How Long Does Epoxy Flooring Last?
Commercial and industrial facility engineers have been choosing epoxy flooring systems for decades due to their durability, array of design options, cleanability, and chemical resistance.
Epoxy is known for its longevity, but just what does this mean? How long can you expect an epoxy floor to last in your commercial or industrial space?
About Epoxy Flooring
Epoxy flooring is made from two main components: resin and hardener. When these two substances are combined, they set off a chemical reaction that forms a rigid plastic material; epoxy. This material is incredibly strong, resistant to wear, and forms a strong bond with most surfaces. It’s typically installed in multiple layers, usually applied to a concrete substrate floor. Epoxy flooring systems require a primer and can vary from thin mil coatings to mortar resurfacers up to 3/8” nominal thickness.
Epoxy floors are long-lasting and can make an appealing visual statement. Epoxy comes in a wide variety of color and design options and offers numerous benefits, including:
- Seamless and Non-Porous: No place for dirt and bacteria to hide.
- Chemical Resistance: Resistant to aggressive chemicals like acids, alkalis, and solvents.
- Safety: Slip-, impact-, heat-, and fire-resistant for a safer workplace.
- Durability: Can withstand intense wear and tear even in high-traffic areas.
- Environmental Friendliness: Made from safe and non-toxic building materials.
- Cost Efficiency: Fast, easy to install, and requires very little follow-up maintenance.
- Decorative Options: Colors, textures, and even logos, sealed with a slip-resistant and chemical-resistant glossy top coat.
- Safety Markings: Directional floor markings to create a workflow, point out hazards, or meet industry regulations.
Durable, Eco-Friendly Floors
One reason many customers choose epoxy flooring is its longevity. Once poured and set, epoxy becomes part of the structure of your building as it adheres to the concrete.
The lifespan of an epoxy floor system will vary based on thickness, use, and maintenance. Typically, epoxy floors last between 10 and 20 years, much longer than a painted concrete floor, which will chip and wear quickly in high-traffic areas. Epoxies do fade and chalk out over time (they are not UV stable), which is why we typically apply a urethane or polyaspartic topcoat for added durability and color stability. If an epoxy topcoat is in place, we can sand and recoat with urethane or polyaspartic as a “refresher” to bring it back to life.
This makes epoxy an incredibly environmentally friendly option. Many epoxy options have low VOCs and, unlike vinyl composite tile, do not fill landfills.
Wear-Resistant Floors Even in High-Traffic Settings
Several factors impact the lifespan of your epoxy floor. One of the biggest factors is the level of daily traffic and wear and tear your floor sees. Heavy-duty traffic means that scratches and scuffs can happen over time. The following can impact the longevity of your epoxy floor:
- Foot traffic
- Use of heavy carts
- Mechanical traffic
- Vehicular traffic
Chemical Resistant Flooring
Other kinds of flooring break down after repeated exposure to chemicals, which can destroy your floor and cost you a significant amount of money for repair and replacement over time. If you are concerned about chemical exposure, choose chemical-resistant epoxy flooring, even against spills, splashes, and droplets of corrosive elements.
The Care and Cleaning of Epoxy Floors
To keep your epoxy floor looking great as long as possible, follow proper care guidelines.
- Avoid cleaning with rough or abrasive brushes or pads that can wear away coatings and sealers.
- Keep floors clean, as dirt and particles can abrade the surface.
- Address continuous heavy wear promptly to prevent damage from spreading.
- Recoat and retexture occasionally to keep the floor safe and attractive.
Get the Right Epoxy Floor System
What’s the secret to ensuring you get a long-lasting epoxy floor for your facility? It boils down to three concepts:
- Choose the right epoxy floor for your space.
- Ensure that your epoxy floor is used properly.
- Clean your epoxy floor regularly.
At FloorPoxy, we know epoxy floor systems. We can guide you through the process of choosing the right kind of epoxy floor that’s made to last you for years to come, and our team of experts will carefully install your flooring for longevity and durability.
An epoxy floor can be the perfect answer to your flooring needs and will look great while keeping your team safe for quite some time, but that’s only if you choose the right epoxy floor and the right installer. Our team at FloorPoxy is here to ensure that happens.
Want to learn more about what we can do for you? Visit www.floor-poxy.com or call us at (561) 778-6891 for more information!
