In This Post
– What is epoxy flooring?
– Epoxy flooring application
– Advantages of epoxy flooring
– Disadvantages of epoxy flooring
If you are planning to renovate your home or commercial property, you’d know that there are quite a lot of innovative flooring options available in the market these days, ranging from budget-friendly to expensive. While wooden flooring continues to be one of the most prevalent choices among property owners, you can’t deny the growing popularity of epoxy flooring in Pakistan.
Although epoxy flooring has been used in industrial and commercial properties for several years, it has now started making its way into home flooring as well. Owing to new technology and designs, 3D epoxy flooring and metallic epoxy flooring have taken over the traditional epoxy flooring.
There are quite a few companies that specialize in creating unique epoxy flooring designs for homes in Pakistan, putting a unique twist on the flooring material that was once only used in warehouses, hospitals, offices, restaurants, commercial buildings, underground parking lots and industrial sites. In fact, there is a rising trend of applying the colourful epoxy coating in different patterns for themed bedroom décor for children.
If you’re wondering what epoxy flooring actually is and if you should consider it as a viable option for your property, this blog is meant just for you. Let’s discuss the application, usage and advantages of epoxy flooring for homes.
What Is Epoxy Flooring?
Epoxy is a unique coating material that is composed of polymer resins and hardening chemicals such as epoxy glue that react together to create a chemical bond, which gives it a rigid plastic-like surface. Contrary to how it looks, epoxy coating is chemically distinct from regular paints. Moreover, these glossy floors are durable, stain-resistant, long-lasting, and can withstand heavy loads and pressure. It also doesn’t get damaged easily, making it an ideal flooring material for factories, warehouses, schools, hospitals and garages. They are also resistant to degradation.
Generally, people tend to get confused between epoxy floors and epoxy coating. The main difference between these two is their depth. While epoxy floors comprise several layers of epoxy coating and have a depth of approximately two millimetres, epoxy coatings are thinner and mostly consist of two to three layers.
Epoxy Flooring Application
When it comes to epoxy flooring, there are a few requirements that need to be fulfilled for a flawless application.
Since this coating material is poured over concrete, you need to ensure the surface is completely clean, smooth, free of chips and cracks, and slightly porous. If the concrete has been polished or sealed, the epoxy mixture will not adhere and bond with it.
The best way to test the adherence level of the concrete floor is by doing a small patch test. You can simply pour some water onto the floor and see if the water absorbs into the floor or beads on the surface. If the water doesn’t absorb, it means the concrete has been polished or greased, thus not suitable for an epoxy coating.
Moreover, you need experts to install epoxy flooring in Pakistan. Since the liquid material consists of resins and hardeners, it has to be applied quickly and properly before it begins to set and harden. The epoxy application time is also limited, especially if you have opted for a certain floor design. Not to mention, the slightest error can affect the texture and aesthetics of your flooring.
Another epoxy application requirement is temperature. The recommended temperature to apply this coating is between 10 and 30-degree Centigrade. If it gets any warmer, the material will harden rather quickly and give off a tacky appearance.
Pro tip: Epoxy floor designs for homes should be neutral and solid so that your flooring does not go out of trend.
Advantages of epoxy flooring
Here are a few benefits of epoxy flooring that you should know about:
- One of the main advantages of epoxy flooring in Pakistan is that it is durable, lasts for a long time and doesn’t degrade with time. It can withstand heavy traffic
- Owing to its high-gloss reflective surface and smooth texture, the epoxy coating can significantly brighten up your home or office
- Epoxy flooring is highly resistant to stains and moisture, which makes it easy to clean
- It is also shock-resistant and significantly less abrasive than other material
- It doesn’t require much maintenance. If any chips or cracks appear in the surface, you can easily mask them with regular paint for a seamless appearance
- Design flexibility in the epoxy coating allows homeowners to experiment with different types of patterns and colours that would complement their home décor
- This flooring material is considerably easy to install, as it does not require a layout or special tools and equipment
- Most companies specializing in epoxy flooring in Pakistan add anti-slip additives to the chemical mixture to enhance safety
- Last but not least, if you’re wondering is epoxy flooring safe for homes? The answer is yes. It is perfectly safe for residential properties.
Disadvantages of epoxy flooring
Of course, there are also a few disadvantages associated with epoxy flooring for homes.
- Installing epoxy floors is time-consuming as you have to wait for each layer to completely harden before applying another
- Epoxy flooring can be rather slippery in the absence of anti-slip additives, which can make it a safety risk
- If the required conditions are not met during the application process, the epoxy coating might end up peeling off from places
To conclude, there are a lot of things to take into consideration when it comes to installing epoxy flooring in your home. Of course, your top priority should be getting an expert to install it so that a lot of the concerns are dealt with right away. Secondly, the designs you choose should fit well with the theme of your home and not go out of vogue in just a year or two.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding epoxy flooring in Pakistan, feel free to send us an email on blog@zameen.com.
Meanwhile, if you want to learn more about other flooring materials available in the market, don’t forget to check out guides on rates and types of wooden flooring in Pakistan as well as prices of different flooring tiles.
To learn more about building materials along with their pros and cons, stay connected to Zameen Blog – the leading construction and real estate blog in Pakistan. You can also subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest updates about home décor, lifestyle and property trends in the country.
