Looking for a new floor for your home or business? You may want to consider epoxy flooring. Epoxy floor coatings are a durable and attractive flooring option ideal in commercial settings or residential areas where you may want more durability and moisture resistance. For example, they're often applied in garages, laundry rooms, and even basements. While we strongly advise you to hire a professional for the job, it's helpful to understand the process yourself. Here are the three primary steps in the epoxy floor coating process.

Surface Preparation

Before the epoxy can be applied by a flooring professional, the underlying surface must be properly prepared. Epoxy floor coatings are usually applied to a cement or concrete surface. The preparation process includes cleaning the floor to remove any dirt, dust, or debris, and making any necessary repairs to cracks or other imperfections. Surface preparation is an important step to ensure that the epoxy adheres properly to the floor. Any materials left behind could create bumps in the coating.

Epoxy Floor Coating Application

Once the surface is prepared, epoxy floor coating can be applied. The professional will typically use a roller or brush. The epoxy is applied in thin layers, with each layer allowed to dry before the next one is applied. The contract will often apply the coating in the shape of the letter W. Then, they'll backroll over the motions to smooth the coating. The number of layers and the drying time between layers will depend on the specific product being used. According to This Old House, it may take between 3 and 5 days to complete the job.

Final Touches

After the final layer of epoxy has dried, the professional will apply any necessary finishing touches. For example, they may add a top coat with a non-slip element to minimize falls in the room. That can be important in work settings. They might also add a final layer with different colors to give your floor a more stylish look. Another finishing touch is to apply the coating to the bottom of the walls in the room to create a seamless look from the floors to the walls. It's your personal preference. Of course, this should be discussed with your contractor beforehand.

Are you ready to install epoxy floor coating in your home or business? Contact Lifestyle-Garage Inc today. Our experts are ready and eager to help you!