Epoxy & Concrete Flooring are Amazingly Strong!
Looking for the right material for your garage, patio, or driveway? Might as well consider decorative concrete and epoxy flooring!
These are tough materials and will last for years if you take proper care of them and keep it clean. In this article, let’s deep dive into their difference and some tips on how to make your decorative concrete or epoxy flooring last long.
What is an Epoxy Floor?
Epoxy floors are made up of a mixture of epoxy resin and fillers. The epoxy provides strength, while the fillers provide color and texture. It’s waterproof, stain resistant, easy to clean, and can be used in commercial applications.
What makes epoxy flooring unique is that it provides high adhesion to the substrate, but also helps reduce curing time, which can be as little as 30 minutes. In comparison, conventional epoxy flooring requires up to 36 hours for a full cure.
They are available in a wide range of colors, patterns, and textures to suit any decorating scheme. You can use epoxy to resurface existing floors and give them a fresh, new look. The result is a beautiful, thick, durable, and easy-to-maintain floor that won’t crack or peel away like other types of flooring.
Epoxy floors usually cost more than other types of flooring because they are more difficult to install but they will last longer than most other options due to their durability and resistance to damage caused by water or wear from foot traffic.
What are the Benefits of Epoxy Flooring?
High resistance to water absorption. Epoxy resins have excellent water absorption properties, making them resistant to high humidity conditions such as air conditioning or steam room environments.
Excellent durability against abrasion and impact. Epoxy resins are also very resistant to abrasion and impact damage because they are composed primarily of polymers rather than glass fibers or metal alloys. This makes them ideal for use in high-traffic areas such as warehouses or other commercial applications where heavy equipment may come into contact with the surface during normal operations.
Wide range of colors and textures available. Epoxy resins offer designers a wide selection of colors, including satin finishes that resemble polished wood floors, and textured finishes that mimic natural stone surfaces.
What is Decorative Concrete and Why is it Durable?
Decorative concrete is a great way to add color and texture to your home or business space. You can choose from a wide range of finishes, natural stone, marble, and pavers, including a variety of textures that are perfect for any project, from adding interest in small areas to covering entire walls.
But what makes it a top choice by most landscapers and designers is the amazing durability and longevity it offers to property owners. It is very durable and can withstand the elements poured over existing walls, driveways, patios, and more.
Decorative concrete is a mixture of crushed or broken-up concrete and other materials. The crushed concrete is mixed with sand, gravel, cement, lime, and water to form a paste that can be applied to walls and floors making it very durable. Some types of decorative concrete are more durable than others, depending on the ingredients used and the quality of workmanship.
Decorative concrete comes in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes, so you will have plenty of options for your next project. Pavers, for instance, are excellent options for outdoor patios because they require minimal maintenance.
Factors Affecting Your Decorative Concrete - Quality and Craftsmanship Matters!
Several factors determine how strong decorative concrete is. The first factor is the type of sand used in the mixture. Different types of sand will produce different results when it comes to decorative concrete strength and durability. For example, if you use coarse sand such as quartzite or dolomite, your decorative concrete may not last very long because it's more likely to chip off over time.
The second factor that determines how strong decorative concrete is has to do with the amount of water that's added to your mixture while mixing it. You must know how much water your mixture requires because too much water will dilute your mix and make it weaker than it should be. If you don't add enough water, then your decorative concrete will become brittle and break easily if you try moving it too much or if it gets wet during rainfall events.
Finally, other factors can affect the strength of your decorative concrete mix beyond its type of sand and the amount of water added during mixing time. You must find the right contractor so you will have durable decorative concrete for your patio.
Tips on Epoxy and Decorative Concrete Maintenance to Keep them Lasting Long & Looking Good Craftsmanship
The best way to maintain your concrete floor is to keep it clean. A dirty concrete slab is more prone to cracking, so make sure you sweep out debris once in a while. If you have a lot of dirt, use a broom to loosen it before vacuuming it. Vacuuming helps to absorb dust, dirt, and grime without disrupting the surface.
Use a soft bristle brush to remove stubborn stains. Avoid scrubbing the surface too hard as this can cause scratches that make the concrete look dingy. For best results, follow a routine of cleaning the floor every two or three days.
Pressure wash or water blast concrete floors on driveways, patios, and garages. This method will remove mud and dirt safely. Avoid scrubbing the surface too hard as this can cause scratches that make the concrete look dingy. For best results, follow a routine of cleaning the floor every two or three days.
Remove dirt, stains, and debris that collect on your interior concrete flooring at once. Don't leave them unattended because they can stick and adhere easily. Use a squeegee when mopping up spills or simply wipe up spills immediately with a sponge instead of leaving them on the floor until they dry out completely. If you do have large spills then use paper towels so that these don't get stuck in cracks or crevices in your flooring.
Keep your decorative concrete or epoxy flooring dry. A lot of people think that they need to spray their floors with water every day, but this isn't necessary at all! You should instead try using a dehumidifier to keep your concrete floor dryer than usual so that mold doesn't grow on the surface. There are several different types of dehumidifiers available today, including electric ones.
Let Advanced Surface Solutions Help You Create an Epoxy or Stamped Concrete Floor that Says "Wow!"
Have questions? At Advanced Surface Solutions, we offer professional concrete solutions and transform your dull concrete into amazing creations and long-lasting designs. Call us with questions you may have about your epoxy floor ideas.
Phone 863-243-9508 or fill out our Contact Us form