While being able to mimic natural surfaces such as stone, marble or granite, epoxy floors are sleeker, sturdier and easier to clean and maintain. The coating blends polymer resins and hardeners to provide a smooth and strong finish. Whether you need hygienic and slip-free surfaces for your office space or you want to revamp your home with new floors, here is what you need to do!
1 – Understand How Epoxy Flooring Works
Before you start your design project, make sure you learn the basics. Epoxy resin is a relatively new material, and you need to understand how you can use it, what you can achieve with it and how it differs from other flooring options. Its unique assets include:
- Durability
- Resistance to chemicals
- Resistance to mould and bacteria
- Slip-free formula
- Easy maintenance
- Versatile design
Epoxy resin is a type of coating and it is applied like paint. Due to its unique formula and flexibility of design, it is suitable for different types of indoor and outdoor spaces in both commercial and residential properties. It is ideal for:
- Kitchens and bathrooms
- Garage floors
- Outdoor patios and poolside areas
- Balconies and terraces
- Office buildings
- Hospitals, hospices and pharmacies
- Veterinary and kennels
- Industrial spaces
Because of its antibacterial properties, epoxy flooring will make any sanitary area easier to clean, while its robust surface ensures that it survives high traffic and constant wear and tear.
2 – Decide Whether You Want to DIY or Hire a Professional
The first thing you need to know is that it is fast, easy and cheap to install. You can either DIY or get a professional to paint your floors for a relatively small fee. It is much less expensive to install epoxy coating than any other traditional flooring material such as tiles or timber decking because it doesn’t require expertise, complicated preparation works or specialty tools. Whether you want to apply the coating yourself or have the floors expertly prepared and painted by professionals, Designer Resin Floors Perth can help. We can deliver a DIY kit that includes everything you need or have one of our professionals install the floors for you.
3 – Choose the Type of Epoxy Coating
Epoxy resin firmly adheres to the surface and has a seamless appearance without chips, cracks or pores. The powerful chemical formula makes the coating extremely robust and very unlikely to peel or tear over time like many other types of floors. There are three main types of coating:
- Water-based
- Solvent-based
- Solid epoxy
Water-based coatings are the easiest for application because they don’t use chemical solvents and don’t produce harmful fumes. On the other hand, solvent-based coatings contain hardeners which make the surface even more resilient. Solid epoxy is the most demanding because it dries fast, and it is best to have a professional apply it.
4 – Prepare the Surface
To ensure the epoxy coating bonds well with the floor surface, you need to do some preparation work. You need to remove your old floor or level the surface, it is best to have a professional do this for you. However, you might prepare the floors by using a hand grinder or scraper and concrete fillers. If you just want to paint a concrete floor that is already even, you need to make sure it is as clean as possible. To get rid of persistent old stains, use special degreasing chemical solutions.
5 – Apply the Coating
To apply epoxy resin, you need some basic painting equipment, including paint buckets, brushes and paint rollers. Additionally, you’ll also need a tarp and duct tape to protect walls and other objects. To protect yourself, you need a pair of rubber gloves, spiked rubber boots and respirators if you are using a solvent-based coating that generates toxic fumes.