If you’re one of the many homeowners looking for a garage floor coating, then either epoxy or polyurea is likely on your radar as an option.
You’ve probably spent some time researching how each of these products work and what their applications are, but you may still be wrestling with which is the best choice for your home and garage.
Here’s a general overview of each product so you can make an informed decision based on your needs and budget.
Which is better epoxy or polyurea?
This is a good time to explore other materials as well.
Polyurea, which you’ll also see called urethane foam or polyurethane foam, is a general term for any type of foam based on polyol compounds.
Another common type of urethane is polyurethane. Both are foams that are thin and flexible, but more durable than the epoxy you’re using now.
They’re typically used for filling gaps in floors and walls, but can also be cut into sheets or boards that are applied to surfaces like garage floors and drywall before being painted or covered with wallpaper samples (a great way to learn about design trends!).
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What garage floor coating is better than epoxy?
If you’re looking to put a new coating on your garage floor, you might be stuck deciding between epoxy and polyurea. Epoxy can be cost-effective, but it also scratches and stains easily.
That’s why more people are turning to polyurea for their garage floors. Polyurea not only resists damage better than epoxy but it can also be applied in a day and is ready for use just one day later!
It’s clear that while the popularity of epoxy has been on the decline, polyurea is increasing in popularity because it’s easy to apply and extremely durable.
What coating is best for a garage floor?
Epoxy and polyurea are both excellent garage floor coatings, but polyurea is the better choice. Polyurea is a thermoset plastic made up of two parts: an isocyanate and an amine. These react with each other to form a polymer.
Because polyurea reacts quickly with amines, it can be sprayed or rolled onto your garage floor easily and economically. It hardens in minutes, not hours, so you won’t have to wait long before walking on your new coating.
This also makes it environmentally friendly because it doesn’t emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Epoxy does release VOCs.
Garage floors are exposed to harsh conditions such as chemicals from vehicle leaks, oil slicks, road salt stains during winter months, and hot tire pickup during warm months. Your floor coating must withstand these conditions without losing its beauty or functionality.
Polyurea has a much higher tensile strength than epoxy coating and resists abrasions better than any other commercial grade concrete product on the market today!
Polyureas are waterproof and will stand up to extreme temperatures without peeling or cracking when exposed to hydrocarbon oils like gasoline, diesel fuel, and motor oil that would soften or dissolve epoxies over time.
How long do polyurea floors last?
If you’re like most people, you want a garage floor coating that will last and stand up to the abuse it will take. Epoxy floors have been popular for many years and are a great option when applied correctly.
However, they become soft as temperatures increase and can be damaged by chemicals or solvents over time. Polyurea floors aren’t susceptible to these same issues and can last up to 10 years with proper maintenance.
The best way to extend the life of your polyurea floor is by cleaning it regularly using only a mild soap solution or warm water with no cleaners and keeping any harsh chemicals away from it.
By now you’ve realized that the answer is clear: polyurea is better than epoxy in every way!
Is polyurea cheaper than epoxy?
Polyurea garage floor coating is cheaper than epoxy, but the two are comparable in cost. You’ll save a little money using polyurea, and get a stronger, more flexible product that’s also easier to apply and faster to cure.
Polyurea is $1-2 less per square foot than epoxy. Both coatings cover 300-500 square feet per gallon. Polyurea cures within 24 hours while with some epoxies you have to wait 72 hours until the surface can support weight (think of cars rolling over it).
This saves time and labor costs if you hire someone to apply the coating for you.
Unlike epoxy, polyurea can be applied in cold weather. Epoxy coatings require 70ºF temperatures for proper curing during application and for about 3 days after. If it gets too hot or too cold, the products won’t cure properly and may fail early on your garage floor.
How strong is polyurea?
Polyurea is a polymer, which means that its molecules are long chains that are easily bent. Long molecular chains make polyurea very strong and durable, especially when it is applied in thick layers.
Because its molecules are flexible, polyurea is also able to withstand thermal cycling. This makes it ideal for garage floor applications where the temperature fluctuates between extreme highs and lows.
In addition to creating strong coatings that are resistant to chipping or peeling, the strength of polyurea also allows for repairs on damaged concrete floors.
The material can be applied in thicknesses of up to more than an inch at a time. Because of this, when repairing concrete garage floors, you do not have to remove deteriorated concrete because polyurea can be built up on top of it.
How long does polyaspartic coating last?
Polyaspartic is a type of polyurea, but it’s slightly more durable and resists abrasion better. A polyaspartic coating provides superior protection for floors that will be subjected to heavy traffic or heavy vehicles such as forklifts.
When installed on concrete, you can expect these coatings to last anywhere from 8-10 times longer than epoxy. This makes them a popular choice in industrial environments such as warehouses that have heavy forklift traffic.
Are epoxy floors worth it?
Epoxy floors are definitely worth it. They may cost a little more than other options, but they last longer and look better. Because of their durability, they work well in residential, commercial, and industrial settings.
Conclusion
In conclusion, polyurea is stronger and more durable than epoxy. Polyurea is also more expensive and harder to apply than epoxy. However, polyurea has a shorter drying time than epoxy, which means you can walk on it sooner. Polyurea is chemical resistant, so it can withstand exposure to gasoline, transmission fluid, etc.
that may be spilled in a garage. Polyurea is better for outdoor surfaces such as driveways or pool decks where you want to keep heat out of the concrete surface during the summer months. On the other hand, polyurea is also better for cold environments because it maintains flexibility at lower temperatures.
Finally, polyurea is better for indoor surfaces and high traffic areas such as warehouses and airplane hangars because it has a greater resistance to chemicals and staining as well as higher UV resistance.
