Epoxy Flooring versus Polyurethane Flooring

Floortrak offers a wide range of resin-based flooring products – but how do you know which is right for your business? Especially when it comes to the choice between the two most used types of resin – epoxy and polyurethane?

Both materials come with their characteristics and strengths, and both are suited to different industries and applications. They do, however, share some key characteristics – both Epoxy and PU floor solutions are durable, hardwearing and provide waterproofing while also protecting your concrete floor from a whole range of damage and dirt.

Those are the similarities, but what are the differences between the two?

Generally, a polyurethane floor coating is highly flexible and elastic, while epoxy flooring is harder and more brittle. This makes polyurethane coatings more resistant to scratches and similar damage and is why you’ll often find urethane resin floors in heavy traffic areas – such as multi-storey car parks. This extra flexibility also makes them desirable for applications in extreme temperature situations as the flooring can expand and contract with the temperature changes – preventing cracks from occurring.

While both epoxy resin and urethane resin floor coatings are chemical resistant, they are resistant in different ways. For example, polyurethane systems are more resistant to natural chemicals such as lactic acid. It is this kind of resistance that makes polyurethane flooring popular in food processing environments – especially those dealing with dairy products. If an epoxy floor is exposed to lactic acid, it will often experience a degree of corrosion and yellowing. Epoxy, however, offers far better protection against strong artificial corrosives such as sulphuric acid.

An important note of chemical exposure is that it can change the colour of the coating. Any chemical leakage or exposure on the floor need to be removed as soon as possible to avoid penetration and damage which could result in danger to the environment. The right flooring system can be recommended by understanding the kind of chemicals used in the facility beforehand.

PU coatings and self-levelling materials are much more sensitive to moisture presence. Any condensation, floor moisture or extremely high humidity during the application of a PU flooring material can cause heavy damage in terms of bubbles, blisters, pinholes, and wrinkles on the top surface as well as debonding issues from the concrete substrate.

If attacked by moisture, a curing urethane coating can be completely ruined – making it imperative that the area stays dry while being installed. Epoxy resin flooring can also be affected by water during the application process, but to a far lesser degree – making it more suitable for areas impacted by moisture. The installation and curing times vary massively between the two options. A multicoat polyurethane surface can be cured to full strength over a weekend, whereas the same area of epoxy flooring can take a whole week to fully dry. Epoxy flooring materials are also sensitive to moisture but not as much compared to PU flooring materials.

In general, PU flooring materials are usually faster curing than epoxy flooring materials. If a project needs to be handed over in a short amount of time, PU flooring could be a consideration. However, applying PU flooring materials require experienced applicators due to its faster pot life. PU flooring material is slightly more expensive in general.

When it comes to the question of epoxy versus polyurethane there is no one winner – it all depends on the requirements of your industry and what you need from your new surface. It is important to understand that price is not always the only factor, more so about considering the right kind of material for the facility and/or intended purpose. As an experienced contractor and installer of high-performance and heavy-duty resin flooring systems, Floortrak is always here to help you make the best decisions for your business.

If you would like to discuss which of our products would best meet your requirements, then why not give Alex a call on 01794 885 284 or 07376 982 035 and arrange a no-obligation quotation for your review? Alternatively, please email me for more information, and I will be delighted to assist – Alex@Floortrak.co.uk