Epoxy Floor Thickness Explained

ou might have researched epoxy flooring and noticed that epoxy floor coatings can vary in thickness.

The thickness of epoxy floor coatings is a crucial factor that varies depending on the area of installation. For instance, if you're considering epoxy flooring for a low-traffic business or a residential garage, the coating thickness will be significantly less than what's required for a high-traffic area prone to chemical spills. Understanding this difference is key to ensuring your epoxy floor's longevity and low maintenance.

Thin Epoxy Coatings

Thin epoxy coatings, typically ranging from 4-6mil in thickness, are ideal for areas with low foot traffic such as car garages, living areas, break rooms, storage areas, and hallways. These coatings offer a balance of aesthetics and durability, keeping your floor in top shape with minimal maintenance.

When choosing between water-based and solid epoxies, it's essential to consider their characteristics and your specific requirements. Water-based epoxies, for instance, have a lower solid count, making them less durable but more affordable. If you opt for a water-based epoxy, a recommended approach to increase floor thickness is to apply a thick primer followed by a polyurethane topcoat, which provides additional floor protection.

Thick Epoxy Coatings

If your floor gets a lot of foot traffic and you need it to withstand constant wear and tear, an epoxy coating system between 10-20 mils thick or 2-3coats will be best suited. These systems consist of a primer, a base coat in a chosen color and a topcoat. A thicker epoxy coating will give the floor a solid base while creating attractive and extremely durable decorative flooring.

Ultra Thick Epoxy Coating

If you run an industrial space, warehouse, machine shop, manufacturing plant or food and beverage production plant, you may need an epoxy floor that can withstand heavy machinery, chemical spills and vehicle traffic.

The most economical and resistant epoxy coatings are slurry epoxies, which are a three-component epoxy mortar mix. These slurry mixes, which usually contain sand, are troweled onto the floor and build up a super-resistant base coat of up to 125 mils. A protective topcoat is then applied to seal and protect the floor, giving it an aesthetic appeal.