If your concrete floor has started to crumble after decades of repeated use, replacing it with a new floor coating might be the best remedy. Navigating the numerous concrete floor coatings available can be overwhelming.
There is a lot of conflicting information about various kinds of floor coatings available, including epoxy, polyurea and polyaspartic coatings. Epoxy vs Polyaspartic Coating: which of these will deliver the best results for your concrete floor?
To assist you in making an informed decision, this post will offer a detailed polyaspartic vs. epoxy coating comparison and have all your questions answered.
Both epoxy and polyaspartic floor coatings are two unique things that use the same installation processes but each provides different advantages and disadvantages. They can transform your cracking, dull concrete floor into a stunning work of art, but which coating is right for your floor? Read on to learn about each coating’s cons, pros and use cases.
What are Polyaspartic Floor Coatings?
Polyaspartic coatings are unique floor coatings utilized to safeguard the surfaces of industrial, residential and commercial floors. It is a hybrid material that looks like polyurethane. These coatings are very rough and hard, properties that help them to safeguard surfaces.
Pros of Polyaspartic Concrete Flooring
- Fast curing times: No more frustrating wait times! Polyaspartic dries within 20 minutes to an hour, so you can apply a new floor and continue with your life within no time.
- Durable: Polyaspartic coatings dry hard, but they retain some flexibility. This enables them to maintain a scratch-and-stain-resistant finish.
- Versatile application: You can apply polyaspartic in a variety of temperatures and weather conditions, so you will not be required to wait for the appropriate time.
- Resistant to abrasion and chemicals: Polyaspartic concrete coatings are generally resistant to abrasion and chemicals due to their makeup.
- Eco-friendlier than epoxy coatings: Polyaspartic coatings are more environmentally friendly than other kinds of concrete coatings. They contain less volatile organic compounds and don’t need to use dangerous solvents like floor coatings.
Cons of Polyaspartic Floor Coatings
- Expensive: The advantages of polyaspartic coatings come with a higher price tag. If you have a budget, you need to factor in this cost as you start your planning.
- Tricky application: DIY polyaspartic application is hard because you have to spread the coating evenly with a roller or squeegee.
What is Epoxy Coating?
Epoxy floor coating is a resin polymer that has been applied to safeguard concrete floors for decades. However, the use of epoxy concrete floors in your home comes with a series of cons and pros as listed below.
Epoxy Concrete Floor Coating Pros
- Affordable: when you are operating on a tight budget, epoxy will provide a quality coating without breaking your bank account.
- Chemical resistant: Regular oil spills and battery acid in your garage? That will not be a problem with epoxy.
Cons of Epoxy Floor Coating
- Sensitive to temperature changes: It is hard to apply epoxy in extremely cold or hot temperatures.
- Curing time: If you are in a rush, the long drying time of epoxy will be a drag. It can take several days to finish the installation, plus a month to dry completely.
- Air quality: There is a likelihood to minimize air quality with off-gassing. But, new formulas have been invented to address the problem.
- Rigid: Epoxy doesn’t harden when it cures-it becomes rigid too. That makes it a bit more vulnerable to scrapes and less durable.
Polyaspartic vs. Epoxy Coatings: Which One is More Durable?
Think about the amount of foot traffic an average concrete floor endures in its whole lifetime. There is generally a huge amount of traffic, particularly with more homeowners using the garage as the entry points into their homes.
Compared to epoxy, polyaspartic coatings are not much affected by the pressure applied on concrete floors that are associated with changing temperatures. Unlike poly aspartic, epoxy coatings do not contract and expand well with shifting temperatures, which causes cracks to occur.
A high-quality, professionally installed polyaspartic concrete floor should last for more than a decade. Inexpensive epoxy coatings, on the flip side, generally require a complete re-application only after a few years of use.
Polyaspartic vs. Epoxy Curing Time Comparison
Curing refers to the process where chemical reactions take place that make the coating materials harden and set. In terms of curing time, epoxy coatings take longer than their polyaspartic counterparts. Epoxy generally takes 24-48 hours to cure completely.
While polyaspartic can cure anywhere between 20 minutes to one hour. This is a major consideration if you want to use your concrete floor as soon as possible after the coating has been applied.
Polyaspartic vs. Epoxy Chemical Resistance Comparison
When it comes to resisting chemical reactions, both polyaspartic and epoxy are known for their excellent properties. For example, epoxy is widely known for its resistance to impacts and chemicals. It becomes a great option for concrete floors where heavy objects are frequently used. On the flip side, polyaspartic is known for its good wear resistance properties. This makes poly aspartic concrete coatings great for areas with a lot of foot traffic.
Polyaspartic vs. Epoxy Coatings Quality Comparison
Polyaspartic coatings are widely used nowadays because of their high quality and durability. Fortunately, they have become more readily available, thanks to advancements in technology. They are the superior option when selecting concrete flooring because of their granite-like quality. Since it must be installed professionally and the results after installation are flatter, smoother finish than epoxy concrete flooring.
Polyaspartic vs. Epoxy Cost Comparison
When comparing prices between epoxy and polyaspartic floor coating options. The difference can be seen clearly. Epoxy floor coatings are generally cheaper than polyaspartic. While polyaspartic coatings may appear to be more costly, this is for a good reason. Because this coatings offer homeowners a long-lasting, economical option in the long term. It offers them more benefits for their investment and lasts for many years to come.
Polyaspartic vs. Epoxy: The Verdict
When you zero down to it, there is no definite way to say that one concrete floor coating system is better than the other. Because each comes with its drawbacks and benefits.
We hope the comparison between epoxy and polyaspartic concrete coatings is much more vivid to you now. You will agree with us that poly aspartic concrete coatings offer more benefits than their epoxy counterparts.
At First Class Contractors, our team specializes in the installation of polyaspartic concrete floor coatings, primarily in basements and garages. As specialists in custom poly aspartic flooring, we create functional and beautiful spaces that are built to last for decades.
If you are unsure about the right polyaspartic coating for your project, schedule a free consultation with us today.
