Choosing the right floor coating for your New York home or business requires an understanding of the industry terms and how these coatings perform. Below, we’ve provided some epoxy flooring terminology (and definitions) to help guide you through the world of epoxy and polyaspartic flooring.
Q: Epoxy Flooring Terminology: Why should I choose an epoxy coating for my New York garage?
A: An epoxy coating is a slow-cure coating that can be applied thickly (it’s a “high-build” coating). Due to these properties, epoxies deeply penetrate and bond with concrete substrates. They’re unbeatable as primer (direct-to-concrete) coats in medium to high moisture concrete conditions. Perfect for use in garages, commercial spaces, basements…any space where moisture infiltration can be a problem. Although epoxies can be used as color and top coats too, they fade over time when exposed to UV light (the sun). Hence, as color coats or top coats, epoxies are restricted to interior installs.
Q: Epoxy Flooring Terminology: What is a polyaspartic coating, and how does it perform in New York’s climate?
A: Polyaspartic coatings are fast-cure coatings. Unlike epoxies, they provide extreme UV-resistance, meaning they won’t yellow or fade under sunlight. They also provide extreme chemical resistance, so quality polyaspartic coatings can resist staining from automotive fluids and “hot-tire transfer”. Contrary to epoxies, polyaspartics can only be applied thinly and cure so quickly in the presence of moisture that they make for poor direct-to-concrete primers. Coating systems that can handle New York’s changing weather conditions, from hot summers to cold winters, use an epoxy as the primer coat and one or more polyaspartic top coats. That is, they use the best properties of each coating type.
Q: What’s the difference between garage floor coatings and concrete floor paint?
A: Garage floor coatings consist of multiple layers of epoxy and polyaspartic, chemically bond to the concrete substrate, providing long-lasting protection against spills, moisture, and impacts. In contrast, concrete paint is just that — paint. And paint is a poor substitute as it only lasts a year or so after application. ‘Concrete paint’ is also often used colloquially to refer to epoxy flooring.
Q: What is a full flake epoxy floor coating, and how does it enhance the look of my garage?
A: A full flake epoxy floor coating uses decorative flakes (thermoplastic flakes with or without mica stone) embedded into the epoxy primer layer. Incorporating flakes in a full flake spread creates texture and depth to the flooring…and adds some slip-resistant. Full flake coating systems not only add visual appeal to your New York garage, but are the most durable flooring options available (usually with the longest warranties).
Q: How does moisture mitigation work in basements, and why is it important in New York?
A: Moisture mitigation is a key step in preventing moisture from seeping up through your garage floor coatings. Concrete is porous and moisture wicks up through it in a process called “moisture vapor transmission”. Over time, the moisture accumulates creating a hydrostatic pressure that pushes upwards on the coating. Thin, poorly penetrating coating systems (that use a polyurea or polyaspartic as the primer coat in lieu of an epoxy) are susceptible to delamination. Moisture mitigation is especially important in New York garages and basements prone to high humidity. By priming the floor with an moisture-mitigating epoxy, you can prevent moisture damage.
Q: What is a metallic epoxy floor, and where would it be best suited?
A: A metallic epoxy floor incorporates metallic pigments in the epoxy coating creating a 3-D, marbled effect. This type of flooring adds a sleek, luxurious look, making it ideal for New York commercial spaces or high-end residential areas looking to make a statement.
Conclusion
Durability and style are key considerations for your garage, basement, or commercial space across the state of New York. Understanding epoxy flooring terminology, i.e., epoxy coating, polyaspartic, coating system, full chip systems, will help you select the right flooring solution. Whether it’s moisture mitigation for your basement or a metallic epoxy floor for your showroom, Garage Floor Coating of New York has the expertise to transform your space.