Frequently Asked Questions

Whether you own an epoxy floor system now or you’re considering investing in an epoxy concrete coating, it’s important to know what you’re getting into. Here are answers to many frequently asked questions we hear from customers. If you have additional questions, please give us a call so our friendly staff can help!
How long can a well installed epoxy flooring system last?
When installed on clean concrete after diamond grinding, epoxy flooring can last years. Industrial-grade epoxy can last up to 20-25 years in a garage, basement, or other residential setting with a new topcoat applied every 5-7 years. In commercial settings, epoxy can still last 8-15 years. Epoxy even withstands harsh industrial settings for many years as long as protective measures are in place like welding mats.
What are the benefits of garage epoxy flooring?
Epoxy is actually one of the most practical choices for your garage. A garage epoxy coating is cost-effective, durable, and long-lasting. It stops concrete dusting and creates a low-maintenance, colorful, and seamless finished floor system for your garage. Garage epoxy in Fort Wayne withstands road salt, oil, gasoline, hot tire pick up, abrasion, impact, moisture, and more to maintain its beautiful appearance for years to come. An attractive and low-care epoxy flooring is perfect for transforming your garage into space you can actually use without the dust and moisture, whether you like working on your car, want to create your own workshop, or you want to set up a personal fitness center. Garage epoxy flooring can even improve your home’s resale value with a great ROI.
Where can epoxy flooring be applied?
A professional epoxy concrete coating in Fort Wayne, IN can be applied almost anywhere. In the home, it’s most often used for garage flooring and basement flooring but it can be applied to other concrete floors on your main living area. Epoxy is also used in commercial and industrial environments. SupremeCrete Fort Wayne also installs epoxy flooring in the following sectors:
  • Factories, processing plants, and warehouses
  • Breweries
  • Retail stores and shopping centers
  • Medical facilities such as hospitals, assisted living facilities, physician offices, and veterinarian offices
  • Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food processing facilities
  • Auto shops and showrooms
How long does it take to install a garage epoxy floor?
In most cases, professional garage floor epoxy takes just 1-2 days to install. This includes the time necessary to prepare your concrete for the epoxy application which actually takes longer than the epoxy itself. Once installed, your epoxy will need to cure before it can be used. Let the epoxy cure for at least 24-48 hours before light foot traffic. Wait 5 days before you drive on the epoxy for it to cure fully or you can leave tire marks in the coating.
What are the different types of epoxy flooring?
You may be surprised to learn there’s a huge variety of epoxy floor formulations available today. Epoxy flooring in Fort Wayne, Indiana is usually divided into several categories:
  • Epoxy paint. This type of epoxy isn’t real epoxy flooring and it may contain just 30-40% epoxy resin. You may find this type of epoxy sold in a big box home improvement store or a DIY
  • 100% solids epoxy. This type of epoxy is the most durable option because it’s made from 100% epoxy solids and it’s rated to withstand heavy abuse and last up to 20-25 years with occasional new clearcoat applications. A 100% solids epoxy floor coating will cure into a solid surface up to 2mm thick.
  • Water-based epoxy. This type of epoxy works well in some settings but it’s mostly used as a primer and sealer. It spreads very thinly and it’s absorbed by the concrete.
  • Epoxy mortar flooring. This form of epoxy is made with ground quartz and it’s rated for even the harshest industrial applications with increased resistance to impact and chemical exposure.
  • Anti-static epoxy. Static dissipation epoxy has a conductive compound that holds static electricity to dissipate static charges. It’s recommended for areas with electronics, flammable materials, and battery rooms.
  • Quartz epoxy. This decorative yet incredibly tough epoxy floor has epoxy polymer resins and colored quartz granules for the ultimate in sanitary and hard-working flooring.
  • Metallic epoxy. A metallic epoxy floor system uses metallic pigments over a base coat that are agitated with solvents, brushes, blowers, and more. The metallic pigments catch the light to create a beautiful three-dimensional illusion of movement and depth.
  • Epoxy flake. This type of epoxy coating incorporates colorful epoxy flakes to add texture and subtle design to your epoxy floor. The surface is slip-resistant and it’s often used in garages and commercial settings.
Are epoxy floors slippery?
Epoxy flooring definitely looks slippery with its high-gloss and seamless surface. The good news is dry, clean epoxy is slip-resistant and safe with a texture similar to a basketball court. To improve the skid-resistance of epoxy flooring, we can add a slip-resistant additives or you can choose an epoxy flake flooring with a more textured surface.
What is the maintenance like for an epoxy floor?
Epoxy flooring is very easy to maintain. As a general rule, it should be swept and mopped as needed. If your floor has cove protection, it can even be pressure washed. The floor should be protected from damage as best as you can, however. This means using welding mats if you will be welding. Heavy loads should be placed on plywood as well. Most cleaning products can be used safely on epoxy but you should avoid acidic solutions which may de-gloss the surface and soap-based cleaners which can leave a slippery buildup. If your epoxy does develop stains or rust spots, they can be removed with CLR or TSP and a soft brush.
Are epoxy floors good for commercial settings?
Commercial epoxy flooring is one of the longest-lasting and more durable solutions for any commercial space. Epoxy is also a cost-effective solution that can be installed with minimal downtime and a low lifecycle cost. In commercial settings, epoxy resists damage from wear and tear, forklifts, heavy loads, cart wheels, spills, moisture, and much more. It can also be customized with many formulations like quartz epoxy for extreme wear resistance and static dissipative epoxy for areas with sensitive electronics or flammable materials.
Are epoxy floors good for residential settings?
Epoxy flooring is a good choice for residential concrete coatings because it’s highly decorative, affordable, and long-lasting. Homeowners in Fort Wayne appreciate epoxy basement flooring because it stops moisture from seeping through the concrete and it won’t be damaged by moisture issues. Epoxy is also highly reflective and it can instantly brighten a garage or basement to make it seem larger and improve visibility. Epoxy flooring can even be a great choice for main living areas thanks to its huge array of decorative solutions and its durable yet seamless surface that’s easy to clean and maintain.
Why is epoxy flooring better than traditional concrete flooring?
An epoxy concrete coating comes with many advantages over untreated or regular concrete flooring. Unlike untreated concrete, epoxy flooring is:
  • Nonporous. It won’t absorb moisture and spills that can damage the concrete and leave unsightly stains.
  • Slip-resistant and safe.
  • Resilient. Unprotected concrete is prone to cracks, spalling, and other issues. Epoxy offers a higher compressive and tensile strength than regular concrete and it resists all types of hazards.
  • Customizable appearance with endless colors, patterns, and effects.