Getting an epoxy floor at the home, office, or any other space is a congratulatory move. Spending money on something that lives with you for a long time is the ultimate happiness. But for how long? This question needs to be answered. After all, installing epoxy floors is a one-time investment and definitely worth it. To know more about the epoxy floors, the length they survive etc., all will be answered as we proceed in the blog.
The first thing is that if you are thinking of getting an epoxy floor installed, you would want to make the most of your time and money. Also, you would certainly not want to repeat the process all over again in one or two years. To avoid any such situation, you must know the time span for an epoxy to last.
The good news is that epoxy can last for around 20 to 30 years, if it is maintained properly.
Now, do not get into thinking about hard core cleaning because the best part of having epoxy is that you do not have to indulge in full-time maintenance. Cleaning once or twice a week will also do wonders except for the days that need emergency spot cleaning.
Yes, if you see any oil or chemical spilled on the epoxy floor, that would require prompt cleaning. Otherwise, you can relax on other days.
Now, getting back to whether epoxy lasts for a lifetime or not, the answer is yes, these last longer than you expect. But lifetime is a fake promise. So, if any epoxy flooring service provider in Melbourne tells you that their epoxy lasts till eternity. Please be aware and stay cautioned! Okay!
Average lifespan of epoxy floors for industrial settings
If we consider the features and characteristics of epoxy floors, these are hard, have high-impact strength and are abrasion-resistant.
Because of the remarkable properties of epoxy flooring, some technicians even refer epoxy as “a coating for life.”
This can, however, be a bit of false advertising. In residential cases, some epoxy floor coatings have been said to have lasted for around 30 years. On the other hand, industrial and commercial places are generally subjected to much higher rates of foot or vehicular traffic as well as accidents, spills, accidents, or other issues which can wear the epoxies faster.
This is the reason epoxy floors last for about 5 to 10 years. Occasionally, they last longer than a decade.
Now, let us see the factors that can influence the lifespan of your epoxy floors.
The Strength of the Flooring
The initial layer of the concrete is the base of your floor. The strength of the concrete of your floor is the first factor that can determine the lifespan of your epoxy floor coating.
Usually, the concrete floors in industrial and commercial establishments have a minimum strength of about 3000 PSI. A concrete floor which has a strength of 2500 PSI or less is definitely not recommended. If need be, you can add densifiers to solve the issue.
Surface Preparation
How well the floor surface has been prepared is another main prerequisite to well-performing epoxy flooring. The epoxy floorings’ life span will highly depend on how thoroughly the surface was prepared before the application process. During the application, the surface should be free from dust, liquids, oil or any other damage.
The Thickness of the Epoxy Coating
The thickness of an epoxy coating can range from 400 to 1,000 microns on industrial floors. The thinner the coat is, the sooner it will wear down and it will need replacement. In the industrial setting, the thickness of epoxy can even exceed 1,000 micros.
Quality of the Epoxy Coat
Often the epoxy floor contractor will recommend the epoxy having a urethane top coat applied to get away from abrasion and scratches. The thickness of about 50 microns or more is recommended for the industrial floors.
Extent of Traffic / Foot Fall
High footfall or high level of pedestrian traffic is another factor that needs to be taken into consideration because more traffic can wear down even the well- installed epoxy coating. Heavy vehicles can take toll on the floor type. So, to avoid any future damage, consider getting an additional top coat.
Exposure to UV Rays
Let the truth be told, epoxy floor coating has very poor UV resistance. The blinder can chalk, turning into powder when exposed regularly to the sunlight. This is the reason epoxy coatings are not recommended for exterior applications.
Right Time for Your Floor Coating to Be Replaced
The floor will start to look dull, lack lustre or even wear down into the breakdowns of the coating or miniature cracking in certain surfaces.
If you notice either of the above issues or any other sign of deterioration, then you will have to call a floor coating professional to take a look and suggest the solution. If you are already looking for answers for your floor or anything that you want to know about epoxy flooring services in Melbourne, contact Tuff Build.