Epoxy flooring is an extremely popular surface option for a variety of applications, especially in industrial environments, but what is epoxy flooring? Luckily, here at Shirley Industrial Painters, we are experts in epoxy flooring and came to shed a light on this versatile flooring option with this blog post. You can read more below.
What is Epoxy Flooring?
To explain what epoxy is would be a great place to start… Essentially, epoxy is a material, generally adhesive or plastic, comprised of synthetic resins and hardeners that mix together to form a rigid material. The composition of epoxy means it is designed to bond well with other materials, taking on a myriad of properties that promote resilience, durability and a sleek appearance.
At its simplest, installing epoxy flooring is a matter of applying multiple layers of epoxy onto a surface, which should be at least 2mm thick altogether. Each layer must dry before the next can be applied, and then there is a correlation between the number of layers and the strength of the epoxy flooring. Another formality to consider is that any surface that has less than 2mm-worth of layers is referred to as an epoxy floor coating, rather than an epoxy floor.
Types
Since epoxy is such an adaptable material, there are a number of types of epoxy flooring that possess different benefits depending on the environment’s requirements:
Self-dispersing epoxy flooring is very strong, basic form of flooring.
Self-dispersing epoxy flooring with quartz sand offers the same strength as self-dispersing epoxy flooring, but offers anti-slip qualities thanks to the integration of sand.
Mortar epoxy flooring is the strongest form of the surface, and is also a good option for repairing cracks in other epoxy floors.
Epoxy antistatic flooring is utilised for sensitive areas, within which a conductor of static could cause a safety concern.
Gravelled epoxy flooring is arguably the most decorative option, but is also the most difficult to lay. This epoxy flooring also offers good anti-slip qualities because of the texture.
Epoxy terrazzo flooring is also very decorative, and great for large spaces.
Epoxy flaked flooring is another decorative form of epoxy flooring, infused with chips or flakes of paint that offer decorative properties. These flakes also offer added texture, which provide an improved anti-slip capability in comparison to standard epoxy flooring.
Benefits of Epoxy Flooring
Still wondering “what is epoxy flooring, and why should I get it?” There are a variety of different positives that come from installing epoxy flooring domestically, commercially and industrially. For a start, epoxy flooring is cheap and ideal for covering large spaces. What’s more, you get a lot of life for little money, since correctly applied epoxy flooring can last for a long time due to its resistance and durability.
The look that epoxy flooring can provide is also often overlooked – a sleek, modern and clean appearance can be achieved with the right, tasteful installation. Safety is yet another feature to consider, as certain renditions of epoxy flooring offer anti-slip, antistatic, and reflective properties (which improves visibility, and can reduce the amount of lighting necessary).
Effectively, we believe at this point you will have stopped asking “what is epoxy flooring?”, but have started to wonder “where can I get this stuff?” Luckily, here at Shirley Industrial Painters, we have over 45 years of experience in the industry and can offer an exceptional epoxy floor to suit any and all of your requirements. You can call us on 03333 660 408 or fill out our contact form.
