Floor Paint vs Epoxy, How To Choose Which is Best?

Advantages and Disadvantages Between The Both

Epoxy – Advantages

Low Cost:

Epoxy floors are a better option than other types of flooring as they have lower installation costs. This is because it can be installed on top of concrete and over existing flooring materials. However, the cost per square foot is still one of its biggest advantages.

Aesthetics:

Compared to an average garage floor, epoxy floors are much more appealing. Their appearance alone is overpowering and appealing. The smoothness of the surface makes it very easy for sweeping and maintenance as well as being less sticky than other types of floors which make cleaning up a lot easier!

Highly Durable:

Epoxy floors have a longer lifespan than many other floor types. They need to be properly sealed and maintained, but they are the only type of floors that can beat concrete.

If you wish for your floor maintenance efforts to go one step beyond what an ordinary coating can offer- consider getting yourself some solvent based polyurethane varnish for wooden surfaces.

Epoxy coatings make cement more durable than it already is, not just because epoxies require concrete in order to stick, but also because epoxy resin makes it even more durable as you walk on them all day long!

Protection:

Epoxy flooring protects the concrete underneath, so you don’t have to worry about stains and cracks over time. This can save a lot of money on cleaning costs in the long run by eliminating carpet or grout needs.

We always recommend finding a professional to lay your epoxy floor as the protective peace of mind will depend on the skill of the tradesman.

Alongside the protection, Epoxy lasts far longer than other types of floor coatings. This is where the commercial industries take full advantage of it vs standard floor paints, if applied correctly it could last many decades.

Epoxy – Disadvantages

Small Damages Become an Annoyance

Even though the pros completely outweigh the cons, there are common problems such as clippings to the floor, which even though look small, can eventually lead to areas of the epoxy floor peeling off. The sections can be repaired though!

Preparation

Cleaning up a concrete floor before applying epoxy is a time-consuming process. In order for the application to go smoothly, you have to be sure that there is no grease or solvents on the floor when it’s being prepared. This will require multiple attempts of cleaning and filling in cracks as well.

The finished product will take longer to be completely ready for use, some floors require 2 coats which then must be divided in an 8-12 hour drying period.

It is worth noting that you should be thoughtful on the type of concrete you’re going to apply the epoxy to, some can have a slightly polished finish which would require an application of acid etch on before beginning. If there’s any concern about the top coating bonding properly, a recommendation would be a concrete primer, this in the long run will dramatically reduce any peeling.

Single Floor Paint – Advantages

Traditional floor paints are great to use for when you want a variety of colours and are budget conscious, most people are confident to get painting themselves, scratching up on their DIY skills and a sense of self accomplishment.

Preparation

Prepping the floor is nice and simple, just ensure the area that you’re looking to paint is clean. For more harder to remove stains and dirt, grab yourself a Jet wash as it’ll make the process quicker and cleaner. This type of paint is commonly used in Garages and rooms with wooden floors.

Colours and More Colours

We’ve all been there when we’re set on a choice of colour for the project in hand but then when applied, you want to change it…ouch!

Never mind though as standard floor paints have a huge variety of colours to choose from and to reapply another coat of a different colour is easy, no need to call in the professionals as you’re a DIY guru already.

Clean

If you’re deciding to paint on Concrete, such as your garage floor then cleanliness is a big pro!

Bare concrete always produces a layer of dust and holds dirt well, this is a major pain when walking from the garage inside your house or getting in your car that you’ve just valeted….Painting even a single coat on the floor will prevent issues like this.

Floor Paint – Disadvantages

Durability

This will always be a problem because standard floor paints are prone to chipping, they’re not typically designed for heavy-traffic areas so will show many signs of wear and tear as soon as a few months after application.

Costs of repeating

The short term benefits are great as you save money and can do the work yourself, but if you’ve decided to put this paint on a floor in a high-traffic area – the long term costs of your time and money to reapply the paint can work out the same as an Epoxy job at the start.