Category: Flooring

How to Polish Laminate Floors

Laminate flooring, loved for its durability, price, and range of color choices, is relatively low maintenance when compared to other types of flooring. Despite this, the laminate can lose its shine over time, typically due to a buildup of dirt and grime. Unlike wood floors, you cannot wax it, and using any type of soap-based product will actually make the floors duller. A good cleaning and a product specifically meant for laminate floors will make the laminate look like new.

Thoroughly sweep the floor, removing any crumbs, dust, pet hair, or other dirt. Clean along the walls and underneath furniture, as dirt and hair tend to slide across laminate flooring; if you just get the visible areas, any slight change in the air can push dirt out from its hiding place and onto the floor, causing you to have to sweep all over again. A dusting mop or broom and dustpan are typically best for this; however, a vacuum with a hard floor setting can also do a thorough job.

Add one cup of distilled white vinegar to a gallon of warm water. Clean the floor with this mixture using a soft mop. Although there are laminate flooring cleaners on the market that are not soap based, good old-fashioned vinegar tends to produce the best results.

 

What is the difference between a real wood floor and a laminate floor?

The main difference is that laminate flooring is not made of wood it is a photograph of an particular wood species or stone pattern that is adhered to a dense particle board or high density fiberboard center core. The top layer is protected with layers of a protective finish.  “Quality” laminate floors are not easily scratched or dented and they are easily installed — usually in a glue less click-together floating method. These durable floors are more resistant to stains than real wood and will not expand or contract as much with seasonal changes in humidity and temperature. Laminate flooring cannot be sanded and refinished like real wood flooring and would have to be replaced when worn out or scratched. Laminate floors are very popular in high trafficked areas like Kitchens.

Wood Flooring is real wood, durable but not quite as durable as a Quality Laminate floor. The advantage of real wood is that most can be sanded and refinished new again lasting many years. Hardwood Flooring is the only floor covering that will also increase the value of your home.

Where Can I Install A Laminate Floor In My Home?

Laminate flooring can generally be installed on, above, or below grade in the home. Many manufacturers warrant their laminate floors against moisture — so they’re good for use in kitchens and half-baths. We don’t recommend laminate floors in full baths where excessive water will be spilled on them. The best floor option for a full bath would be ceramic tile or vinyl flooring.

Can Laminate Flooring Be Installed Over Radiant Heat?

Laminate floors can be installed over radiant heating systems without a problem. The manufacturer will note in their installation instructions if there are any special procedures required. Since laminate flooring isn’t a wood product, most of them have superior heat resistance attributes.

How Is A Laminate Floor Installed?

Most laminate floors manufactured today are installed using a type of Click Lock floating method over a foam pad. There’s no adhesive, nails or staples necessary. You can also use your new laminate floor right away, there’s no waiting for anything to dry or set.

 

How to fix scratches

So what do you if you move a piece of furniture and it scratches your floor? You can fix scratches on laminate, but it depends on the colour and depth of the damage. Small tubes of floor colour fillers are available online, but be careful to buy a shade that matches your flooring. This solution usually works if it’s a minor scratch.

It’s a really good idea to purchase a few extra floorboards when you initially install it. These can be used to replace boards that are severely damaged over time. The products on sale change all the time, and the one you used may not be available down the line, so it’s a good idea to have a few spares packed away for a rainy day.

Some customers come to us to choose flooring for a particular room, with plans to laminate other places in the home at a later stage. Although it’s a more significant upfront investment, we recommend that they buy all the flooring they need for the future and store it until they’re ready. Trends, finishes and product lines change. You want the floors in your home to look consistent, and we can’t guarantee the same product will still be available when you return to complete the flooring in your home.

 

Things to Know Before Choosing Laminate Flooring

First introduced in the 1970s, laminate flooring is comprised of layers of synthetic material engineered to look like wood or stone. It quickly became a popular choice due to its durability and low price, garnering a reputation as an affordable alternative to the real thing. Today’s laminate has come a long way since it first hit the market, and its quality and appearance continues to improve, with more options than ever available now. To find out if this material is right for your budget, lifestyle, and aesthetic preferences, first consider these pros and cons of laminate flooring.

There’s an option for virtually every style.

All laminate flooring has a core layer topped by an image layer, into which a digitally enhanced photo of a natural material is embedded to mimic everything from exotic hardwoods to concrete to natural stone—a major pro. It comes in a variety of colors, lengths, and widths and, these days, texture can even be embossed to give the flooring a more realistic feel. Still, some critics insist that no matter how high-end the product, laminate simply can’t compare with the natural beauty of real wood or stone.

Laminate flooring is cheaper than wood…

Laminate flooring can run about half the price of wood flooring but, as with wood, you’ll find a range of varying quality. Some look more realistic than others, and some are less substantial in the thickness of the different layers, making them more likely to wear out sooner than a higher-quality product. You’ll typically find laminate options starting at less than $1 per square foot and topping out around $5 per square foot.

but you can’t refinish it.

Despite technological advancements in laminate flooring, it still gets its look solely from the image layer, which can’t be sanded and refinished when it starts getting worn. Wood, of course, can be revived multiple times over its lifetime, with the potential to last decades. So while the upfront price might be right for laminate, know that in the long run, wood might be a better buy. In addition, wood offers a higher return on investment in terms of your home’s resale value.

Laminate has varying degrees of durability and resilience.

Knowing that laminate can’t be refinished naturally makes you wonder how long it lasts. Fortunately, there’s a highly durable wear layer above the image layer designed to withstand foot traffic, sun fading, scratches, dents, and stains. And if a piece does get damaged, you can often replace the individual plank. But in case you can’t pull up the unsightly plank, repairing a scratch or dent in laminate flooring can be tricky at best and impossible at worst.

Most manufacturers have an AC (abrasion criteria) rating assigned to each product, which details the specific usages they’ll hold up best under. The higher the AC rating, the more durable the product will be. Keep these numbers in mind when shopping to choose a product that can tolerate the demands of your household and get the longest life possible:

• AC1—moderate residential use (like bedrooms and closets)
• AC2—general residential use (like living rooms and kitchens)
• AC3—heavy residential use or moderate commercial traffic
• AC4—general commercial traffic
• AC5—heavy commercial applications

Laminate is easy-care—with some caveats.

Excess water can cause laminate flooring to warp or stain, so aside from sweeping and vacuuming as needed, it should be cleaned carefully, generally with plain water. Use a flat mop and wring out the water before each pass. For tougher cleaning jobs, use a commercial laminate cleaner. An acetone-based solution (like nail polish remover) can help tackle tough stains.

 

Tips to Prevent Laminate Damage

• Never allow standing water on your laminate floor for a long time.
• Always mop up the spills as they happen.
• Avoid wet mopping laminate floor, instead, you can dry mop it for longevity.
• Always use recommended cleaning products to avoid leaving behind a sticky floor after mopping or even cause other floor damages.
• Maintain a 35-65 percent relative humidity level always. You can use dehumidifiers to maintain this relative humidity.
• It is always wise to consult wood floor professional about your laminate flooring repairs and problems

Benefits of Laminate Flooring

So you’re ready to update the look of a room with new floors. Or maybe you’re thinking bigger, and want to change your entire home! Or office. Or business?

We’re here to tell you – those all sound like great ideas! But at BuildDirect, we know comparing and contrasting different floors can be a pain. So, if you’re not sure where to start, here’s a bunch of benefits and reasons why laminate flooring might be the perfect solution for you.

Durability

Laminate is a strong, scratch-resistant, and highly durable flooring surface. Protected by a tough external layer and resin coating. It’s great for high traffic areas and houses where there are pets and children. For general residential and light commercial use, be sure to choose a laminate with an AC rating of 3 or higher.

Price

Laminate flooring is less expensive than traditional hardwood, but doesn’t fall short when it comes to look and quality. There’s a great laminate flooring choice for every price range.

Subfloors

Laminate’s versatile, and can be installed on nearly any type of subfloor, like concrete or even pre-existing vinyl floors. In many cases when the installation of a hardwood floor is not compatible with a subfloor, laminate flooring is a smart option.

 

Appearance of Laminate Flooring

One of the best benefits of laminate flooring is the variety of attractive styles. Laminate is made using a high-definition printer that creates almost any realistic design you can dream of. From hardwood designs to tile décor, laminate is available in a variety of colors and styles, not to mention a variety of textures.

Ease of Installation

Homeowners love laminate flooring because they can save hundreds of dollars on installation costs. With the tongue and groove locking systems, laminate flooring is designed for an easy floating installation that anyone can do – even people without a contractor license. Save money and hassle trying to arrange for professional installation.

 

Kid, Pet and Allergy Friendly

Kids and pets can be rough on floors. While no floor is completely safe from either, laminate flooring has a topical finish coat or wear layer that makes it resistant to scratching.

Laminate is also a favorite with homeowners who suffer from allergies. Dust and other indoor allergens such as pet dander can not penetrate the hard surface of laminate flooring the way it can cling to carpet fibers. Offering an affordable, attractive and allergy friendly alternative to hardwood floors is one of the many benefits of laminate flooring.

 

Maintenance and Repair

Laminate floors are easy to clean with a vacuum or broom. Mop with a slightly damp mop, or better yet, use laminate floor cleaner. No floor waxing is ever necessary for laminate floors. Avoid excessive water when mopping, which can seep into the seams between boards, causing swelling. Laminate flooring will not tolerate standing pools of water, which often appear in bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms. For areas with heavy moisture, you need an impervious surface, such as vinyl or porcelain tile.

Laminate flooring has a wear layer that protects the photographic layer underneath and makes it somewhat resistant to scratches and dents, and very resistant to stains. Some manufacturers even issue very generous 10+ year warranties on the wear layer itself. If you do get a stain, it is usually easy to clean off.

The inability to sand and refinish is a major disadvantage of laminate flooring. If laminate flooring is heavily worn, deep scratched, or grooved, it cannot be sanded or refinished like solid hardwood—it must be replaced.

 

Cleaning Laminate Floors:

Do not use steam cleaners or wet mops, which may cause irreparable damage to your floor.

• Use a damp cloth to blot up spills as soon as they happen. Never allow liquids to stand on your floor.
• For tough spots, such as oil, paint, markers, lipstick, ink or tar, use acetone/nail polish remover on a clean white cloth. Then wipe the area with a damp cloth to remove any remaining residue.
• Sweep, dust, or vacuum the floor regularly with the hard floor attachment (not the beater bar) to prevent accumulation of dirt and grit that can scratch or dull the floor finish.
• Periodically clean the floor with cleaning products made specifically for laminate floor care.
• Do not wash or wet mop the floor with soap, water, oil-soap detergent or any other liquid cleaning product. This could cause swelling, warping, delamination, and joint-line separation, and void the warranty.
• Avoid using steel wool, abrasive cleaners, or strong ammoniated or chlorinated type cleaners.
• Do not use any type of buffing or polishing machine on your laminate floors.
• For spots such as candle wax or chewing gum, harden the spot with ice and then gently scrape with a plastic scraper, such as a credit card. Be careful not to scratch the flooring surface. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.
• A more frequent dust-mopping or vacuuming schedule may be required in very sandy areas such as a beachside home.

Solved! How to Select the Best Carpet for Stairs

I just moved into a two-story home, and the floors need some TLC. The stairs are carpeted, but the pile is worn down. I’ve slipped and nearly fallen several times. Do you have any tips for choosing durable, slip-free carpeting for stairs?

You’re focused on the right areas: safety and durability. These busy zones need to be ready to withstand years of foot traffic as well as the cleaning that comes with keeping the color looking like new! Luckily, it’s possible to find an affordable solution without skimping on quality. When shopping for a replacement, it’s best to first understand industry standards and lingo so that you won’t be caught off guard during the buying and installation process. Here’s a cheat sheet with some of the main considerations—material, construction, density rating, and more—for finding the best carpet for stairs that balances safety needs and your ideas of style

First, narrow your search to a carpet material that is as durable as it is stain resistant. In order to appeal to a number of scenarios throughout the home, carpets come in many materials, from natural fibers like wool and sisal to synthetics like nylon, polyester, triexta, and olefin. Of these, a synthetic nylon carpet may be your best bet for safety, stain-resistance, and strength on stairs. You’ll see two common variations of nylon compositions out there—nylon 6 (which is easier to recycle) and nylon 6,6 (which has slightly higher resilience)—but both are good options. Or, consider a blended carpet for the stairs. These typically feature 80 percent wool and 20 percent synthetic to offer the best of both materials: warmth and resilience.

The make of your carpet’s material also lends durability. There are two main types of carpet construction: bulked continuous filament (BCF) and staple. Used in both cut pile (plush) and loop carpets like Berber, BCF means that an entire section of carpeting is made from one long piece of fiber. Conversely, staple carpets use many short fiber lengths, which are then woven together. BCF tends to be favored by major manufacturers of synthetic carpets—it sheds less and offers more design versatility.

The best carpet for stairs has a low pile—¾-inch or less—to be both more stable underfoot and resilient to traffic. A synthetic plush style in twisted or cut pile is always a safe option, while a looped style like Berber is occasionally avoided (particularly if you have pets whose claws may catch in the carpet loops). To make the latter work, choose a high-quality brand and ensure proper installation. Berber should be installed lengthwise, with rows placed from top to bottom, not side to side.

Best Rooms for Carpet

When it comes to choosing flooring for any room in the house it is important that you weigh the ups and downs of your options while considering the traffic and type of activity that will go on in said room. Carpet, a timeless options for many reasons, is popular all over the house, but it’s rather obvious why it should stay out of a few rooms in the home, such as the kitchen or the bathroom. But the reasons that people choose carpeting makes sense. It is comfortable to walk on (or sit on in some situations), it is quiet, it keeps your feet warm, and so on. So what rooms are most popular for carpeting?

Bedroom

While some people prefer hardwood in their bedrooms, carpet is another top choice. Carpet is perfect to wake up to, as there won’t be any sudden chill when you first get out of bed and your bare feet make contact with a chilled wood or stone surface. Since there are so many styles and colors of carpet available, there is sure to be one that matches your interior decor.

Living Room

Living rooms are often highly trafficked areas where family and friends gather to visit, watch movies or share a laugh. A carpeted room makes lounging easy and provides a warm atmosphere for conversation. You may want to talk to the carpet experts about finding one that is extra durable, depending on how often you have guests

Play Room

If you have kids of your own or regularly entertain, there is a good chance you have an area dedicated to their enjoyment. Carpet is a great flooring option for rooms where kids spend a lot of time, as it is soft. Not only will they likely spend a lot of time on the floor sitting and lying, but any falls will be cushioned compared to hardwood or tile

Stairs

While not technically a room, putting carpet on stairs is a great idea as it provides additional grip. Carpet also absorbs sounds, unlike other flooring types, which may radiate the pitter patter of feet going up and down.

How do I choose a good carpet?

A carpet can transform any room’s décor, look and feel effortlessly and instantly. Out of many home décor products available today, premium carpets are one of them. To instil style and fashionable statement, many homeowners choose premium hand-knotted rugs or premium power loom made carpets. These carpets feature contemporary designs, patterns and styles that can instantly match any type of décor and amplify the overall style statement of a room. Today, one can find out the variety of carpets and rugs in the market.

Modern hand tufted carpets showcase fine craftsmanship and are made with skilled hands and a mechanized tool to inject pieces of wool through drill guns. On the other hand, hand-knotted rugs are also known as the hand-woven rug that consumes a lot of hard work and several months to finish. It takes a lot of time to make hand knotted rugs, thus, they last for years without showing any wear and tear. Hand-knotted rugs are mostly made with high-quality wool or silk. They are non-toxic in nature and help to a great extent in purifying the air.

If you have small kids or pets around, then you should go with them as they are non-allergic and don’t emit any kind of pollution. They come in various sizes including rug covers that cover most part of the floor and an area rug that is made to cover a small area in a home. And when it comes to power loom made carpets, they are comparatively cheap in quality and don’t take much time in making. They are often known as machine-made carpets that come with definite life and don’t last for long. However, when it comes to quality, benefits and relevance, then hand knotted rugs have an upper hand compared to power loom designed carpets.

Some of the prominent features that one must check out while buying carpets for the home are:

Slip-resistant: Make sure it offers a slip-resistant surface to avoid tripping or slipping. At the same time, it should be of a fine quality that can prevent you during slips or accidents.

Check-out the padding: Make sure that the carpet is well cushioned or padded that can insulate your impact. Well cushioned or padded carpet gives a very soft touch and offers extra comfort to your feet. As the winter season is around the corner, well-cushioned carpet gives warmth to your underfoot.

Noise resistant: It is one of the best qualities of the best carpets. A high-quality carpet reduces noise to a great extent. One doesn’t feel or hear the sound of clatter coming from shoes or slippers that make a very cosy and noise-free ambience in your home.

Easy to clean: Also, it is very important to know the process of cleaning the carpet from the carpet exporters or suppliers. Make sure to clean the carpet periodically in order to stop allergens. It is recommended to use a vacuum cleaner that has a Hepa filter to conduct proper cleaning.

How to Choose Carpet for Bedrooms

When it comes to furnishing a bedroom, the goal should be choosing decor that creates a comfortable, calm feel for the space. While it may seem like a minor detail, the right carpeting can go a long way in helping create that cozy vibe. With all the options on the market, though, it can be tough to choose a carpet for your bedroom. If you’re getting ready to shop for new carpeting, keep a few basic tips in mind, and you’ll wind up with a carpet that has the right look and feel for your bedroom.

Set a Budget

While the first thing that homeowners usually think about when shopping for bedroom carpeting is the color and texture, determining your budget is probably the most important step in the entire process. Carpeting prices depend on the square footage of the room, so be sure to measure your space before going to the store. If you have a large master bedroom, you may need to look for less costly options. If your bedroom is on the smaller side, however, you may be able to splurge on luxury carpeting since you’ll need less to cover the room. Either way, once you have a firm budget in mind, you’ll save time at the store because you’ll know which carpets you can afford and be able to more easily identify the highest quality options within your price range.

Decide on the Fiber

When it comes to carpeting materials, you can opt for natural or synthetic fibers. Wool is an ideal option for bedroom carpeting since it has a soft, luxurious feel. As a natural fiber, however, it tends to be the most costly type of carpeting. Synthetic carpets are usually more budget-friendly, so they may be a more realistic option if you have a large bedroom. Nylon is typically the most costly synthetic carpeting because it has the softest feel. Polyester carpeting is usually less expensive than nylon and is nonallergenic, making it an ideal choice if you suffer from allergies or asthma. Because it is an inexpensive material, however, polyester carpeting sometimes presents issues with shedding or pilling.

Pay Attention to Texture

In a bedroom, the carpeting should be as soft and comfortable underfoot as possible, so choosing the right texture or pile is key. But the right texture can also give your bedroom carpet a more attractive appearance, so it is a matter of aesthetics as well. For the most luxurious look and feel, choose a saxony pile carpet, which has a plush, fluffy texture. Velvet pile carpeting also has a soft, sumptuous feel, so it is ideal for a bedroom as well. While saxony pile carpeting has long, loose fibers, the fibers in a velvet pile carpet are short and dense, so they offer different looks for your bedroom flooring

Get the Color Right

A neutral-colored carpet, such as tan, brown or gray, is a safe option since it will work with virtually any wall or decor colors. But it’s usually best to avoid carpets that are extremely light like white or beige because they don’t hide dirt as easily as darker carpeting. If you have more colorful tastes, don’t be afraid to try a bold-colored carpet in your bedroom. With light-colored walls, carpeting in rich shade of blue, green or red can add visual interest and dimension to the room. A subtle patterned rug that features two or more colors can also make a plain, neutral bedroom a little more interesting. But avoid extremely loud colors and busy patterns since they’ll likely be too stimulating for the bedroom.

How to Choose the Right Rug

Your living room isn’t complete without a rug. But with so many options out there, finding the best one can be like trying to solve a puzzle.

But rugs can be expensive. And because a large-scale item like that is going to have a big effect on the way a room looks and feels, choosing one can be intimidating. The right rug may live in your home for decades. The wrong rug will serve as a daily reminder of the money you wasted — and the money you’ll have to spend if you want to replace it.

Use One or a Few

There is no rule that says you have to limit yourself to a single rug in the living room. Designers often use multiple rugs in larger rooms to define different areas. So how do you know whether one or a few is best?

Can’t Decide? Then Layer Them

Another option is to layer rugs on top of each other, with a single large, plain rug on the bottom to cover most of the floor, and smaller decorative rugs on top to anchor different seating areas.

Determine the Size

It is important to work around a room’s obstructions when planning a rug purchase.

How Do I Know Which Type of Epoxy Flooring Is Best For My Floor?

How Do I Know Which Type of Epoxy Flooring Is Best For My Floor?

This is a question many customers ask us along with why is your epoxy better and what does it cost. The following information will answer those questions and help you make the right purchase for your particular floor application. There are different types of flooring you can use in addition to an epoxy coating such as Interlocking Tiles or Rubber Garage Floor Mats. There’s a good discussion here Epoxy vs Tile vs Mats about the pros and cons of each of these different products you can use.

But if you’ve set your heart on a super high gloss epoxy floor coating then stay on this page and we’ll tell you everything you need to know. From being one of the largest epoxy installers in the Tri State area we’ve learned over the years exactly what works and what doesn’t. There’s so many choices today it can be down right confusing and frustrating not to mention easy to make a mistake. The problem is that a lot of the products you’ll see don’t live up to their marketing in real life. They’ll state they are heavy duty, commercial or industrial grade floor coatings and will last a lifetime when they’re no such thing nor capable of any such thing. Know the facts before you buy! If you think you can get a floor that looks like the beautiful red floor above by just going down to your local store or ordering some epoxy online without knowing what you’re buying, you couldn’t be more wrong!

The best way to avoid buying the wrong epoxy flooring is to know the basic facts and learn what causes epoxy coatings to fail or look like they failed. Reading and learning to understand the specifications of each epoxy you’re considering is an important factor. The specifications don’t lie and they tell you exactly what the coating is or isn’t capable of. It’s actually very simple once you know what to look for!

Picking the right epoxy floor coating is a four step process with certain questions you have to answer:

The cost of applying a high quality multi layer epoxy floor coating system as compared to off the shelf water based or hybrid one coat type epoxies can be relatively much more expensive.

So do you need a quality epoxy coating or is a cheap epoxy paint good enough for your floor?

What type of look and finish do you want. Solid color, clear finish or colored flake finish?

What level of durability do you want and or need. Is your floor an industrial application or residential application or somewhere in between? And how do you know an epoxy is really industrial or commercial grade? Many epoxies call themselves industrial or commercial grade until they’re on your floor and you wear right through them. At that point the damage is done, this page will hopefully help you avoid being in that situation.

What condition is your concrete floor in? Is it new, is it old, is it pitted, is it oil stained, does it have a moisture issue? Your floor may need special attention to avoid a failure down the road.

These are some of the questions we will answer in the discussion below. Not addressing these questions prior to your purchase is a more likely than not going to lead to disappointing results.

The first thing you need to determine is what kind of finish you want/need and what your budget is. Whether your coating an industrial floor or just your garage floor or something in between. If your budget won’t allow you to use an epoxy coating system that is equal to or greater than the traffic loads you will run on the floor, then our best advice is don’t epoxy paint your floor. You’re better off going to your local home improvement store and purchasing a sealer and simply sealing the slab to protect against corrosion and to make it easier to clean.

Tips for Choosing the Right Epoxy Floor for Your Project

Deciding to install an epoxy floor in your home or business is a big investment. You want to be sure you choose the right finish and color, helping to give you a great-looking space that’s also easy to maintain

Think of Your Needs

If you’re putting a new epoxy flooring finish in your sleek office building, for example, choosing a big, bold color with a shiny metallic finish might not give off the impression you’re going for.

While you may love that muted overall tone with bright chips in it, depending on where you’re putting the floor and the feel of the rest of the space, it may end up being more distracting than attractive.

Choose Your Finish

At Armor Tough Coatings, we offer two types of epoxy floor finishes: Metallic and standard, or matte. Metallic epoxy floors finish to a lava-like pattern that offers visual interest and can distract the eye from a mess, such as on a shop floor. This finish also is more shiny than a standard epoxy floor, adding extra brightness to the space.

Choosing a Color

Color can make or break the look of your finished epoxy floor. If you choose the wrong color for your room, like choosing the wrong carpeting, it could impact the look and feel of the space. However, the right epoxy floor in the right color can elevate a space to give it a sleek, modern feel.

How do you choose the best epoxy floor coating?

Picking the right epoxy floor coating is a four step process:

The cost of applying a high quality multi layer epoxy floor coating system as compared to off the shelf water based or hybrid one coat type epoxies can be relatively much more do you need a quality epoxy coating or is a cheap epoxy paint good enough for your floor?

What type of look and finish do you want. Solid color, clear finish or colored flake finish?

What level of durability do you want and or need. Is your floor an industrial application or residential application or somewhere in between? And how do you know an epoxy is really industrial or commercial grade? Many epoxies call themselves industrial or commercial grade until they’re on your floor and you wear right through them. At that point the damage is done, this page will hopefully help you avoid being in that situation.

What condition is your concrete floor in? Is it new, is it old, is it pitted, is it oil stained, does it have a moisture issue? Your floor may need special attention to avoid a failure down the road.

First off, you understand why you need it for. Then you talk to professionals, who can tell you if epoxy is a right decision for your location and which one to go with

Choosing the Right Epoxy Flooring for Your Needs

When it comes to giving your floors an overhaul, there are many different options available. One of the most popular for commercial, industrial, and institutional applications is epoxy flooring. However, there are also several different choices available, which means you need to know which one will work best for your needs. The following information will help you determine the best option for your application

high build Epoxy Coatings

High build epoxies are a great choice for areas where durability, slip resistance, and easy maintenance are most important. These are designed for industrial wear applications

Self-Leveling Epoxy Flooring

Self-leveling epoxy (SLE) is a great option for industrial flooring applications, including chemical and battery plants, loading docks, ramps, and other high traffic areas. It can be used to either replace or restore concrete floors that have started eroding. SLE is a strong, durable 100% solids epoxy that provides a dense surface that is skid resistant, and can provide different degrees of shock, thermal, and impact resistance. It also prevents dirt and chemicals from penetrating the surface, which results in a longer lasting flooring option. There are also several different polyurethane and epoxy topcoats that can be added to provide even more durability and chemical resistance.

Lumiere Designer Epoxy

Lumiere designer epoxy flooring is a premium coating that provides enhanced shine, color, and three-dimensional depth that comes from its ability reflect light via metallic pigments. This high shine option is perfect for businesses that want to ensure that their prestige and quality permeates every inch of their establishment, including showrooms, nightclubs, offices, health care facilities, gyms, spas, salons, and any other locations that want to project a high-class image

Additional Epoxy Uses

In addition to these epoxy flooring options, epoxy can also be used for wall coatings. This type of system uses 100% solids epoxy for use in commercial, residential, and industrial settings that require high chemical and impact resistance, ease of maintenance, high durability, and protection from mold and bacterial growth, all with high reflectivity. With different topcoats, this coating system can also become antimicrobial, and withstand exposure to strong acids, alcohols, and solvents.

How to Choose Best Epoxy Floor Coating

Are you thinking about changing the floor of your living room, kitchen, or walking path? Epoxy floors are an affordable and seamless option as there is no space for bacteria or other contaminants to grow. It is also a perfect choice for food processing and restaurant businesses. But don’t forget, it is also great for residential building especially for kitchen or toilets.

So, if you want to gets a shiny, glossy, long-lasting, and non-slippery floor, then contact with a Mesa, AZ epoxy flooring contractors to avail the best option. You can conduct DIY epoxy flooring installation wok just by following some easy instructions or hire an expert to do so. There are several epoxy flooring options, you can choose the best based on how much traffic passes on your required area and how often you will have to clean or touch up. Definitely, the cost is the most considerable factor while choosing the epoxy floor coating.

Water-based paint

Water-based epoxy flooring is easy to apply, least toxic, durable, and cheapest option for you, if you want something economical for your home. It is a great and user-friendly option for domestic buildings but not so good for industrial purposes that have problems with dampness. Water-based epoxy flooring paints often need annual touch-ups. Some people don’t believe that water-based paint is a real epoxy resin since it does not come with two separate parts like other kinds of epoxy materials. You will not need to mix the hardener with the resin chemical before the application. It is pre-mixed paint that is why it is easy to apply.

Two-parts solvent-based paint

The epoxy floor paint is stronger than water-based paint but it is a more toxic option. You have to mix both the parts of the paint before application. You should be cautious and meticulous while applying it. Professional painters claim that it is not user –friendly option for many reasons. But on the opposite side, it is durable and lasts longer than others. Also on the positive side, it is easy to clean and maintain.

Two parts 100 percent epoxy solids

It is a perfect choice for you if you want a durable floor. This type of epoxy coating is created through multiply chemical processes that make beautiful, hard, and strong surfaces. Some epoxy flooring experts have claimed that it is more durable than concrete flooring as it is five times stronger and thicker than water-based paint