Urethane Coatings Vs. Epoxy Coatings: Which Is Better?

Urethane Coatings Vs. Epoxy Coatings-  If you own an industrial facility, commercial space, or community building that needs a brand new floor coating, you’re probably wondering where to even start. With lots of options out there today, it may be hard to decide which is best for your facility.

If you’ve decided against options like concrete polishing and have settled on a coating, the next question is what type of industrial floor coating to go for.

A couple of the most typical selections are urethane and epoxy. They can look rather comparable to the untrained eye (in this photo, urethane is on the left and epoxy is on the right), but they’ve different properties.

Below we’ve weighed the advantages and disadvantages of every!

Epoxy Coatings: The Pros

An epoxy floor coating is a two-part system that results in an extremely hard and durable surface. In case your work space needs to support heavy traffic, an epoxy coating is shock resistant and can help to defend your facility’s floors both from the long-term impacts of heavy floor traffic as well as driving or dropping heavy loads.

Epoxy is available in a broad range of colors, making it a good option for 5S floor stripping applications as well as creating attention-grabbing patterns or designs.

Besides, epoxy is amazingly resistant to both water and chemical exposure. In case your establishment uses a significant amount of liquids in day-to-day activities, this floor coating stops humidity from leaking into the floor itself, making cleanup easier and protecting the concrete beneath from harm.

Learn more about Epoxy Floor Coatings

Urethane Coatings: The Pros

Abrasion-resistant and more color-retentive than epoxy coatings, urethane floor coatings can last longer and look better. This kind of flooring was designed to defend against ultraviolet light and abrasions. In case you’ve got an industrial facility that gets a lot of daily use, this floor coating will be a good option for you.

Urethane is also available in a variety of colors, but may also be applied clear so that existing colors and textures of the floor can show through.

The surface preparation for urethane floor coatings isn’t usually as intense of a process, either. Like epoxy, urethane can comply with previous finishes, so existing coatings don’t always have to be removed before installation.

Epoxy Coatings: the Cons

Sadly, time for installation can be epoxy’s biggest downside. The most crucial step in installing an epoxy floor coating is surface preparation. The surface of the concrete has to be thoroughly prepared before the coating might be installed, with all traces of oil residues (and possibly previous coatings) removed. It is since the epoxy can’t adhere properly to marginally prepared surfaces, leading to potential floor coating failure.

Also, while an epoxy coating is strong, it isn’t permanent. Although the floor can withstand heavy impacts, cracking or chipping can occur if an object is too heavy or dropped at certain angles.

Urethane Coatings: The Cons

Whilst the surface preparation process for urethane coatings, in some cases, might not have to be as extensive as for epoxy, the process of installation can still take some time. Nevertheless, what you’re left with is a durable, virtually indestructible, long-lasting industrial facility floor.

Which is right for you?

Epoxy and urethane are sometimes utilized in tandem, with a urethane coat applied over the epoxy, for the best of all worlds.

Not sure which to choose for your facility? One of our floor experts will be glad to assist you determine the best solution for your requirements. Contact us online or call us at 844-443-2844 for free consultation.