
Epoxy floor coatings offer unparalleled durability and will resist just about anything you can throw at it— everything from chemicals, to oil and gasoline, to moisture and even UV light.
Some people think of epoxy coatings as a type of paint, but they’re fundamentally different from paint. Conventional paint is made up of a pigment that’s basically watered down by a solvent, to make it into a spreadable liquid.
An epoxy, especially a high solids epoxy, isn’t diluted at all. It goes on in two components: first, the resin, which is a dense, undiluted epoxy, and then a hardener, which “cures” the resin into a rigid, glossy coating.
Epoxy coatings adhere very well to a wide variety of surfaces, and are incredibly strong and durable.
Table of Contents
- 1 How much do epoxy floor coatings cost?
- 2 How long do epoxy floor coatings last?
- 3 Pros and cons of epoxy floor coatings
- 4 Why you’ll want a non-slip epoxy floor coating
- 5 Should you use a 100% solids epoxy floor coating?
- 6 The best epoxy floor coatings
- 7 The best industrial-grade epoxy floor coatings
How much do epoxy floor coatings cost?
As a floor coating, epoxies are higher quality than paint, so it should come as no surprise that they’re also a little more expensive than paint.
How much more expensive? Well, concrete floor paints typically run between $0.15-$2.00 per square foot, while epoxies cost around $3-$7 per square foot.
That’s a big price difference. But epoxies offer a lot of advantages over conventional paint, one of which we’ll discuss in the next section.
How long do epoxy floor coatings last?
Epoxies are extremely strong and durable, compared to conventional paint. In residential settings, epoxies can have a lifespan of up to 30 years; in commercial settings, where they’re subjected to much heavier traffic, they usually last five to ten years.
Of course, an epoxy’s lifespan is affected by a whole host of factors, including whether a topcoat has been applied, surface prep, and the thickness of the epoxy.
Protective topcoats shield epoxy coatings from corrosive elements like UV light or forceful impacts, while proper surface prep ensures that the epoxy can form a strong bond with the substrate. And thickness is more or less self-explanatory; an epoxy coating that’s twice as thick will also last twice as long.
But under almost any circumstances you can think of, epoxy floor coatings will last longer than conventional paint.
Pros and cons of epoxy floor coatings
Let’s quickly touch on some upsides and downsides of epoxy floor coatings.
Pros
Strength
Epoxy floor coatings can take almost anything you throw at it, including heavy vehicle traffic, and harsh chemicals, as well as subtler corrosives like moisture.
Durability
Epoxy floor coatings are sometimes referred to as “lifetime coatings.” While this isn’t technically true— they do have to be replaced eventually, they’ve been known to last three decades in residential settings.
Thickness
Conventional paint is made up of a pigment and a solvent, and that solvent evaporates as the paint dries— leaving behind a (very) thin layer of pigment.
Epoxies, especially high solids epoxies, go on thick and retain that thickness through the curing process. That means more coating for your buck, as well as more protection for your floor.
Cons
Expense
As we touched on above, epoxies are more expensive than conventional paints— as much as three to five times more expensive, per square foot.
Surface prep is necessary
For a strong, durable bond, you’ll want to prepare your floor before applying an epoxy. This can be a laborious, time-consuming process.
A topcoat is highly advisable
Without a protective topcoat, your epoxy floor coating can be broken down by UV light, which will quickly reduce it to a chalky texture.
Why you’ll want a non-slip epoxy floor coating
If you look at photos of floors with epoxy coatings, you’ll notice that they sport a high gloss, smooth finish. And the fact is, epoxy floor coatings actually are as slick— literally— as they look.
That’s why, for safety reasons, you should also include non-slip additives in your epoxy floor coating.
Should you use a 100% solids epoxy floor coating?
Whether a 100% solids epoxy floor coating is for you is going to depend on your unique circumstances. But epoxy floor coatings have one big advantage beyond the ones we’ve covered above: they’re low VOC.
Volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) are chemicals that form ozone, and conventional paint is a major source of them. As an ozone precursor, VOCs are monitored by the EPA, which means they fall under strict government regulation.
If your facility is large enough, you may have to consider your VOC output, as going over EPA limits can incur large fines. One of the easiest ways to cut down on your VOCs is to use low VOC coatings— like epoxies— rather than high VOC conventional paint.
The best epoxy floor coatings
Behr Premium Self-Priming 1-Part Epoxy Satin Interior/Exterior Concrete and Garage Floor Paint
Cost: $33.98/gallon
This versatile epoxy floor paint, available at Home Depot, works equally well for exterior and interior concrete floors. It’s also chemical-, stain-, and weather-resistant, provides UV protection, and resists the peeling that can result from hot tires.
This paint comes in a convenient, no-mix formula, and its default pre-mix slate gray is readily tinted to any custom color.
Seal-Krete Gloss Clear Seal Concrete Protective Sealer
Cost: $29.16/gallon
This urethane-fortified acrylic sealer (which comes in satin or gloss sheens) is one of the best epoxy sealers available at Home Depot, and will provide a protective, high-gloss finish to any concrete surface, whether it’s bare, stained, or painted.
It dries to the touch in one hour, and is ready for foot traffic in a day. Clear-Seal’s also resistant to stains, scratches, oil, gas, salt, chlorine, and moisture— and it works on brick, slate, stone, Saltillo, aggregate, and clay pavers in addition to concrete.
Rust-Oleum Epoxyshield Garage Floor Coating Kit
Cost: $117 (kit covers up to 500 square feet)
Rust-Oleum’s Epoxyshield garage floor coating provides a hardy protective barrier with a glossy, clean finish that protects against hot tire pick-up, gasoline, motor oil, salt, and antifreeze.
Advertised as being “5 times stronger than 1-part floor paints,” the Rust-Oleum Epoxyshield is low VOC, low odor, and comes with a no-peel promise. It’s ready for foot traffic in 1-2 days, and can be driven on in 3 days.
Foundation Armor Epoxy Clear High Gloss Primer and Topcoat
Cost: $174.95 (covers 500 square feet)
This kit includes a two-part water-based epoxy primer and topcoat system, commonly used on interior concrete floors. This coating has great penetration and bonding, is low VOC, and can withstand an impressive 6 lbs of moisture.
It’s also resistant to chemicals, mold, mildew, and more, and can be conveniently applied with just a roller. This kit can be used as a primer and topcoat, or as just a primer for most epoxies, as well as polyureas, polyaspartic polyureas, and urethanes.
Note: facility managers and contractors should go directly to the manufacturer to get the best deal, and to ensure that the coatings are EPA compliant.
The best industrial-grade epoxy floor coatings
Drylok Latex 1-Part Epoxy Concrete Floor Paint
Cost: $63.99/gallon
This 1-part epoxy floor paint from Drylok uses an advanced epoxy ester resin that offers great durability; it’s also easy to apply, as it goes on just like conventional paint, and dries in only 4 hours.
This particular paint is specially formulated for high traffic areas, and provides a semi-gloss finish that’s resistant to UV light, oil, grease, gasoline, and chemicals.
View this coating’s data sheet here.
Sherwin Williams ArmorSeal HS
Cost: Unknown
This two-component, high-solids polyester aliphatic urethane coating works for interiors and exteriors, and offers great chemical resistance with a high gloss finish. It’s slip- and abrasion-resistant, features excellent color retention, and is fast drying, too.
View this coating’s data sheet here.
PPG Aquapon WB
Cost: $54.73/gallon
This water-borne epoxy is a great fit in commercial and industrial environments, and offers high resistance to stains, abrasion, and impacts. It’s also ultra low VOC, and can be cleaned with soap and water.
The manufacturer recommends using PPG Aquapon on properly prepared steel, concrete, galvanized metal, aluminum, copper, plaster, masonry, and even wood. Works great on floors, too!
View this coating’s data sheet here.
PPG Coal Cat
Cost: Unknown
PPG Coal Cat is a super versatile high solids epoxy coating. Specifically, it’s a resinous cured polyamide coal tar epoxy that comes in a two-component formulation.
Coal Cat offers exceptional resistance to salts, alkalines, and most acid dilutions, as well as crude oils, oil brines, sewage, and hydrogen sulfide. Considering those qualities, it’s often used for immersion service in buried pipes and structural steel.
View this coating’s data sheet here.
Corotech High Performance 100% Solids Epoxy Floor Coating
Cost: Unknown
This high solids coating from Benjamin Moore offers industrial-strength protection for settings that experience heavy foot and vehicle traffic. It’s very low VOC, adheres strongly to concrete, and cures to a smooth gloss finish.
It’s resistant to chemical spills, harsh cleaners, moisture, and steam and power washing. This coating also meets LEED qualifications for a floor coating, and is suitable for USDA inspected facilities.
View this coating’s data sheet here.