With so many choices at our disposal, it is quite tricky to pick one type of flooring for your property. Because it is not only for convenience but also adds to the aesthetics. And one type of flooring that we often hear about is Epoxy flooring.
Epoxy flooring is a type of flooring with many layers of epoxy resin. It is a strong and durable flooring that can withstand different types of damage.
But before you make up your mind on the flooring for your building, let’s first see the process and types of epoxy flooring.
What is Epoxy Flooring?
Epoxy flooring is most commonly used in commercial and industrial settings because of its durability and easy maintenance. But, it is also not uncommon to see epoxy flooring in residential settings.
The most basic definition of epoxy flooring is a surface made of multiple layers of epoxy with a depth of at least two millimetres.
Confusion is common when comparing an epoxy floor to an epoxy floor finish. The difference between the two is the depth of the epoxy. Epoxy floors are an epoxy coating at least two millimetres thick. Whereas an epoxy floor coating is less than two millimetres thick.
The Process of Epoxy Flooring
The epoxy resin used in epoxy flooring is a two-part resin. The first part of the epoxy resin is the base, a viscous liquid. The second part of the epoxy resin is the curing agent, which hardens the base and causes it to become solid.
When the two parts of the epoxy resin are mixed together, they form a chemical reaction that causes the mixture to harden into a solid state. Once the mixture has hardened, it becomes strong and durable, which can last for many years.
- The first step is prepping the floor for a fresh layer of epoxy coating.
- The surface is cleaned of foreign substances like dust particles.
- Grinding, shot blasting, and scarifying are implemented to create a coarse surface. This helps in better bonding with the mother floor.
- Patching and fixing all big cracks found on the floor is crucial for the longevity of epoxy flooring.
- The floor is then primed with a surface priming coat. It is critical to ensure that the primer penetrates deep into the floor during priming.
- After applying the priming coat, fill all visible holes and cracks in the floor with epoxy.
- The floor must also be slightly ground, sanded, and re-layered.
- A substantial amount of water is poured on the floor to test the sealant. If the water is not absorbed, an epoxy coating can be placed on the floor.
- In the last stage, the epoxy hardener is combined with an epoxy resin and spread in many layers over the floor surface.
- Now, the epoxy floor is set at the necessary temperature after application.
The Types of Epoxy Flooring
There are many different types of epoxy flooring available on the market today, so you can find an option that fits your specific needs and preferences.
Here are some common types of flooring people choose for their homes or businesses.
1. Epoxy Flake Flooring:
Epoxy flake coatings are made by scattering various sizes of flakes over a coloured (epoxy) base coat and finishing with a highly resistant clear sealant.
It creates a beautiful surface finish that is easy to maintain and resistant to chemicals and foot traffic.
The flakes not only create a smooth finish but also provide tiny grooves on each surface to avoid slips and falls. It is also appropriate for various commercial settings, including stores, showrooms, restaurants, and schools.
2. Anti-Static Epoxy Flooring:
Electro-static discharge—ESD—can be dangerous in many work settings. Anti-static epoxy flooring can prevent static dangers in your areas. This epoxy floor contains a conductive substance that collects static electricity and dissipates any possible discharge.
So, for places containing combustible goods, an anti-static epoxy floor is strongly suggested. It is usually seen in schools, lobbies, locker rooms, offices, and showrooms.
3. Quartz-filled Epoxy Flooring:
Quartz epoxy floors are created by combining an elevated epoxy polymer resin with stained quartz grains.
This epoxy is a recommendation for decorative spaces that need to be hygienic and slip-resistant.
4. Epoxy Mortar Flooring:
This flooring choice is the most rigorous epoxy floor solution in the market. This epoxy flooring is built entirely of solid epoxies and quartz (or graded) sand.
Mortar solutions are appropriate for areas that require a chemically resistant floor that can sustain a lot of impacts. This epoxy floor is useful for patching cracks before installing another kind of epoxy flooring.
Epoxy Mortar Floors are often found in mechanical rooms, warehouses, commercial kitchens, restaurants, and industrial plants. It is particularly common to see epoxy garage floors in Geelong.
5. Self-Levelling Epoxy Flooring:
The most common type of epoxy flooring is self-levelling epoxy flooring. It is a type of flooring that possesses self-smoothing abilities once poured over the substrate.
In general, self-levelling solutions are applied in liquid form to create a smooth, seamless finish. And they range from 1 mm to 3 mm in thickness.
The resin-rich compositions of epoxy SL give a particularly tough and long-lasting finish for high-intensity settings. This type of epoxy flooring is ideal for areas that receive a lot of foot traffic because it evenly distributes weight across the surface of the floor.
Self-levelling epoxy floors are also very easy to clean and maintain because they do not have any joints or seams where dirt and debris can build up. So, manufacturing buildings, showrooms, warehouses, commercial garages, restaurants, and sporting facilities can all benefit from self-levelling epoxy floors.
Conclusion
Epoxy floors are a great option for commercial and residential settings because they are durable, easy to maintain, and come in many different styles and colours.
If you are looking for a new type of flooring for your home or business, consider epoxy floors! You can also get in touch with Premium Concrete Resurfacing, one of the best contractors ofepoxy flooring in Geelong.
If you are not from Geelong, search for ‘epoxy flooring near me, and you will find many service providers in your area. Find the best one and discuss your needs with them or connect with us at https://premiumconcreteresurfacing.com.au/epoxy-flooring-geelong/
