For a long time, if you were looking for a coating for your garage floor, epoxy was the only game in town. But polyurea has now changed that.
What is polyurea you may ask? It’s a good question to consider because epoxy still has a lot of great qualities that make it a good choice for your garage floor, but it may not always be the best. What is it about polyurea that makes it special?
Read on for our guide to polyurea vs epoxy, so you can make the best choice for your garage floor.
What Is Polyurea?
There’s a technical and a practical answer to the question, ‘What is polyurea?’ The technical answer is that polyurea is a synthetic polymer.
One of its unique properties is that it is totally resistant to water. Water cannot cause it to break down at all. It is also an elastomer, meaning that it behaves like rubber.
This brings us to the practical answer – it’s the very best waterproofing material out there. The fact that it’s an elastomer also makes it very flexible.
What Is Epoxy?
Epoxy, or epoxy resin, has been a popular choice for floor coatings for many years. As a garage coating, it is hardwearing and resistant to many chemicals. However, it is not completely waterproof.
It is also sensitive to UV rays. This can cause it to go yellow over time.
Polyurea vs Epoxy: Which Is Best?
You want to choose a garage floor coating that is hard-wearing and flexible. It should also be waterproof and resistant to chemicals.
Resistant to Heat
When you drive home, your tires will be hot. When you pull into your garage, you need a garage coating that will not be damaged by the heat.
Over time, the heat will wear down the epoxy coating. However, polyurea can stand higher temperatures. This makes it more durable than epoxy.
Polyurea is also super-flexible and about 20x stronger than epoxy.
Cost
Polyurea is very quick to put down and you can also lay it down in all weathers. However, it will cost a little more upfront than epoxy.
The huge payback? You can expect a polyurea garage floor to last up to 15 years. An epoxy floor will only last around 5 years.
Time
Epoxy is a mixture of two chemicals. Once you have laid the floor, you have to leave it for several days to cure completely.
With a polyurea floor, you can walk on it within 6 hours. After 24 hours, it’s fully cured and ready for you to drive on. Whichever parameter you look at, polyurea coatings are the superior choice!
Choose Polyurea for Your Garage Floor
Now you know the answer to, ‘What is polyurea?’, you know why it’s the best. Not only is it 20x stronger than epoxy, but it also will never yellow. You can enjoy a pristine garage floor for years and years to come.
Trust Garage Force with your next garage coating project. We’re the experts in applying high-quality, 100% polyurea floor coatings. They’re durable and improve the safety and appearance of your concreted areas.
Contact us today for a quote or more information.