rooms. They are warmer to the touch than ceramic tiles, have antibacterial properties, and are waterproof, all of which recommend them for residential use.
A misconception is that epoxy floors, due to their composition, are not suitable for installation with underfloor heating. On the contrary, they are an excellent solution for underfloor heating since they conduct heat much better than laminate or parquet, allowing the room to heat up faster.
Drawbacks of Epoxy Floors
However, there are some drawbacks to epoxy floors. Covered with water, especially oils, epoxy flooring can be very slippery. Therefore, it’s essential to inquire about the type of epoxy flooring to be installed in a garage, where oily spills may occur frequently, or if vehicles are regularly washed inside.
One of the drawbacks, as mentioned earlier, is that installing epoxy floors requires experience. Basic installations are possible in a DIY manner, but for the best results, knowledge is required, especially if a specific floor pattern is desired. Working with epoxy resin is not the same as installing laminate.
Also, it’s important to keep in mind that epoxy floors are not the best solution for areas with high moisture levels. Epoxy film acts as a vapor barrier, meaning it doesn’t breathe, so water underneath cannot evaporate. Therefore, epoxy floors are not a suitable solution for basement rooms.
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