Are you looking for a way to spruce up your home? Or maybe you’re tired of spending hours each week keeping the flooring clean. Either way, polyaspartic flooring might be what you need.
Unlike traditional floor coverings, these durable, stain-resistant floors come in various styles and colors to make your interior design stand out. But like any other product, there are pros and cons.
This comprehensive guide will discuss the benefits and disadvantages of adding polyaspartic flooring in your home or garage so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not it should be part of your remodeling plans.
What Is Polyaspartic Flooring?
Polyaspartic flooring is a high-performance system with superior durability and strength. Seriously, check out our flooring; it’s stronger than epoxy.
It is an advanced two-component, polymer-based coating system applied in a single layer. Polyaspartic flooring systems are resistant to things like:
- Impact
- Abrasion
- Heat
- Chemicals
- UV exposure
They also offer excellent color retention, so they look great for years. In addition to being tough, the coating offers slip resistance and low VOC emissions for a safer environment. Moreover, with minimal preparation, you can apply this type of flooring over concrete or other substrates such as steel or wood.
The bottom line is that polyaspartic coatings provide an incredibly durable surface. It’s also more cost-effective and easier to clean than traditional coatings. However, as mentioned above, it’s not a 100% damage-resistant or “ideal” floor coating for everybody.
Polyaspartic Flooring vs. Epoxy
Before diving into some polyaspartic flooring advantages and disadvantages, it’s helpful to understand the differences between this type of flooring and epoxy flooring.
As mentioned, polyaspartic flooring is generally the superior choice among all homeowners and business owners. It’s longer lasting and more durable. However, there are three main benefits of polyaspartic flooring compared to epoxy flooring to give you an idea of the former’s superior quality and durability.
Drying Time
Polyaspartic flooring is the ideal choice for anyone who values speed. It dries up to 15 times faster than epoxy, with a single layer completing in only a matter of a couple of hours instead of 16 or more.
And not just speed; polyaspartic also offers superior performance. Its fast-drying properties make it far more durable and resistant to scratching, heat, and chemicals than its counterpart. Additionally, polyaspartic leaves behind a smooth, glossy finish much faster than epoxy.
Durability
Do you own an auto shop or professional garage? Polyaspartic flooring is your best bet. It’s a much better choice than epoxy when it comes to durability. Its flexible nature gives it the advantage of not being susceptible to chipping, scratching, or scuffing, an issue that plagues epoxy floors.
Not only is polyaspartic more resilient against these abrasions, and it has a greater tolerance for fluctuations in temperature and humidity. This ensures that your floor remains intact even in extreme conditions. Furthermore, polyaspartic requires less maintenance and preparation before installation than epoxy.
All this makes it an ideal option for more heavy-duty areas like garages and warehouses. With its superior durability and ease of installation, polyaspartic flooring is far more reliable than epoxy in the long run. Yep, this means you’ll enjoy cost savings and more.
UV Stability
Finally, polyaspartic flooring is superior to epoxy flooring because of its UV resistance. Epoxy floor coating is prone to yellowing and fading due to exposure to ultraviolet radiation, but polyaspartic does not suffer from this issue.
The formula for polyaspartic coating is colorfast, meaning it won’t change color or become discolored due to sunlight. This makes the finish more durable and long-lasting than the traditional epoxy coating.
The Pros of Polyaspartic Flooring
There’s more to understanding polyaspartic floor coating than comparing it to epoxy. Generally, it’s a superior choice to other types of garage floor coatings. Why? For the benefits listed below.
Long-Lasting
Polyaspartic floor coatings provide a long-lasting solution for areas that require exceptional durability. The combination of polyurea and polyaspartic resins creates a tough and flexible coating. This bonds firmly to the substrate below for added protection.
This coating is resistant to abrasion, UV radiation, and chemicals. That means it will remain strong and reliable for extended periods. Its superior strength and flexibility make it perfect for industrial or commercial floors that must endure high levels of foot traffic or hazardous materials.
The best part, though? Polyaspartic flooring’s longevity ensures fewer maintenance costs over time. This makes it an ideal solution for building owners looking for durable flooring. While you might pay more upfront for the flooring, its durability means it’ll pay off.
Fast Drying
One of homeowners’ most common complaints about epoxy flooring is the drying time. Installing epoxy flooring takes a lot of time. And that’s if the weather conditions are right for installation. This isn’t the case with polyaspartic flooring.
Thanks to its unique co-polymer chemistry, the application process is fast and easy. A single coat of the coating material using a roller or brush cures in a few hours maximum, allowing us to apply multiple layers quickly.
Another contributing factor to the quick curing time is the low VOC solvent system. Combined with specific curing agents, the flooring can dry rapidly. This results in a fast installation and curing process. Basically, it’s a speedy option for those who don’t (or can’t) sit around and wait.
Eco-Friendly
Polyaspartic floor coatings have less environmental impact than other coatings due to fewer hazardous materials used in their formulation. Traditionally, epoxy coatings contain hazardous solvents and produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that contribute to air pollution and hazardous waste.
A benefit of using polyaspartic floor coatings is that they contain fewer VOCs. This minimizes pollution and waste during application and production. This is great for the environment. However, during installation, it’s great for anybody in your home or business. Fewer VOCs mean better air quality around the area of installation.
Furthermore, installing this coating is quicker and more energy-efficient than traditional epoxy coatings. This reduces waste production and energy consumption. Using polyaspartic coatings also reduces maintenance and repairs, reducing the overall need for extra energy and resources. So, it’s eco-friendly all around!
Resistant to Chemicals
If you own an auto shop or professional garage, your work likely includes working with harsh chemicals. This can damage garage floor coating, leading to cracks, discoloration, and costly repairs. Polyaspartic floor coatings are resistant to various chemicals, making them the perfect choice for areas that experience high exposure to harsh substances.
The main ingredient in polyaspartic is an aliphatic amine-terminated polyurea, which creates a highly cross-linked polymer. This makes the product durable and chemical resistant, even when exposed to concentrated solutions for extended periods.
In addition, as mentioned above, the coating is also resistant to UV rays, which helps protect against fading and discoloration due to sun exposure. The glossy finish further enhances chemical resistance by providing extra protection from wear and tear.
Overall, due to its chemical makeup and protective top coat, polyaspartic flooring is ideal for locations that require strong protection from various chemicals. The fact that they look great (check out our quartz system) is a benefit.
Year-Round Installation
Polyaspartic floor coatings offered by Garage Force can be installed in any weather conditions all year round, unlike epoxy floor coatings. This is because polyaspartic resin cures fast, meaning it doesn’t need to sit for long periods or suffer drastic temperature changes to set properly.
Epoxy, on the other hand, requires much longer periods of curing. If the temperatures outside are too hot or cold, epoxy may not cure correctly.
Additionally, polyaspartic is a great option for places where you’ll still receive visitors due to its fast-curing properties and low odor content. This includes places such as offices, stores, warehouses, and more. If your business needs to keep running, polyaspartic flooring is a great option.
The Cons of Polyaspartic Flooring
While there aren’t many polyaspartic flooring disadvantages to explore here, some drawbacks are worth noting. Most of these apply to standard polyurea flooring and not Garage Force coatings. Our coatings are 20x stronger than epoxy and come in several unique color options.
Limited Color Options
Again, this doesn’t apply to Garage Force coatings. We offer several colors. We even offer a solid color system. However, others offering polyaspartic flooring might not.
Previously, polyaspartic coatings lacked the same color variety as epoxy floor coatings, limited to light and medium shades of grey. This is because pigment added to the polyaspartic blend impacts the curing process, resulting in a less effective coating.
Conversely, epoxy flooring boasts a wide array of colors and hues that can be customized better to match one’s style or existing decor. Furthermore, the longer curing time of epoxy allows for a greater variety of pigments to be included without impacting its effectiveness.
While polyaspartic coatings produce durable surfaces quickly, some companies may not offer enough color options for those who desire more personalization on their floors. If you’re looking for durability and color options, choose Garage Force. We can help you select the right color and system for your needs.
More Expensive
One of the major drawbacks of polyaspartic flooring is that it is more expensive than epoxy coating. This is due to its installation’s increased difficulty and cost.
Despite this, polyaspartic flooring offers superior durability and enhanced chemical and UV resistance. Once installed, you won’t worry about frequent re-coating or repairs for decades. So, the initial expense may seem daunting. However, it is often a worthwhile investment when considering long-term savings.
In conclusion, while polyaspartic flooring may be initially more expensive, its superior durability pays off over time by:
- Requiring less maintenance
- Offering added protection against UV rays and harsh chemicals
These two factors can reduce maintenance costs significantly over time. Plus, with polyaspartic flooring, you don’t have to worry about replacing it often. After the initial installation, it can last for 20 years. If you take care of it, you might get more use.
Slippery
Finally, some people complain that polyaspartic flooring is slippery when wet. This can be true. Again, it all comes down to who is installing your flooring, though.
It’s important to utilize anti-slip additives to increase the floor’s texture. This will provide a better grip. This is particularly important in residential homes as a slip-resistant surface is crucial for safety. Anti-slip additives can also improve traction when the floors are wet, making them more practical in areas where liquids are often spilled.
Polyaspartic Floor Pros and Cons: Is It Worth It?
So, is polyaspartic flooring worth it? We believe so, yes.
Polyaspartic flooring beats other floor options with its superb durability and resistance to scratches, stains, and chemicals. It’s also low-maintenance, needing only a damp mop for cleaning, and perfect for busy commercial spaces or households.
A bonus is its quick installation and smooth finish. This makes it an ideal choice for homeowners and garage owners who want a floor covering that is:
- Attractive
- Efficient
- Low-maintenance
The main drawback is its higher initial cost. However, its durability, energy efficiency, and minimal maintenance cost make it a wise investment. As mentioned, the long-term savings offset the initial cost.
Moreover, polyaspartic coating resists damage from sunlight, extreme temperatures, and chemical exposure better than traditional flooring options like concrete and epoxy. All in all, polyaspartic floors are a better floor covering that businesses and homeowners should consider.
Get Polyaspartic Garage Floors
Are you interested in polyaspartic flooring? We’re here to help. At Garage Force, our team innovates the concrete coating market while working alongside manufacturers. Our revolutionary coatings make concrete floors robust and seamless. They also provide superior protection against breakage, chipping, and pitting.
Coatings are slip-resistant and easy to maintain while resisting abrasion, impacts, and harsh chemicals. Additionally, our coatings look awesome. Trust us. Or, browse our gallery to see examples of past projects.
Ready for installation? Find a location near you. There, you can chat with a representative and learn more about our flooring options.