Community

Epoxy vs Polyaspartic Coating Services in Pensacola

Posted on January 6, 2021

You might have come across the terms epoxy and polyaspartic while doing your research about garage floor coating. Now, you’re probably wondering which one is the right choice.

Both of them are concrete coatings. That makes it hard to know the difference between them and decide which would fit your garage floor.

To help you out, we’re sharing CertaPro Painters® of Northwest Florida’s professional insights about epoxy and polyaspartic floor coatings. We’ll weigh the pros and cons of each and help you with getting the best coating service in Pensacola.

What Is an Epoxy Floor Coating?

epoxy garage floorEpoxy coating or paint is a resin polymer. For many decades, it has been the go-to material for protecting concrete garage floors.

The formula for an epoxy coating is a primer topped with a color base coat and two polyurethane surface coatings. It creates a chemical-resistant and non-slip finish.

So your garage floor becomes free from stains and spills, even making it aesthetically pleasing. You can also choose the color base, whether you want a glossy or matte polish, and even add little decorative chips to the mixture for extra style.

What Is a Polyaspartic Floor Coating?

Polyaspartic only resembles polyurethane. Popularly known as an epoxy alternative, it’s made of aliphatic polyurea, known for high tensile strength.

It was originally developed for coating steel in bridges since it is resistant to corrosion. It’s a mix of ester and other materials.

The amount of ester can be adjusted to customize the traits of the polyaspartic. For instance, it could have quicker drying times and less post-application gas emissions.

It is basically the newer option with more versatile properties. But just like epoxy, you can also choose the look of your polyaspartic floor coating—glossy finish, color, and decorative chips.

Epoxy vs. Polyaspartic

Durability: Both have hard finishes, but epoxy is still easily abrased while polyaspartic doesn’t scratch at all.

Cost: Since polyaspartic has more innovative properties and is more durable, it is definitely expensive. Epoxy is the more affordable option.

UV Resistance: Epoxy’s surface can fade or turn yellow after long exposure to sunlight while polyaspartic won’t, no matter how long it’s exposed to sunlight.

Drying Time: There is a significant gap between each coating material’s drying time. As mentioned, polyaspartic’s ester amount can be changed for quicker drying. It can be as quick as one hour per layer whereas epoxy takes up to 16 hours for one layer to dry.

Nonslip: Polyaspartic surfaces are really smooth. Without some additional grip materials, it’s a slip risk. Epoxy floor coatings are non-slip even when you choose a glossy finish. Additives for extra safety can still be applied to them, though.

Epoxy and Polyaspartic Floor Coating Services in Pensacola

You might be thinking about pulling a DIY on coating your garage floor. You can try, but it would only take more time and resources.

It takes an expert and a set of professional equipment to make sure you achieve your desired outcome. Instead of hitting the hardware for a bunch of tools and materials, sit back and let our CertaPro Painters® of Northwest Florida do all the work for you.

Don’t worry about the costs, we offer great package deals and discounts. You can learn more about them in your free consultation.

Still unsure? Check out our Concrete Staining and Epoxy Floor Covering page to learn more!