Why do we use Polyurea instead of more traditional epoxy floor covering?
Polyurea is the latest advancement in coating technology, providing the best of all worlds. Its extreme durability makes it 20 times stronger than epoxy! The following is a list of the numerous ways Polyurea is a superior product to epoxy.
Curing Time
The curing time is just 4-6 hours for foot traffic, and 24 hours for light car traffic. Epoxies however can take 7 to 10 days to cure.
Chemical Resistant and Environmentally Friendly
Polyurea is chemically resistant to salt, oil, gas, and other harsh chemicals. Not only is it resistant to chemicals, but, it is also environmentally ‘green’ compared to competing epoxy coatings.
Standard epoxy systems produce clouds of toxic fumes that last for hours after application. These fumes are dangerous to both the people installing the coating, as well as people and pets in the general vicinity. VOCs emit greenhouse gases and are suspected to be a carcinogen. The US EPA regulation for concrete protective coatings’ VOCs is set at 400 g/L. Polyurea have near-zero VOCs and fulfill the Federal Government’s 2010 VOC requirements.
Flexibility
Polyurea is 98% more flexible than epoxy, allowing for natural concrete movement. The chemical makeup and structure creates a very strong bond with concrete. This bond can expand and contract with changes in the surface and underlying ground temperature. This means there is no chipping, cracking or hot tire pick-up. Hot tire pick-up occurs when a car’s tires are hot from driving; the heat and pressure from the tires may melt or peel the paint or coating, separating it from the floor.
Industrial Applications
Polyurea has been utilized for over 25 years in industrial applications. It has been used for pipe/pipeline coatings, tank linings, water treatment plants, manholes, sewer linings, and automotive fascia OEM molded parts.
Developed for both ordinary and extraordinary wear and tear, Polyurea is extremely durable. Your floor coating will withstand a lot of wear and tear.
Temperature Restrictions
Only polyurea can be applied in extreme temperatures. Application can take place in temperatures from 0° to 85°F. This gives us more flexibility in deciding when to install your floor coating. Unlike many other polymers, polyurea will not leave bubbles in the surface or uneven curing in high humidity.
Faster Cure Times
Our polyurea cures much quicker than other polymer based coatings. Typically, you can walk on a floor 4-6 hours after installation. You'll be able to drive your car over it after 24 hours.
UV Resistant
It is also UV resistant meaning it will not fade or turn yellow when exposed to direct sunlight. Polyurea is a ‘tough’ surface. It is resistant to scratching, water, salt, oils and other chemicals one might find on garage floor brought in our tires from Minnesota roadways.
Warranty
Our floor coatings come with a 20 residential and 5 your commercial warranty form pealing and delimitation.
Easily Maintained
Cleaning and maintenance is easy to do. A small amount of liquid soap, water, broom, and squeegee will keep your new floor looking great for years.
Drawback to Polyurea
The main drawback is the higher cost of the materials. However, as described above, polyurea is a much more advanced polymer and offers numerous benefits including cure time. The cost factor is often offset by the amount of time, labor and related downtime costs associated with other polymer based coatings. This is especially important for commercial applications. Sometimes, a company will need to be closed while the floor coating is installed. Quicker labor and curing times mean fewer days befor you are anle to use your new floor.
In Summary
There is no comparison to epoxies that you can pick up at the big box stores. With all these advantages, the additional cost is more than worth it. Polyurea is higher quality better product.