GarageGuru

05/17/2022

How strong is Epoxy?

Stronger than concrete.

A coating’s adhesive strength is determined by conducting a pull-off adhesion strength test. This test uses a suction cup like device that measures and applies increasing upward force until either the coating or substrate fails, allowing the adhesive strength to be determined in pounds per square inch or psi.

When this test is conducted on uncoated hardened concrete the average tensile strength typically falls between 400-500 psi, at which point the concrete substrate fails. However, when coated with 100% solids epoxy the concrete’s average tensile strength increases to an average of 925 psi where once again the concrete substrate, not the coating, fails. Meaning that when coated with 100% solids epoxy concrete’s tensile strength is approximately 2 times greater than its uncoated counterpart.

Epoxy coatings are also remarkably strong under compressive loads. Hardened concrete has an average compressive strength of around 5,000 psi, while professional epoxy coatings are rated for up to 12,000 psi, again more than 2 times stronger than concrete.

With this information in mind it is easy to see how a professionally installed concrete flooring system is able to decrease the risk of cracking and protect your floor from impacts, chips, and spalling. Epoxy is one tough customer.

05/09/2022

Is epoxy yesterday’s technology or the gold standard?

Although epoxy is commonly used as the base coat in professionally installed concrete flooring systems, many associate epoxy with poor quality floors and old technology. Is epoxy really a product to avoid?

Pros:

Strength/Impact Resistance - 100% solids epoxy has remarkable compressive, tensile, flexural, and adhesive strength, unrivaled by any other product.

Thickness/Self-leveling/Hiding - Epoxy is naturally thick and self leveling, it makes its way into pores, chips, gouges, and pin holes, hides blemishes and produces a smooth and level floor.

Ease of Installation - Because epoxy cures slowly and self levels, installers are able to reliably produce smooth and even base coats.

Versatility - Although epoxy is best suited for base and build coats, it can also be used as a prime or top coat, whereas polyurea is strictly a base coat.

Cons:

Cure Time - While polyurea is able to cure and have a top coat applied in the same day, epoxy needs to cure overnight before applying a top coat.

Climate Sensitivity - Polyurea can be applied in a wider range of temperatures than epoxy.

Myths:

Epoxy will yellow, chip, peel or fade over time.

This myth has some merit with regard to low quality epoxies or epoxies applied without a topcoat. However, when used as the foundation in a professional concrete flooring system these weaknesses are eliminated and you are left with the strongest and most durable base available.

05/02/2022

Is Polyurea “better” than epoxy?

Polyurea and epoxy are commonly used as the base coat of professionally installed concrete flooring systems. Both are capable of producing beautiful floors that will last a lifetime, but is polyurea really better?

Pros:

Speed - Polyurea cures very quickly and a topcoat can be applied in the same day.

Temperature Versatility - Polyurea isn’t as climate sensitive and can be applied in a wider range of temperatures than epoxy.

Cons:

Bonding strength - Because it cures rapidly polyurea simply doesn’t have time to grow “roots” and thoroughly pe*****te the pores of the concrete.

Thickness/Self-leveling/Hiding - Polyurea is too thin and cures too quickly to self level or hide defects such as cracks, chips, gouges or pin holes.

Speed - The decreased cure time can work against installers who may have difficulty spreading the product evenly and removing roller lines.

Myth:

- Polyurea is more abrasion, chemical, and UV resistant than epoxy.

While this *may* be true in a laboratory setting, as the base coat of a concrete flooring system these traits are irrelevant. Because neither product has adequate resistance to these environmental factors, professionally installed systems always include a top coat that protects the base from outside elements. Think of it this way neither foundation makes a good roof!

04/27/2022

We need to talk about DIY “epoxy” kits…

DIY epoxy kits may seem like a budget friendly concrete flooring option. In reality these floors often fail quickly for several reasons.

1) Floor preparation - The most important step of installing a concrete flooring system is often neglected by the DIYer. Properly preparing the substrate requires shot-blasting, diamond grinding, or acid etching. This process is time consuming, labor intensive, and requires special tooling leading many homeowners to completely ignore this critical step.

2) The Product - DIY epoxy kits share more in common with your average wall paint than a professional grade 100% solids epoxy. These kits are thin, water based products that lack bonding strength and are susceptible to chemicals, solvents, UV rays, and abrasion.

3) Top Coat - DIY kits contain one product to be applied in one coat. A professional installer would never apply a quality 100% solids epoxy as a stand alone product, let alone a low solids water based epoxy. While 100% solids epoxy is the gold standard of base and build coats, as a top coat it is prone to yellowing, UV, and abrasion. With no top coat a DIY kit is doomed from the start.

Before beginning a project that is doomed to fail. Contact us to learn about budget friendly epoxy style flooring systems that are more affordable than you may think.

03/28/2022

Welcome to GarageGuru! At GarageGuru we provide premium concrete finishing solutions. Our commercial grade professionally installed flooring systems look great, protect your floor, promote cleanliness, and add value. We offer a wide variety of products, including epoxy, polyurea, polyaspartic and polyurethane, to ensure that we have the right floor to fit your space and budget. Contact us today to learn more!

03/24/2022