Polished Or Epoxy Flooring – Which One To Pick?

Polished and epoxy flooring are two popular, affordable, and realistic options for industrial, residential, and commercial environments. Each flooring system has its own perks and downfalls when it comes to durability, aesthetics, and installation.

Polished concrete has been the “go-to” flooring system for many commercial floorings, however; epoxy flooring is progressively becoming more sought out. Epoxy flooring and polished concrete are very different, but both possess unique qualities. As technology has improved, so have polished and resinous floors and what they can offer. New products and advances have led to higher presence in residential and high-end commercial environments. Both floors are one of a kind in their own way and can be uniquely altered to achieve environmental, budgetary, and aesthetic needs. No matter what you’re looking for- an industrial, residential, or commercial installation, polished or resinous flooring is guaranteed to last.

Polished concrete is a multi- step process where the concrete floor is mechanically ground with progressive grits of diamond impregnated abrasives, metals/ hybrids, resins, then joints are recut and filled, the floors then densified/ guarded and burnished with a high speed burnisher with 3000 Grit diamond infused pad. The grinding and polishing process is what gives these floors their seamless, high-gloss, clean finish. These floors are hard-wearing, they do not scratch, crack, or chip easily. Polished concrete floors offer different types of coloring/ staining options for your floors that cannot be found in other flooring solutions. Though polished concrete has many benefits, polishing does have its downfalls.

Sometimes, your concrete simply does not and will not make the cut for installing polished concrete and may require an overlay. Meaning, if the substrate is very uneven, overly cracked, broken, or no longer usable, your concrete cannot reasonably be polished. This can turn an affordable polishing project into an expensive and time-consuming process instead. Polished concrete, if not properly installed/ installed in the wrong environment, is susceptible to bacterial harborage, discoloration/ staining, and concrete failure. If not properly installed, this can create an environment suitable for bacterial concealment and growth within the concrete’s pores. Determining if polished concrete suits your environmental needs prior to installation will help ensure a timely installation as well as a long-term lifespan.

Epoxy floors offer similar benefits as polished concrete. Though polished concrete may be the route for some, epoxy flooring offers a larger variety of attributes that can be tailored to achieve an assortment of desired outcomes. Epoxy flooring is versatile both in aesthetics and performance, offering durability, sustainability, and longevity throughout any environment. It also offers more than just unique color schemes; an epoxy floor can give you the decorative aspect of any other flooring but doesn’t require the extensive maintenance required for other flooring options. Many areas that are required to adhere to high hygienic standards have begun utilizing resinous flooring because of the minimal maintenance, cleanability, and seamlessness. These floors are easy to clean and harder to damage compared to other flooring, regardless of the decorative features you choose to install them with.

There are also downfalls to epoxy flooring, just like there are downfalls to any flooring. Though epoxy flooring can be budget friendly, it can also drastically vary in square foot price pending system type and environmental requirements. Factors to consider when choosing your flooring type would range from substrate quality, moisture presence in the slab, accessibility for floor preparation equipment, any necessary chemical/ stain/ UV resistance, etc.

Each system offers its own version of the pros and cons. There are questions you can have answered by a flooring expert when deciding what floors will best suit your needs. Choosing the correct, qualified professional is one of the most important aspects. When it comes to maintaining, redecorating, or rehabilitating a worn substrate, polished concrete or epoxy flooring is a long-term option to consider. If you desire a floor that is easily maintained, durable and long-lasting, while upholding appearance, you may find what you’re looking for with polished or epoxy flooring. Still have questions? Reach out to one of our flooring experts!