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An epoxy coating is a special type of flooring that has recently become popular in both residential and commercial settings. It looks and feels like a typical painted concrete floor, but it offers far more protection than paint alone can offer. Also, it holds up well to the solvents typically found in industrial and commercial settings – making it ideal for business owners who want to protect their floors from harsh chemicals or spills.
There are different thickness levels of epoxy floor coatings, which most commonly range from just a few millimeters to around twenty. This can be a bit of a question for those who are considering an epoxy floor coating – how thick should it be? What thickness is best for various settings?
Epoxy Thickness Levels May Vary
Generally, the thicker the epoxy coating is, the better protected it will remain against scuff marks and stains over time. For a car garage or another high-traffic area where there is no concern about flexibility with walking or moving heavy objects, then thicker coatings are often used as they typically last longer.
On the other end of the spectrum, if you’re looking for something that is more flexible and can be walked on immediately upon completion, then thinner coatings might work better. This would be ideal for a garage floor that needs to be used right away and not several days later.
Epoxy coating thickness depends on the type of epoxy and the expected usage levels. Generally, those who want a longer-lasting floor will go for thicker coatings as they prevent damage better than thinner ones. Also, those who know they won’t need to handle such rigid floors (e.g., installing heavy equipment) might also opt for thinner coatings as they offer more flexibility with walking on them immediately.
For most applications, an epoxy coating is somewhere in between around 5-8 millimeters thick – enough to offer protection without sacrificing too much flexibility.
The Main Types of Epoxy Floor Coatings:
The two main types of epoxy floor coatings are 100% solids, epoxy, and polyaspartic.
100% Solids epoxy floor coatings are the most commonly used in a wide variety of settings, including homes and businesses. They contain no solvents or plasticizers, which makes them more rigid from day one. These offer great flexibility with walking on them right away due to their hardy nature. In fact, these can be walked on immediately after installation if desired by the installer – but it’s not generally recommended to do this right away without letting it set for 24-48 hours first.
The downside to 100% solids is that they take slightly longer to finish curing compared to polyaspartics (which we’ll get into below). This doesn’t matter much, though, as long as you’re willing to let the epoxy sit on your floor for two days to fully cure and harden.
Polyaspartic Floor Coatings:
A polyaspartic is a water-based (rather than solvent-based) type of epoxy floor coating, which means they contain added plasticizers and solvents that make them more flexible. As such, these are not as durable as 100% solids – but they do make up for this by offering better flexibility with walking on them immediately upon installation.
Polyaspartics still take around 24 hours to fully cure – but they can be walked on right after installation if necessary or desired – making them ideal for high-traffic areas that need to be used often. However, polyaspartics are not as stain-resistant as 100% solids and can be damaged more easily.
Generally, polyaspartics are used in applications where a coating that is a bit more forgiving is needed – such as in a home with children or pets. They’re also often used in places where the floor may see more of a variety of traffic (including cars), as they can handle heavier loads than traditional coatings.
Self-Leveling Epoxy Floors:
Self-leveling epoxy floors are a special type of floor coating that contains both solids and liquids, which means they’re 100% solids – but still offer the lower viscosity of liquid epoxy. This makes these floors ideal for situations where you need to lay down an epoxy coating quickly and easily – such as placing them under new laminate countertops where you don’t want the hassle of mixing and applying separate layers. Other applications include thinning out thicker 100% solids epoxies to make them easier to apply without too much effort or time involved.
What About Decorative Epoxy Coatings?
Decorative epoxy coatings are different than the traditional types of floor coatings in that they are used primarily for looks and not function. As such, these coatings come in a variety of colors and styles to fit your specific needs.
The downside to decorative epoxy coatings is that they are typically much thinner than the traditional types of floor coatings – meaning they offer less protection against scratches, scuffs, and stains. As such, these are not recommended for use in high-traffic or commercial areas.
They are perfect for use in places where you want a pretty finish and don’t need the extra layer of protection – like in a home or office lobby.
How to Choose the Thickness of an Epoxy Coating
Aside from the type of epoxy coating you’ll need, there are several other factors to consider when choosing how thick it should be. These include:
-The area where you plan on putting down your flooring
-Whether or not you will need to walk on it immediately
-How much weight it may have to handle over time
-The conditions of the room where it will be used
-Temperature in that room
-Will anything heavy be set directly on top of it? If so, for how long?
Final Thoughts
Deciding how thick your epoxy coating should be is a matter of picking the right one for your needs and making sure it’s applied correctly.
If you’re considering a 100% solids epoxy, make sure that it can handle the weight of traffic load that will be brought to bear on it – plus look at enhancements like self-leveling properties.
When choosing a polyaspartic, pick one with added plasticizers and/or solvents so it will remain flexible over time under stress and wear.
With decorative coatings, choose colors and finishes according to what looks best in the area where they’ll be put down. Remember though: these types of epoxies also tend to be much thinner than traditional types, so they may not offer as much protection.
In the end, always consult with a professional to get an idea of what would be best for your specific application. Talk to one of our experts here at Square Grove Epoxy Flooring for more information.