The first eye-opener was learning that there were several types of processes in the epoxy floor world, from epoxy paint, to self-leveling compounds, to troweled-on or aggregate floors. Wow!



So, lets put these in perspective before I get into the details. The quality and durability of these products ranks from Epoxy Paint on the lower end to Troweled-on at the upper end, with self-leveling being the middle of the road.

It is important to identify the needs of the job you are considering. Is it high traffic? Will there be heavy equipment rolling across it? How about chemical spills? Will smooth and slippery cause a problem? What do you expect its longevity to be? Is beauty an important factor? If your are doing, say, your garage floor at home to make it easily cleanable, the high traffic and beauty aren't a factor, and longevity probably won't justify a higher price. On the other hand, if you are doing a hotel hallway, hospital halls or a loading dock, most or all of these factors need to be considered.

Epoxy paint. For the home owner who uses his garage as a workshop, the cost and ease of application probably dictates your choice. If you have to redo it in five years, it still justifies the choice, and it is available in several colors. You can install it yourself or hire a local odd-jobs contractor. It would be a very bad choice for hotels, loading docks, kennels, and other high-traffic or heavy equipment areas. The finished product is slippery when wet, is thin because it is paint, and is limited in color choices.

Self-leveling Epoxy floors. These products work great for small areas. Some can be done by a handy homeowner, others may need a skilled handyman. If you are doing a shower area, a small bathroom, steps or small kitchen areas and many other small jobs that don't require choices such as smooth or non-slip, this may be perfect for you. Although they will outlast many other flooring materials and withstand a lot, they aren't the choice for large areas that receive lots of abuse. Most self-leveling products offer a range of color choices.

Troweled-on Epoxy floors. When traffic wear matters, when you have to make a choice between slippery or non-skid, and still receive a beautiful floor, this is the first choice. With troweled-on aggregate floors, you have a choice of more than twenty colors and design choices. You can choose between a smooth finish like you see in hotel halls or a non-skid surface for loading docks and locker rooms. This type has the longest life expectancy of the three. It will stand up to heavy equipment, most spills, and rough treatment. It comes with one caveat; it is not a do-it-yourself application. In fact, you need to be sure that the installers are well trained in this particular product. Even people who have been finishing concrete for years have trouble getting the finish right with troweled-on epoxy flooring. If this product is what you need, make sure that the company uses well-trained installers before you move ahead.

The next time you walk down a hospital hallway, or Hotel halls that have epoxy instead of carpet, pay attention to the seamless beauty of this floor ? it's probably a troweled-on epoxy floor.