For homeowners looking for a durable flooring solution that looks great and may be a little different from the norm, polished concrete floors and epoxy floors are two very ideal options. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each option, so you can make an educated decision on the best flooring for your home.
What is polished concrete?
Polished concrete, also called refinished concrete flooring, is a chemically treated concrete floor that is finished off with a grinding and polishing process. This gives the floor a very seamless, high-gloss finish that has a modern, industrial look. You can even add quartz and other stones into the concrete mix, to incorporate color and visual texture into the finished look.
- The pros – Refinished concrete floors are durable and easy to clean, as well as being scratch, chip, and crack resistant. They’re hygienic and should last decades with proper care. Not to mention, concrete is a widely available material, so they’re an affordable option too.
- The cons – There are some downsides to this flooring too. Unless you are building from scratch, you’ll need to use your existing concrete floor that has to be in pristine condition for the process to work. If it’s cracked, weathered, or unleveled, it will have to be replaced – which is a big, messy, and expensive job. It also has to be installed professionally, or there is a high risk of water leaking through the floor, causing flaking and mold growth. If your foundation shifts for any reason, you can also expect the floor to take damage. These floors are mostly stain resistant, but can still develop marks from harsh chemicals, oils, paints, and spills that are not cleaned up quickly.
What is an epoxy floor?
Epoxy is a liquid mix of resin and polymers that creates a solid coating on the floor. When it sets, it’s incredibly durable and easy to clean. Like the polished concrete, the finished product is a seamless, glossy finish.
- The pros – First, it’s more versatile because you can not only add decorative color flakes and textures to the floor to make it truly unique. They are also very easy to clean and much more stain, crack, and scratch resistant than concrete. While they are hard, they also have a slight flexibility in them so if your foundation shifts, there should be no visible damage. Similarly, you’re less likely to damage the floor if you drop anything on them. They are also faster and less of a hassle to install, curing in a short 48 to 72 hours.
- The cons – Just as with concrete, you will need your subflooring to be in good condition before installation takes place. Your subfloor may need some repairs and resurfacing to make it perfectly even, so that the epoxy bonds properly and is level once installed. However, subfloors usually require less work to install an epoxy floor than to install polished concrete. Another issue is that there are a lot of low-quality epoxy products on the market. These are very thin and have a short lifespan, so it’s very important to use a contractor that offers a high-quality product with a lasting guarantee, so you aren’t having to reinstall a year or so later.
Looking for the best contractor in NJ for your home’s epoxy flooring?
At Diamond Garage Solutions, we specialize in epoxy floor installation in NJ and the tristate area, offering over 20 years of combined industry experience. Our projects include small scale residential and large-scale commercial and industrial-grade epoxy floor solutions throughout New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut. You can find out more about the benefits of a professionally installed commercial and residential epoxy floor by visiting our website at: https://diamondgaragesolutions.com/services/