Cost Of Epoxy Flooring

The total cost of epoxy flooring is $4 to $13 per square foot on average while the cost of epoxy installation materials ranges between $3 to $6 per square foot. The total cost of installing an epoxy floor is $2,200 on average.

The cost for your house shall depend on custom factors for your project as outlined later in this post. For instance, if your concrete floor needs repairs before installing epoxy, it shall cost up to 250 dollars to repair. In case you just need to seal your concrete floor using epoxy, it shall cost $30 to $230. DIY epoxy flooring installation costs $2 to $5 since you shall have evaded the labor costs.

Epoxy flooring labor cost	$2 to $ 6 per square foot
Cost of epoxy installation materials	$3 to $6 per square foot
Cost of epoxy installation per square foot	$4 to $13 per square foot
Average total cost of epoxy flooring	$2,200
Average Cost of Concrete Sealing using epoxy	$30 to $230
Average Cost of Concrete Sealing using Epoxy	$1 to $2 per square foot

What is epoxy flooring used for?

For those that are planning to install a floor system at their place, they should consider installing the epoxy floor types for their homes, most people wonder what epoxy flooring is used for. Epoxy coatings are generally used for industrial and commercial flooring. They are usually applied on top or over the concrete floors in order to produce a durable, smooth and high-performance surface, which has long lifespan duration and can withstand very heavy loads. Most of the commercial buildings, industrial sites and warehouses tend to use the epoxy flooring system in order to ensure safe conditions are maintained for inventory, equipment and workers. It also ensures that the working place is clean and orderly.

How long do epoxy floors last?

Epoxy floors last for 5-25 years on average. Epoxy floors last for 2-3 years on average when not properly maintained. We will explain how to maintain epoxy floors to last you up to 30 years.

The floor is made of synthetic resin. It is mostly used in places that are exposed to chemical spillage. Epoxy is resistant to bleach, and oil products among other harmful fluids. These and other factors are the reasons for its long life span as we will show you in detail.

Your mode of installation will determine how long your epoxy floor will last. It is advisable to get a professional to lay it up for you. Epoxy floor layers are meant to protect the concrete under it. If not done correctly considering a couple of other factors, it won’t even last a year. Let us take you through these factors that will ensure your epoxy floor lasts for 20+ years.

Factors That Affect How Long Epoxy Floors Last

1. Thickness

Epoxy floors are 5-200 milliradians on average. The thicker your choice of flooring, the longer it will last. Thin epoxy floors are easily damaged and will need to be repaired regularly. In extreme cases, they can be damaged to the point of replacement becoming the only solution.

2. Installation

Epoxy floors should be done by professionals. You should be careful when selecting who will lay down your flooring for you. It needs to be done in detail leaving no air space.

Doing this yourself is out of the question. It might cost you to hire professionals, but this will save you a lot more money if you were to do it yourself. If not properly done, it may be damaged in less than a year.

3. Location Activity

The traffic of your establishment affects the life span of your epoxy floor. If your establishment holds a lot of people on a daily basis, the flooring will not last very long. In this situation, you will have to maintain your floor on a regular basis. This is by cleaning regularly, making repairs, and replacing the coat once in a while.

4. Maintenance

Epoxy floors need to be maintained persistently to last longer. Repairs should be done fast especially detrimental repairs like scratches. Aside from that, you need to do often check-ups on your flooring. By doing this, you will know of impending tears and fix them before getting worse.

5. Cleanliness

Cleaning epoxy floors is a necessary measure that will increase their lifespan. The floors should be swept regularly. Occasionally, you have to scrub the floor. Epoxy floors are sensitive to dirt. Sharp objects find their way into the dirt and may poke holes. Only regular cleaning can prevent this from happening.

6. Exposure To Sunlight

Epoxy floors become weaker when exposed to UV radiation. The flooring is made of synthetic resin. Synthetic materials decolorize when exposed to sunlight. Its components become weaker and it can easily tear when exposed to pressure

Best Places To Lay Epoxy Floors

1. Garage

Epoxy floors are considered the best flooring material for garages. Petroleum and Diesel fuel spillage is common in garages. The flooring is used in home garages too due to its effectiveness. Commercial garages use it as a mandatory measure due to the high spillage of oil in these establishments. It is easier to clean epoxy floors because they are resistant to bleach.

2. Kitchen

Kitchens are prone to stains from different ingredients used when cooking. Large restaurants use these floors as a better option for maintaining a hygienic environment. The use of bleach in cleaning is an advantage. Other types of flooring are sure to fade off when bleach is applied.

3. Laboratories

As a building that deals with chemicals, epoxy floors are their best flooring option. Epoxy floors protect the concrete floor in labs from corrosive chemicals like chlorides, fluorides, and sulfides among others.

Epoxy floors are generally the best option for establishments that deal with stains and chemicals. It is affordable compared to wood and concrete. With these two, you will have to replace your flooring each year. Epoxy flooring will be expensive to set up but it will last up to 25 years.

What determines the Cost Of Install Epoxy Floors?

1. Size of your building

The larger your surface area, the more it will cost you. A large structure will need more labor. Hiring will mean spending more money. Transporting epoxy floor layers for a large building will also be more expensive.

2. Hiring or Installing Yourself

Hiring a professional will also affect your final cost. Laying epoxy floors by yourself will be cheaper. You should be extremely skilled to opt for this. Setting up epoxy floors poorly will leave you at a loss. It will definitely wear out before the expected minimum duration of 5 years.

3. Epoxy Floor Type

Epoxy floors come in different types. Epoxy floors with fewer layers are cheaper than thicker ones with more layers. The type of epoxy floor you choose is vital. Some are cheap and others are expensive due to quality differences.

When drawing a budget, consider all the above. Since epoxy floors last very long, a simple mistake will cost you greatly.

How To Install Epoxy Flooring By Yourself

Maintenance Cost Of Epoxy Floors

How long epoxy floors will last will depend on how well you will maintain your flooring. The following maintenance costs will be necessary for your flooring to last longer.

1. Cleaning

You will have to hire professional cleaners to scrub your flooring every once in a while. If you experience large traffic, you will need to do this a lot more. Apart from hiring professionals, a janitor to sweep the area regularly will be necessary. When objects pile up, some sharp ones will damage the flooring. Epoxy floors need to be airtight at all times

2. Repair

You need to have some money set aside for calling your contractor. Regular repairs to your flooring will determine how long your epoxy floors will last. A single tear should be taken care of immediately. This tear will expose the underneath concrete to chemicals. This will destroy your floor from underneath. Realizing this happened, later on, will cost you a huge amount of money. You may have to redo your whole flooring depending on the chemicals you deal with.

3. Replacement

Replacement is also an option. When a considerable large portion of your flooring is damaged. Replacing this section with immediate effect will be the most affordable option. If this is not done, you will definitely have to lay a new floor later on. The concrete beneath will also be damaged if not done with haste.

Maintenance is really important to experience the value of epoxy floors.

Advantages Of Using Epoxy Flooring

1. Resistance To Chemicals

Epoxy floors are resistant to corrosive chemicals. This is really helpful to laboratories because they will save on repair and replacement costs. It is important that not all epoxy floors can withstand chemicals for a long time. When purchasing, ask for chemical-resistant epoxy floors.

2. Durability

Epoxy floors can last up to 30 years when maintained properly. The flooring is strong and not even acids can damage it. This all depends on how you will watch over the floor after the installation. You have to always ensure that it is repaired and cleaned at all times.

3. Easy to clean

Cleaning epoxy floors is easier compared to other types of floors. It does not have air spaces, therefore, all the dirt is on the surface. It does not react to bleach. When tough stains get on it, you can use bleach without risking harming the coat.

4. Resistance to wear and tear

Epoxy floors are not easily scratched due to their tough nature. They can withstand different impacts depending on their level of thickness. As long as the floor is kept clean, it will not be damaged that easily.

5. Eco-friendly

The flooring is not a threat to the environment. It is made from synthesized resin. It is polymerized making it safe for the ecosystem. With the world opening up to new ways of preserving the environment, this is the best flooring to opt for.

6. Economical

Considering how long epoxy floors last, it is relatively cheaper compared to wood and concrete floors. To an establishment that deals with chemicals and garages, wood and concrete will not last very long. Wood and concrete wear down easily when exposed to chemicals. They can’t even last even a year. Epoxy floors last 5 – 25 years on average naturally being the best option.

7. Safe

Epoxy floors are resistant to fire and heat. In a fire emergency situation, epoxy floors will not catch fire. This will reduce the speed at which the fire spreads in your establishment. In such situations, epoxy floors will save your business lives and money.

9. Easy installation

Epoxy floors take 1 – 2 days to install on average. They are the fastest types of flooring to install. They will take about 24 hours to dry up. The maximum time it can take is 3 days to be ready. This saves money for a business establishment. More time will mean more labor costs.

Disadvantages Of Epoxy Floors

Below are the disadvantages of epoxy floors;

1. High maintenance cost

Epoxy floors need to be watched closely. A small unnoticed scratch will cause a huge loss if not discovered earlier. Epoxy flooring will need to be cleaned regularly. This means you need more money for labor. Repair is needed and this needs to be done very regularly. The floor needs to be airtight at all times. You will always be paying for repairs. The coat of epoxy floors is changed after a certain period of time.

2. Sensitive to sunlight

Epoxy floors are resistant to heat but they cannot handle UV rays. Epoxy floors are made from synthetic resin. Synthetic materials lose color when exposed to sun rays. Epoxy floors lose their strength and start to wear when exposed to the sun regularly. It is, therefore, a bad idea to use it in your outdoor establishment.

3. Work hazard

Epoxy floors store a lot of heat underneath. This heat creates moisture on the surface of the flooring. The floor becomes very slippery and workers could fall very easily. This can injure a worker terribly depending on the tools you work with.

4. High installation cost

The cost of installing epoxy floors is $5 – $20 per square foot on average. This is added to the cost of buying. What makes it really expensive is the fact that it is almost impossible to do it yourself. You will have to buy a lot of tools. The tools used to install epoxy floors are spiked rollers, roller sleeves, toothed blades, and many others. This will corner you to hire a professional.

5. Danger to the main floor

Epoxy flooring can damage the underneath floor. If it gets a crack or a dent that is not taken care of early, the floor may decay. In a garage, for example, oils will pass through. In a laboratory, chemicals pass through and the heat will catalyze the reaction. Unknown to the owners, the underneath floor may decay beyond repair.

Frequently Asked Questions About Epoxy Flooring

References

• https://www.forbes.com/home-improvement/garage/garage-floor-epoxy-cost/