Epoxy vs. Polyurea
Infamous Epoxy
Epoxy can be found in many garages. The main reason being
that it’s very cheap. It is also marketed as an easy do-it-yourself
application. Like most things in the consumer trade, you get what you pay for,
and epoxy is no different. Epoxy is misleading because when first applied, it
looks pretty good. However, if you investigate the details of epoxy, you will
find it has some severe impediments.
Epoxy has multiple downsides
some of the significant disadvantages are:
Installation typically takes a few days
You must prep the concrete very thoroughly
There generally is no warranty given when purchasing epoxy
A common frustration among epoxy users is the hot tire
pick-up. On a hot Minnesota summer day, your tires get hot from the road and
asphalt. When you park those burning tires on your epoxy floor and drive off
the next day, your tires can rip away the epoxy film and leave a delaminated
tire impression.
Epoxy is also not hermetic to staining, unlike polyurea spray. Although it can help,
epoxy can still be discolored or damaged by chemicals like salt; street de-ices
fluid, oil, and gas.
Delamination is a common epoxy failure. If the concrete
isn’t prepared correctly, epoxy will delaminate and wear away in a short amount
of time. This delamination is familiar with many of the concrete coatings out
there. It’s not unique to just epoxy.
Installation
The only advantage epoxy has over polyurea is the equipment
needed for installation. For example, “This Old House” recommends requiring only:
Large broom
Paint tray
Paint rollers and extension handles
Plastic watering can
Floor grinder (optional)
Imperfect Polyurea
Although an incredibly durable polyaspartic, polyurea too
has some drawbacks. For example, it sets up very fast, and you have to be quick
and know what you are doing. You also need a dual feed pump among other unique
tools. It has a natural tendency to adhere to anything it’s sprayed on.
However, it does not bond with concrete as well as other coatings.
Polyurea has a significant upside, however. Fast cure times,
flexibility and abrasion-resistance and nearly unlimited color options are all
inherent properties of Polyurea. This makes it a natural choice for the high
demands of a garage floor coating.
Requires as little as a one-day application
Fast cure times; walk on in 4-8 hours, drive on in 24 hours
Chemically resistant to harsh chemicals including gas, oil,
and salt
Incredibly durable – 20 times stronger than epoxy
98% more flexible than epoxy; will not crack or peel
No VOC’s and little to no odor
The technology behind protecting your concrete
Polyurea is an organic polymer that is the reaction of
isocyanate with an amine terminated polyether resin, forming a plastic-like or
rubber-like compound that may be used in many of the same ways as older
technologies – polyurethane, epoxy, vinyl ester, neoprene; to name a few. Find
more details at the Wikipedia definition. In other words, it’s flexible so it
won’t crack as epoxy would, and it has a natural ability to bond to the surface
it’s sprayed on.
Numerous coating applications
Polyurea has a long history in industrial applications such
as pipe/pipeline coatings, water treatment plants, utility hole & sewer
linings and of course concrete coatings. In fact, if you are familiar with
spray-on pickup truck bed liners, you are familiar with Polyurea. Its
popularity these days is in concrete surfaces, but the possibilities for its
use are endless!
Superior Garage Floor’s Hybrid Product
Garage floor coating layers use a combination of a
penetrating polymer and polyurea. The inventive polymer is best for genuinely
bonding to the concrete. Then a coat of color flakes. Over the top of the
wafers comes the sealing polyurea. This combination, hybrid coating, is what
allows us to offer our lifetime warranty. Learn more about our installation
process here.
Of course, all of these details are taken care of if you
visit or call the team over at ArmorThane. We recommend this company over any
other for any of your polyurea needs. They are a staple in the industry and are
here to help anytime you need it.
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