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Polyurea Coatings vs. Epoxy Coatings: There is a Difference

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Take a look at your floor. Does it need some work? Are there cracks and stains? Has it seen better days? Maybe it's time for an update. You can just splash some paint on it and call it a day -- but there's no protection with that paint. Maybe just fix the wear and tear and leave it as is; it's just a floor after all. But then you may encounter the same problem in a year or two. What to do?

One way to save your floor is to install an industrial coating on the material. This will protect it for years to come. But, what kind of coating? Well, you can go with an epoxy coating. Or, there's always polyurea coating. Which is the best one, polyurea or epoxy?

Let's see if we can clear up the matter for you.

Epoxy Coatings


First, let's get something straight -- epoxy coatings and polyurea coatings are not paint products. Yes, some paint you can use for floors does have epoxy material in them which can make it more durable than paint without epoxy. However, an epoxy coating is actually a thermoset resin that acts as a barrier. It shields your floor's material from harm.

Epoxy coatings do come in various degrees of thickness and can bond to concrete very well. It's a great product if you want to resurface your floor and make it spring back to life. It's great for And the thicker the epoxy is, the more resistant it impacts it can be.

However, there are a few downfalls when it comes to the material. The color of an epoxy coating can fade over time. If it's exposed to sunlight, to could start to yellow. Plus, it can take a very long time for an epoxy coating to cure. It can take a few days before the coating is properly cured. And if you put it on incorrectly, the life of your coating will not last very long.

That's not the only problem with epoxy coatings. If your tires get extremely hot from riding on asphalt all day, and you park your car on your epoxy coated floor, it may stick to your tires and tear easily away. Plus, epoxy coatings are not 100 percent stainproof. Your floor can still be damaged by chemicals like oil, gas, and salt.

Polyurea Coatings


We've mentioned many times the benefits of this type of coating in the past. It's waterproof and impact resistant. It's extremely flexible so it won't crack or peel in the changing temperatures. It is chemical resistant so gas, oil, and salt have little to no effect on it. The color won't fade in direct sunlight and it's 20 times stronger than epoxy. Plus, the cure time is extremely fast -- it takes only a day before the coating is completely cured.

And that's the one issue with polyurea coatings. Since it does set up extremely fast, you need to know what you're doing. If this is the first time you're working with this material, it's best to call a professional to handle the situation. Without the right person for the job, you could install the material improperly and have to have it reinstalled.

So which material is right for you -- polyurea or epoxy? We know which one you should choose but it's up to you. If you feel that polyurea coatings are the way to go, then Marvel Industrial Coatings is here to help. Contact us today to learn more.