Any interior designer would agree that epoxy floors are in vogue for luxury dwellings. They’re affordable, easy to maintain, and durable. At the same time, they give off an elegant finish and are fashionable given the right colors. Yet, just because they are trendy does not necessarily imply that they are the right material for your home. The decision varies depending on your needs. Here are 5 questions you need to ask before agreeing to having epoxy floors.
Where should I use epoxy floors?
The part of the house does matter because epoxy floors tend to get slippery over time, especially the oil-covered ones. Often, this floor type is used in garage or carpeted rooms where liquid spills are not commonly occurring. Otherwise, accidents can happen which can be debilitating or fatal because of the floor’s hardness.
Relatedly, one can ask: Are there children or aged people living at home? As always, safety first before fashion or convenience.
How long should I use epoxy floors?
Generally speaking, an epoxy flooring is a layer of epoxy (a combination of resin and hardener) applied on a concrete surface, averaging 2 mm in depth. Others use the terms epoxy coating and epoxy flooring interchangeably and the reason for the confusion is the thin line of difference of the depth of coating.
So to speak, epoxy flooring is only a top-up and thus it is not ideal for long-term use. It can crack and eventually be scratched to deterioration in a shorter span of time compared to other flooring material such as concrete or steel. Add to that, moisture affects the durability of epoxy floors, thus if you are thinking of long-term use, you may consider other options. There are those who believe that epoxy flooring can last a long time depending on the epoxy type, installation, and care.
What is my budget?
High-end homes are still subject to budgeting. If your goal is to constantly replace and redesign your flooring every 5 years or so, then epoxy flooring might sit well with your taste and budget. Typically, the cost for professional installation is about $3 to $12 per sqm. If you have a 300 sqm area, more likely you will incur $900 to $3,600. Then again, the life span is relatively shorter.
What is my timeline?
Applying epoxy is a laborious task. It cannot be rushed, lest the quality of your flooring will be compromised. Factoring in the design and customization, it will cure for about a week. On an average, about 2 to 3 days (or maybe 5) if required before the coating is completely cured and the offensive smell gone. This is of course given that your concrete floors are already installed. Longer days are needed for thicker coating and completely creating floors from scratch.
Will I have the time to maintain it?
One critical factor in selecting flooring material is maintenance. Fortunately, epoxy flooring is one of the easiest to maintain, possibly next to concrete floors. Dirt and liquid spills slide off easily without the need for scrubbing. For luxury condos, this enables your housekeepers to save time and effort, particularly when the area is too big.
There can be more than just 5 questions to consider and so the best thing to do is to research about the pros and cons and ask reliable home-builders. Better yet, consult friends who have had epoxy flooring for their luxury homes.
