Epoxy Floors Vs Polished Concrete
Which is better between epoxy floors vs polished concrete?
- Durability and longevity
- Maintenance
- Budget
- Reflectivity
Most contractors, property managers, and business owners want flooring that is low maintenance, long-lasting, and will enhance the appeal of their space. Out of all the flooring options, they have a challenging time determining whether to go for epoxy floors or polished concrete. Trying to decide between epoxy floors vs polished concrete can be difficult because they both use concrete as foundations, but the best way to do so is to get a full understanding of both flooring types.
Polished concrete is created by mechanically grounding, honing, and polishing the concrete floor with bonded abrasives. On the other hand, epoxy flooring is made up of resins that are mixed and trowelled to form a protective and durable coating. Continue reading on to learn more about the difference between epoxy floors vs polished concrete.
Durability and Longevity
Polished concrete can be a durable option for residential and commercial facilities. But if durability and longevity are your priority, or your facility receives plenty of wear and tear from heavy foot, vehicle, and heavy equipment traffic, then epoxy floors are for you.
Epoxy floors are coated with hardeners and resins, which is why they are highly preferred in both commercial and industrial facilities. Once applied to a concrete surface, epoxy forms a hard-wearing surface that can withstand a broad spectrum of usage. It can withstand stains, cracking, fading, chemicals, chipping, as well as the most extreme conditions found in pharmaceutical, manufacturing, food and beverage, healthcare, automotive, and electronic operations.
Maintenance
It takes more effort to properly maintain polished concrete than epoxy floors. For cleaning polished concrete, you only need to use warm water and a microfiber mop. However, it does require frequent regular cleaning and re-polishing. For cleaning epoxy floors, you just need a mop, which makes it more favorable for busy facilities. Remember to remove any dirt and grit before mopping to damage either of the floorings’ surfaces.
Budget
If you have a limited budget, you might tend to opt for polished concrete over epoxy floors. Polished concrete is a relatively low-cost flooring solution. However, do keep in mind that while polished concrete requires a smaller upfront investment, it does not deliver the same durability offered by epoxy floors. Epoxy floors have a longer lifespan, which makes them more cost-effective in the long run.
Reflectivity
Both polished concrete and epoxy floors can help improve a space’s reflectivity. But, epoxy floors hold a distinct advantage. An expertly installed polished concrete can improve reflectivity by 100%. However, epoxy flooring can enhance reflectivity by 300%.
Reflectivity is an important factor if you want to make your facility brighter. Thanks to its less need for extra lighting, reflective properties can also cut down electricity bills.
Key Takeaway
Given that both epoxy floors and polished concrete offer distinct benefits, the right choice between them will depend on your facility’s needs. Polished concrete requires a low upfront investment, but it is ideal for low-traffic spaces. If you need more durability and the best value for your money in the long run, opt for epoxy floors. Epoxy floors are necessary for industrial workplaces such as warehouses and manufacturing areas.
Need to install epoxy floors or polished concrete in the Philippines? Get in touch with Flooring Solutions by clicking here! We offer epoxy flooring and polished concrete installation services for a wide array of industries in the country. Get started on your flooring project today!
