We know you’re proud of your house in Destin, and there’s nothing wrong with that at all.
Maybe the front lawn is neatly trimmed, the roof freshly soft washed, and the house was recently painted inside and out. All your curtains were dry cleaned and you had the soft furnishings steam cleaned. Everything is spic and span, the way you like it.
Only that ugly garage floor is still bothering you. The concrete floor has picked up a few stains over the years, it’s dull gray, and always seems dusty, no matter how much you sweep or vacuum.
Have you ever thought about epoxy flooring for the basement and/or garage floor? It might be the answer you’re looking for.
What Epoxy Flooring Can Do for You
Without going to any special effort to sell you on the idea, durability has to be the main reason people choose epoxy flooring. Concrete floors coated in epoxy are stronger and last longer than concrete on its own.
In addition, epoxy flooring withstands continuous, heavy traffic. Because it is ideal for warehouse and industrial applications, it will find the demands of domestic life a breeze to cope with.
What are Epoxies?
Clayton May, who wrote a book titled Epoxy Resins: Chemistry and Technology, tells us that, “Epoxies are the resins most commonly employed for electrical and electronic applications. Selection of epoxies is based on their superior adhesion, permeability, purity, and corrosion- and stress-resistance properties.”
The prepolymers and polymers present in epoxy resins, such as bisphenol A in the case of epoxy flooring, enable the manufacture of an extensive range of epoxy-based materials.
These include coatings (as with epoxy flooring), and products ranging from adhesives, powder coatings for white goods such as washing machines and driers, and as corrosion protection for steel pipes and fittings in oil & gas.
Epoxy coatings are also used as primers to improve adhesion of paints in the automotive and marine industry, particularly on metal surfaces. Epoxy resins are even being used with greater frequency in the making of wind turbine blades.
However, flooring applications of epoxy resins together with amine hardeners to get that smooth, non-stick yet glossy finish are what we are most interested in. It is this wonder substance that produces the seamless flooring that is so sought-after on both the industrial and the home front.
Installation of Epoxy Floor Coatings
With the installation of epoxy flooring, there are specialty tools that will be used to prep the floor to ensure proper adhesion of the product. It is
It dries and hardens quickly, and you’ll soon have the use of your space again.
If you take on epoxy flooring as a DIY project, you’ll have to educate yourself about the differences between epoxy paints and epoxy coatings.
Epoxy paint is latex acrylic paint that usually contains a small amount of epoxy in the mix. Epoxy paints normally have better adhesion and are more durable than standard acrylic paint. They are not the same as epoxy floor coatings though.
You can paint your garage floor with an epoxy paint, but it will not be the same as epoxy flooring or epoxy floor coating.
Epoxy floor coating (unlike epoxy paint) is a two-component material consisting of epoxy resin that is mixed with polyamine hardener just before applying the epoxy floor coatings. Epoxy floor coatings cure rather than dry, as is the case with epoxy paint.
While you can do this job yourself (and repair any cracks or small holes in your concrete yourself before applying the epoxy coating), we would recommend you call someone with experience. Our team of professionals will gladly help you every step of the way on your garage flooring project.
Clean as a Dream and Chemically Resistant
The epoxy coating seals the concrete, rendering the floor surface no longer porous and making it low maintenance in terms of cleaning. Ask us about seamless epoxy skirting to avoid having dirt and grime collect in cracks and corners between the flooring and the wall.
Epoxy flooring resists oil stains and is water-resistant. It requires little or no maintenance.
Epoxy coatings are available in a range of colors and patterns to suit every type of aesthetic. Brighter and lighter colors with a high-gloss option can also significantly improve lighting in less well-lit areas.
In terms of safety, epoxy flooring is slip-resistant and impact-resistant. It is also resistant to very cold and very hot temperatures, with some grades resistant to fire too.
Garages: A Cut Above the Best
Gone are the days where garages are dark, dingy places. They can be just as stylish as the rest of your home.
Decorative epoxy flooring can transform the space so that it truly does become a part of your home that you are proud of.
Some very high-quality coatings might get you wondering why you have not fitted out the kitchen and other spaces in your home the same way.
With a pattern or design that is midway between garage floor and office décor, you might be hedging your bets for one day when you might want to convert the garage into an additional living space, or a hobby room or office.
Mechanics
Let’s not lose sight of the fact that the original purpose of a garage is to house a vehicle or vehicles, and you might actually use your garage to work on your vehicles.
However, there’s no law that says mechanics have to work in dusty greasy spaces!
An epoxy floor, and even wall covering, is an ideal coating for keeping your workshop clean. You could end up having the most impressive workshop around.
You will see the difference it makes, and it might even inspire you to rig up decent shelving and storage space for your tools and other equipment. Remember that epoxy floor coating is impact-resistant, so accidentally dropping those car parts or heavy tools is unlikely to make a difference to the floor at all.
Cheaper Over Time
Epoxy flooring is cheaper per square feet when one considers its durability than other surfaces that do not last as long. It might be the strongest argument for choosing epoxy flooring.
Contact us with any questions you have about epoxy flooring, as well as our other cleaning services available for the interior and exterior of your home sweet home. We service many areas along the Emerald Coast including Destin, Sandestin, Santa Rosa Beach and more.