Epoxy flooring is widely regarded as one of the most hard-wearing and attractive flooring options for commercial, industrial and residential spaces, but did you know it is also one of the most versatile?
There isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ solution when it comes to epoxy flooring. Instead, there are a number of different types which can be customised to suit the requirements of each unique application.
This article unpacks the various types of epoxy flooring, discusses the differences between them and provides some recommendations as to where they are best-suited.
Epoxy Quartz Flooring
In this type of epoxy flooring, quartz aggregate is mixed with the epoxy resin. The quartz can be used as a bonding agent to add even greater durability and abrasion-resistance, or it can be used for decorative purposes. The addition of quartz also creates an effective anti-slip surface.
It’s suitable for a wide variety of applications including offices, showrooms, schools, parking garages, restrooms, medical facilities, and cafeterias. Its anti-slip properties also make it ideal for external applications such as walkways and pool decks.
Epoxy Chip Flooring
This option is an extremely popular choice for floors that are subjected to heavy foot traffic, such as retail outlets and schools. In the same way that quartz is added to the 100% solid epoxy for added strength and versatility, epoxy chip flooring incorporates vinyl flakes. A top coat is then applied to increase the floor’s resistance to chemical damage and UV damage. Aesthetically, the end result is a very attractive, flecked look which is similar to a terrazzo floor.
Epoxy chip flooring is hard-wearing, durable, easy to clean and requires minimal upkeep. It also offers superior resistance to moisture and vapour, so it is ideal for use in damp or humid environments or those which require frequent wash-downs.
Some popular applications include restaurants, recreation and entertainment precincts, education facilities, healthcare facilities, showrooms, shops, commercial kitchens and motor dealerships.
Metallic Epoxy Floors
Metallic epoxy floors are highly prized for their visual impact (along with epoxy’s proven durability and strength of course). Metallic pigments are incorporated into the epoxy coating to create a variety of elegant and exotic colour combinations which add depth and beautiful brilliance to a space.
It’s also possible to customise metallic epoxy floors to suit a design brief. For example, different pigments can be added to create floors which resemble marble, stone, granite and even water!
In addition to these striking aesthetic possibilities, metallic epoxy floors also offer the same level of durability, longevity, slip and skid resistance, chemical-resistance and antimicrobial properties that have led to the global popularity of epoxy flooring.
This is an eye-catching option for an environment where a statement floor is an asset. Suitable applications include motor dealerships, hotel lobbies, restaurants, showrooms, high-end retail outlets, stadiums, shopping centres, casinos and office spaces.
Solid Epoxy Floors
There’s nothing ‘ordinary’ about a regular solid epoxy floor. It will have an attractive high-gloss finish whilst delivering all the high-performance features you’d expect from an industrial-strength floor. These floors are tough, hard-wearing, impact resistant and can withstand extreme temperature fluctuations, plus their seamless surface is impermeable to moisture, chemicals, and microbes.
They can also be mixed with a variety of additives, including colours and aggregates to heighten their slip-resistance and safety levels.
Solid epoxy floors are a preferred option in high-use areas (foot and vehicle traffic and heavy machinery) and can be customised in a variety of thicknesses to suit individual specifications. Applications include warehouses, manufacturing facilities, food processing plants, medical facilities, shops, commercial buildings, laboratories, aeroplane hangars, schools and sporting precincts.
You don’t have to choose between a floor that’s decorative or a floor that’s durable. You can have both – plus a whole lot more.
Talk to our friendly team at Panther Protective Coatings about an epoxy safety floor or protective resin coating that is best-suited for your particular application. We’ve been in business for over 20 years and you can count on our experience, professionalism, attention-to-detail, service and quality to deliver a flooring solution that will stand the test of time.
Get in touch through our website or give us a call on 0452 470 433.
