The superior chemical resistance of pu floors has made them popular in the food beverage industry where corrosive acids and by products are found in large quantities.
Difference between paint floor and epoxy flooring.
Generally a polyurethane floor coating is highly flexible and elastic while epoxy flooring is harder and more brittle.
Here is a chart you can quickly glance at to obtain the main differences between epoxy and acrylic sealers.
Epoxy paint is a resin polymer that has been used to protect concrete garage flooring for decades.
These are differences that affect the end user of the floor.
In fact only an expert contractor might be able to tell the difference.
While epoxy paint can enhance the color of the garage floor just like most paints it is prone to scratch off peel away and fade.
Polyurethane floors are usually softer and more elastic which makes them more resistant to scratching as their elasticity tends to absorb some of the impact.
Differences between epoxy and acrylic sealers.
Epoxy floor coatings are two component materials consisting of epoxy resin and a polyamine hardener.
They are also resistant to staining and are chemical and abrasion resistant.
Epoxy floor coating is a much more technical process that requires the expertise of a flooring professional to properly install.
Prior to applying epoxy floor coatings the two parts must be mixed together.
Unlike paint epoxy floor coatings cure rather than dry.
The exact materials used vary depending on the type of flooring system required.
What is the difference between floor paint and floor coating.
Your epoxy coating s percentage of solids is what determines the durability and performance of the floor coating.
Wait there s a difference.
This type of product is best left for diy home garage projects and is never an appropriate choice in industrial settings.
It is even resistant to hot tire peel and tire marks.
Yes there is but not a big one.
Epoxy paint is essentially latex paint with a small amount of added epoxy for increased durability.
Usually you just open a can of paint and paint away.
As a general rule of thumb epoxy works best indoors so this chemical resistant and slip free surface is perfect for the garage environment where spills and puddles can create a challenge.
High epoxy solids percentage.
To exemplify this some epoxy coatings are heat resistant to temperatures up to 65 c whereas pu systems are available that can tolerate 120 c.
This makes polyurethane coatings more resistant to scratches and similar damage and is why you ll often find urethane resin floors in heavy traffic areas such as multi storey car parks.
This means that floors that can stand up to chemical attack from organic acids as well as sugar malt caustic and powerful cleaning agents are required.
This is why they are the preferred choice for heavy duty industries warehouses and logistics centers with heavy forklift traffic.
An epoxy coating however is tried and tested to stay intact and durable for a very long time.
This has a minimum thickness of 2 millimeters of epoxy floor coat.
Here are some qualities to look for in an epoxy floor coating.
Refer to the type of sealer or coating on the left hand side of the chart and the subject like finish economics and downtime on the top of the chart.