How An Epoxy Coating Can Extend The Life Of Your Concrete Flooring
Concrete floors are common in retail, industrial and residential applications, making concrete one of the most popular flooring options. This is due to a number of reasons, including its durability and strength, which makes it ideal for heavy use, unlike other materials like vinyl, timber or tile. However, eventually concrete does start to show signs of ageing, especially if the surface isn't treated with a protective coating. Stop this premature ageing with a simple epoxy coating.
What Is An Epoxy Coating?
An epoxy coating is a chemical solution that is applied to your concrete flooring that seals the surface and also provides an additional hardened barrier that makes the floor that much stronger. Epoxy coatings are generally made with an epoxy resin which is cured (made hard) by a polyamine hardener. This process leaves a nice, shiny surface that looks better than regular concrete anyway, which makes it popular for aesthetic and practical applications. An epoxy coating is very strong and can take the same punishment regular concrete can, while also resisting chemical and liquid spills better than concrete alone could. That is why they work so well together.
Where Can You Use Epoxy Coatings?
In the home, epoxy coatings are generally used in the garage or sheds with concrete floors. If you like to tinker with your car or complete other projects that involve heavy oils and lots of machinery, then concrete can get degraded over time. An epoxy coating stops this from happening and also makes the garage floor look much nicer. If you have a retail shop with concrete and are worried about how the foot traffic will eventually affect the concrete, then epoxy coatings can give you a glossy finish that should keep your floor sparkling for the foreseeable future. Often, epoxy coatings are used in commercial kitchens as well, as bare concrete can feel quite cold, and it begins to look awful after years of foodstuffs being accidentally dropped on it.
How Long Does An Epoxy Coating Take To Set?
Once you have booked a local contractor, you will likely have to vacate the area so that they can apply the epoxy coating and wait for it to set properly. Depending on the size of your designated area, this could take several hours to get evenly applied. After it is applied, your contractor should give you an exact time frame of when it will be okay to use again, but generally this is at least 3-4 days (72-96 hours). Do not, under any circumstances, walk on the surface before it is completely set.
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