Epoxy flooring is one of the most durable materials you can invest in for flooring materials. It makes for excellent industrial flooring because of its versatility, and a great residential flooring option due to its beauty. You can create almost any visual using epoxy, and that makes it easy to give areas that would otherwise have very little character quite an impressive aesthetic. It’s easy to clean, quick to install, low maintenance as far as long-term issues are concerned, and can be customized into essentially whatever you want. But many folks’ next question after that long list of advantages is “How long does it last?” Indeed, the wear resistance of this flooring is one of the main advantages of the substance, but just how long does that grace period extend? After all even mountains crumble and plastics decay in landfills. Let’s explore.
The Composition Of Epoxy
You may not know what epoxy flooring really is, though you’ve likely seen a few. Epoxy flooring is actually a mixture of resins and hardeners that, via a chemical reaction, merge together to create an incredibly strong material that bonds to many different surfaces. That’s why they’re chemical resistant, as epoxy has no pores for chemicals to permeate. It’s also water-resistant and easy to clean because of its smooth, finished surfaces. This makes it easy to help your flooring last longer, as it’s already pretty impervious to most things that would harm it.
What Causes Epoxy Damage?
Actually, it’s probably not something you did or will do that can cause epoxy damage, but getting epoxy installed by the wrong people can. For example, if epoxy is applied over stained or wet concrete, your flooring likely won’t hold up very well. If the concrete that’s acting as the base for your new epoxy flooring is older, it’s likely seen some chemicals dumped on it. Concrete is a very porous substance, which is why it bonds so well with epoxy coatings in the first place. But, if the epoxy coating is laid over the top of this concrete, there’s a chance that those liquids that were previously in the pores of the concrete might rise back up out of it. These liquids can pool underneath the epoxy and create bubbling and flaking in your epoxy flooring.
Additional causes of potential damages down the road include not spotting that there’s sealant on the concrete before proceeding with the installation process. If there’s already a sealant on the concrete, then the epoxy won’t be able to properly bond with the concrete. Once again, you’ll start to see bubbles and flaking. This is a simple test to miss too, as determining if there’s sealant on concrete is as easy as pouring a little water on it and seeing if the water soaks in or beads up.
Installation errors like this can be avoided by investing in the right epoxy flooring installation company in the first place. PPI Epoxy Coatings, for example, has years of experience setting down and installing epoxy flooring, but more importantly, we have that experience in Orlando. We live in a humid climate and concrete tends to take a beating out here, so we’re very equipped to help you navigate and correctly assess whether your concrete is a good candidate for epoxy flooring in the long-term, or whether it won’t take as well for a variety of reasons. You’ll never find an issue with our installation methods, as we pride ourselves on creating a long-lasting product for your commercial or residential property.
Too Much Humidity
If you’re expecting to deal with excessive humidity, the longevity of your epoxy flooring is going to be lessened. The flooring should survive just fine, but it will require more in-depth maintenance down the line. The shine of the flooring will be the factor that suffers the most, but minor repairs could be done to help fix that and bring the shine back at some point if you feel the flooring has become too dull.
What to Expect
Because the epoxy floor essentially functions by bonding entirely to the concrete in the building, it becomes a part of the fundamental structure of the building itself. If you maintain it correctly, clean it often and keep it in good working order, you can expect around 10 to 20 years out of it on average. But, it can last longer when done by experienced professionals who are equipped to handle different weather changes and other fluctuations that might cause differences in how well it bonds to the concrete. Better yet, when it comes time to replace the flooring, you won’t have to put anything in the landfill as a result. For this reason, many companies that want to lean in a greener direction are making the switch to epoxy flooring.
Invest in The Right Epoxy Flooring Today
If you’re thinking about installing an epoxy flooring system in your residential or commercial property, be sure to hire a capable installation crew. Here at PPI Epoxy Flooring, we’re passionate about providing our clients with long-term satisfaction. That’s why we offer such a wide variety of industry-specific options, repair options and aesthetic options to all of our clients. Our goal is to help you make your epoxy flooring as easily customized as possible. Reach out to us today to schedule an initial consultation now and find out more about how epoxy flooring could be perfect for you and your commercial property today.