In many cases, people choose epoxy at first, but after it deteriorates rather quickly, they realize that, in the long run, a better choice is polyurea due to its sturdiness over time. While polyurea can cost more, you are paying for its durability and longevity which clearly is a better investment.
If you want the highest level of floor protection, Floortex™ polyaspartic coating is vastly superior to most epoxy coatings. A time-lapse video of a damaged epoxy floor being removed and a polyaspartic floor coating being installed.
As previously stated, polyurea is four times stronger than epoxy. It also has 98% more flexibility than epoxy. It's made of elastic material, which makes it very durable and long-lasting, so it doesn't split or peel. You can use polyurea in high heat or cold, and it works just as well in different seasons.
For many people, polyaspartic coatings are the "best of both worlds," with most of the advantages of epoxy but without its drawbacks. Polyaspartic coatings are extremely hard and durable, more chemical resistant, more abrasion resistant, UV Stable and great for places with a lot of traffic.
UV heat will also wear and cause yellowing in the epoxy in outdoor areas. Polyurea is more durable than epoxy and more flexible because it is an elastomer. It is also chemical resistant and can withstand stable heat up to 266℉ and 430℉ for a shorter time, according to Corrosionpedia.
The purpose of both polyurea and epoxy floor coatings is to protect your garage floor. With that in mind, it's important to realize that epoxy is much more prone to damage than polyurea. Things like chips, scratches, and nicks are a lot more common in epoxy.
Polyaspartic floor coating typically costs $4–$9 per square foot. The average 2-car garage measures 360 square feet. So, the cost to coat the floors of an average-sized garage would range from $1,440 to $3,240.
Polyurea's extremely fast curing time can lead to a weaker bond and a greater chance of imperfections showing once cured.
Average Prices for Epoxy Garage Floors
When it comes to installing a high-quality epoxy floor in a two-car garage, the typical cost ranges from $4,000 to $5,500. These epoxy garage floor systems utilize materials not readily available to homeowners, including 100% solids epoxy, polyurethane, and polyaspartic coatings.
Resinous Coatings
This method of resurfacing garage floors creates a vastly stronger surface, which is also extremely resistant to major cracks and stains. This means it's lower maintenance as well. Most resinous coatings will be a huge improvement over basic concrete.
Cost: While polyurea floor coating may have a higher upfront cost compared to some other flooring options, its durability and longevity can make it a cost-effective investment over time. Consider the long-term savings in maintenance and replacement costs when evaluating the overall value of polyurea coating.
Paint is the cheaper option, but it doesn't last as long as epoxy. Epoxy is more expensive, but it's also more durable.
Durability: Epoxy floors are much more vulnerable to abrasion, chipping and peeling. Polyaspartic floors are more flexible and more durable which means they'll offer superior protection against anything your garage can throw at them – cars, bikes, sports equipment, tools and normal activities in your garage.
Epoxy has poor flexibility, meaning it doesn't do well in drastic temperature changes where it must constantly expand and shrink. This will further affect the adhesion to the concrete surfaces and thus result in chipping or peeling.
According to a study by HomeAdvisor, epoxy garage floors can add an average of $8 per square foot to the resale value of a home. That means that a 2,000 square foot garage could add as much as $16,000 to the value of your home.
T-88 exhibits outstanding adhesion and permanence on a wide variety of materials and is designed to resist adverse conditions. T-88 is endorsed by leading designers, builders and organizations. Other strong epoxies you can consider are PC Products' PC-7 Adhesive Paste and Loctite EA 109 High Temperature & Toughened.
Cost of epoxy flooring
Epoxy flooring costs $4 to $10 per square foot installed on average, depending on the type and project size. An epoxy floor costs $1,600 to $5,800 for a 2-car garage. Epoxy resin prices are $1 to $5 per square foot for materials and $3 to $5 per square foot for labor.
While no floor is indestructible, a properly installed epoxy garage floor is designed to withstand decades of regular use before showing significant signs of wear. For most homeowners, this translates to a realistic lifespan of 20+ years, even in high-traffic residential garages.
For that reason, if your garage floor ever happens to shift, that polyurea coating will remain intact. Instead of cracking or breaking, it will instead bend and flex to accommodate the shifting floor.
You just need to be aware that with higher durability comes a higher price, and polyurea floor coatings are usually more costly than those made of epoxy (more on that later). Also, don't forget about UV resistance.
Polyurea floors are resistant to many chemicals and stains, ensuring that the surface remains safe and non-slippery even in the event of spills.
The cost of epoxying a 250-square-foot one-car garage ranges from $750 to $3,000. The average cost for a 400- to 500-square-foot garage is between $1,200 and $6,000. Epoxy coating costs increase with the size of the surface. Cheaper options include solvent- and water-based epoxy.
Polyaspartic floor coating is a very tricky to work with because it cures and dries so quickly. Because of that, this is a job that you'll want to leave to the professionals. Some may say epoxy is superior because you can potentially install it yourself, but that's a risky proposition.
When Can You Walk on Your New Polyaspartic Floor? After applying a polyaspartic coating, it is necessary to wait approximately 4-6 hours before walking on the floor. The coating takes 24 hours to fully cure , though it can withstand light foot traffic within this time.