The Benefits of High Solids Epoxy Garage Floor Coatings
Epoxy coatings have become a trendy way to protect and enhance garage floors.
High-solids epoxy formulas, in particular, offer superior durability, longevity, and protection compared to lower-solids options.
This article will explore the advantages of using industrial-grade, high-solids epoxy coatings for your garage floor.
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What are High Solids Epoxy Coatings?
Epoxy coatings contain two components - a resin and a hardener - that chemically react when mixed to create a protective barrier.
High-solids epoxy floor coatings contain a higher percentage of solids compared to other epoxy formulas. This results in a thicker coating that provides increased protection for garage surfaces.
Many DIY epoxy kits only contain 30-50% solids, while professional-grade options are up to 100%. The higher the percentage, the more durable and resilient the coating.
High solids epoxies above 80% also allow for higher film builds from fewer coats.
Benefits of Using High Solids Epoxy
Increased Durability - The higher solids content creates a thicker, more durable coating that is more resistant to cracking, peeling, hot tire pickup, and damage from dropped tools or jack stands. High solids epoxies provide a highly protective barrier.
Enhanced Chemical Resistance - With more epoxy resin than fillers, high solid epoxy withstands chemical spills and automotive fluids like brake fluid, gasoline, battery acid, and cleaning chemicals. This prevents stains and costly concrete degradation.
Longer Lifespan - The thicker film build of 80-100% solids epoxy coatings substantially increases the flooring's lifespan before needing reapplication. Properly applied coatings can last 10-15 years with proper cleaning and maintenance.
Fewer Coats Needed - Because high-solid epoxy can be applied thicker, fewer coats are needed to achieve the desired protective layer, saving time and labor costs.
Abrasion Resistance - The dense epoxy film provides excellent resistance to surface abrasion from car tires, metal tool chests rolled around, and heavy foot traffic.
Enhanced Safety - Glossy finishes reflect light to brighten the garage interior and make it easier to spot potential slip or fall hazards.
Upgrading to an industrial-grade, high-solids epoxy coating offers numerous advantages:
Extreme Durability—High-solids epoxies can be applied at thicknesses over 30 mils. This creates a highly durable, protective barrier that withstands heavy vehicle traffic, chemicals, hot tires, and impact damage.
Enhanced Chemical Resistance - With more epoxy resin and virtually no fillers, 100% solids epoxies provide maximum chemical resistance against automotive fluids, battery acid, cleaning agents, and more.
Longer Lifespan -
Thick epoxy films prolong the lifespan of coatings to over 10 years before needing reapplication, saving money in the long term.Reflective Floor - Glossy, light-reflective finishes make garage interiors brighter and easier to inspect for cracks or leaks.
Abrasion Protection - Dense epoxy layers strongly resist surface abrasion from car tires, jacks, tool chests being dragged, and heavy foot traffic.
Enhanced Safety - Slip-resistant coatings with good traction minimize fall risks, especially when floors are wet or oily.
Cost-Effective - Despite higher upfront costs, long lifetimes mean fewer reapplications over time than thin DIY epoxy kits.
Extreme Durability
With up to 100% solids epoxy floor coatings, you can achieve thicknesses of up to 30-40 mils in 2 coats.
This creates a highly durable, impervious layer able to withstand years of heavy vehicle traffic, tool drops, and chemical spills. Lower solids epoxies need 4 or more thin coats to achieve this protection level.
Enhanced Chemical Resistance
Solid epoxy formulations provide maximum resistance to automotive fluids like gasoline, brake cleaner, and battery acid that can stain and degrade low-quality DIY kit epoxy floors.
This chemical resistance also prevents hazardous liquids from seeping underneath and compromising the integrity of your concrete.
Longer Lifespan
The thick, durable film from industrial 100% solids epoxies significantly extends the lifespan of your coating before needing reapplication.
Adequately prepped and applied coatings can last 10-15 years in home garage environments.
Compared to thinner epoxy layers, they also better withstand hot tire pickup.
Reflective Floor
Glossy, light-reflective epoxy coatings make garages brighter and improve visibility and safety. They also make it easier to spot spills, leaks, and cracks in the concrete slab that need repair.
Cost-Effectiveness
While the upfront cost is higher for thick, high-solids epoxy floorings, the long lifespan is highly cost-effective compared to cheaper DIY epoxy kits that need replacing every few years. Better protection also means fewer concrete repairs are required over time.
Epoxy Floor Coating Products
Some of the best high solids and 100% solids epoxy floor coatings include:
- Sherwin Williams ArmorSeal Rexthane
- Dur-A-Flex epoxy resin systems
- Stonhard Stongard epoxies
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For the ultimate protection in home garages and professional shop environments, industrial-grade high-solids epoxy is the best choice over lower-solids options.
Investing in a quality coating system pays dividends through its extreme durability, longevity, and protective abilities.
Properly preparing the concrete and applying these coatings takes skill and patience, but the results are outstanding.
