If you’re a savvy American homeowner, you likely have a concrete floor in your garage. Concrete is an outstanding construction material, popular for its durability and strength, but it can take a beating after years of use underfoot.
It’s best to protect your floor with a garage floor coating to prevent the inevitable chips and cracks caused by aging. This brings us to the age-old comparison of polyurea vs. epoxy as the best substance for garage floor protection.
Keep reading for a breakdown of the pros and cons associated with polyurea and epoxy.
Installation of Polyurea and Epoxy Coatings
Polyurea emits almost no VOCs, which means it has no odor and doesn’t dry in the tin. This makes it an environmentally friendly product that doesn’t produce lumps when applied with a roller.
As you apply it, it flows seamlessly into cracks and any irregularly shaped nooks on your garage floor.
It starts to dry immediately after application, and you can drive on it within 24 hours. It’s dry enough to tolerate foot traffic within four to eight hours of application.
Polyaspartic is a polyurea that dries within two hours, according to Trademark Garage Floors.
Epoxy is much thicker than polyurea, which makes it trickier to apply and affects how readily it flows across the floor. It also takes much longer to dry.
You must apply at least two coats to your garage floor, and each one must dry for at least 24 hours. Epoxy is also prone to high VOC emissions, so you must check your state regulations before using it.
Polyurea vs. Epoxy Durability
Epoxy is supremely durable and stands up well to chemical spills, stains, scratches, tire marks, and impacts. It has low UV resistance and will become yellow and brittle over time if exposed to high temperatures and sunlight.
This reduces their aesthetic appeal and durability. Epoxy is also prone to chipping and cracking under heavy use, so you may need to reapply it periodically.
Polyurea is elastomeric, making it less susceptible to chips and cracks, regardless of external factors. It has higher abrasion and chemical resistance than epoxy and is not vulnerable to changes due to sun exposure.
Overall, polyurea is much more durable than epoxy.
Cost Factors for Polyurea and Epoxy
Epoxy is the cheaper option, although these savings are minimal when you may need to pay for frequent reapplications. You can also more easily DIY epoxy installations.
Polyurea and polyaspartic floor coatings last up to four times longer than epoxy, but they’re more expensive and best installed by a professional, which adds to the cost.
Discover Up-to-Date Solutions
Both epoxy and polyurea are good choices that can greatly enhance your garage floor’s lifespan and appearance. Polyurea is superior in terms of durability and ease of application, but it’s more expensive than epoxy.
Whether you’re curious about the merits of polyurea vs. epoxy or roofing materials, you will find answers in one of our blog articles. Bookmark our site and check back regularly for updated information on home improvement topics.