Did you know that epoxy resin floors can last over 20 years? That’s way longer than most people live in one house! The secret ingredient is proper housekeeping.
Epoxy resin has become the top choice for quaint and durable flooring in most places. But how do you know your newly designed floor will stand the test of time? In this article, we’ll tap into different aspects of epoxy storage.
Types of Epoxy Flooring
Epoxy coating contains 2 things: resin and a hardener. The resin acts as a binder, while the hardener makes the mixture sturdy. There are many types of flooring available:
- Epoxy Mortar Flooring: Aggregates like sand are combined with epoxy resin to create an impact-resistant surface. They are very common in industrial settings like warehouses.
- Quartz-Filled Epoxy Flooring: This one takes polymer resin and mixes it with granulated stained quartz. Aside from being beautiful to look at, this type of flooring serves another important purpose: slip resistance.
- Epoxy Terrazzo Flooring: You might have already seen the terrazzo flooring at subway stations or hotels. They use marble or granite chips with resin to achieve this effect.
- Epoxy Vapour Barrier Flooring: This sort of floor is often installed in basements or garages because these areas are most likely to have moisture seepage. These floors are specifically designed to tackle moisture issues in concrete substrates.
Average Shelf Life
Many people buy a polyester resin as their first batch without knowing the downsides. Apparently, those things have a shelf life of only 6 months. After that, they turn into useless gunk.
One thing about good-quality epoxy is that they are good for use as long as they are intact. Once you take the packaging out, they’ll remain good for one or two years.
Factors that Affect the Lifespan
Epoxy has gained popularity in the coating industry because of how well it works. Anyway, there are some external factors that can determine how the resin will be doing.
Curing Conditions
The way you cure epoxy resins will govern how long they will last. You need to keep tabs on a lot of things like the curing temperature, humidity, and how long you let it cure— everything has an effect on how fast it sets. You need to also calculate how strong the bonds are. All of it points to the overall quality of the coating. If you don’t get the curing process right, the coating won’t be as nice. So, there’s a big chance that it won’t withstand harsh conditions as rigidly as it was supposed to.
Environmental Factors
Epoxy resins can be heavily impacted by environmental factors like temperature, humidity, and sunlight. High humidity can dictate how well the coating sticks and can even mess with its appearance. In short, extreme temperatures will mess with the curing process and take away the coating’s strength.
Temperature is so crucial that a temperature increase of 10°C will cut the shelf life in half. In fact, even your body temperature can have an effect. Suppose you are making a mix of resin and hardener, everything has the appropriate ratio. You should set it aside after stirring for 2 minutes. You’re not allowed to hold it because your body temperature will accelerate the cure.
Substrate Preparation
The condition of the surface you apply the epoxy to is a major contributor for how well it performs. Proper prep is a must to make sure the epoxy sticks.
You have to remove anything that might get in the way (dirt, grease, old coatings, etc.) If the surface isn’t clean and ready, the epoxy won’t bond right. This often leads to poor adhesion or blistering.
Formulation
Finally, the formula. One of the main things that affects how epoxy resins perform is how it is mixed. Everything counts—resin to hardener ratio or the quality of the hardener. Plus, any extra additives can change how the coating turns out. It’s super important to get the mix right so the coating cures properly. Otherwise, it won’t be long-lasting.
Signs of Wear and Tear
Always keep an eye out for these issues:
- Surface Scratches: Visible marks or scratches indicating abrasion.
- Discoloration: Yellowing or fading due to UV exposure or aging.
- Cracking or Chipping: Structural damage from impact or stress.
- Bubbling or Blistering: Indicates moisture infiltration or improper curing.
- Loss of Gloss: Dullness from wear, often requiring refinishing.
Maintenance
Taking care of your epoxy floor is really important if you want it to look its best. Start by cleaning it regularly with some mild soap and warm water. Stay away from abrasive cleaners as that could ruin the shine.
If you’ve got a busy space, make sure to sweep and mop every now and then. This keeps dirt from building up. Check for any cracks or scratches and always have a repair kit at hand to fix them right away. Every couple of years, put on a sealant to boost its durability and keep stains away. Oh, and don’t drag heavy stuff across the surface; it’ll leave scratches.
Conclusion
To wrap things up, epoxy resins don’t have a definite lifespan. If you want it to have a long life, you must take proper care of your epoxy floor. For small cracks, you can opt for epoxy injections.
Also, try to keep it away from direct sunlight. Because that will turn it yellow or some other freaky color. And if it comes to larger damage, consider cutting out the affected section and replacing it with new epoxy.
Even though epoxy is low-maintenance, keeping these floors always sparkling requires regular checkups. So, be observant.
