Polished Concrete Flooring Vs. Epoxy Flooring: Understanding The Key Differences And Which One Is The Best Among These?

Polished Concrete Flooring Vs. Epoxy Flooring: Understanding The Key Differences And Which One Is The Best Among These?

Are you exploring various flooring alternatives for your retail, home or commercial space? If yes, you may come across the two most common options, i.e. epoxy flooring and polishing concrete flooring. 

You have come to the right place if you are having a hard time deciding between these two specific options. This detailed guide will discuss the critical distinctions between these two options, which will ultimately help you make a practical choice. So, without any further delay, let’s get started with it. 

Polished Concrete Flooring Vs. Epoxy Flooring

While searching for different flooring options, people have an increasing tendency to go with the least expensive option. But, this is a big mistake which one should necessarily avoid. Whenever it comes to flooring, you need to focus on the value it provides, but not the cost. 

 One choice might seem inexpensive at first glance, but what if it ends up needing significant amounts of extra labour over time, or it has many other significant drawbacks? Well, in such cases, you will have to spend more in the long run. 

On the other hand, one particular option might seem a little pricier at first, but it needs less maintenance and tends to last for a more extended period. While selecting between epoxy and concrete flooring, one should pay close attention to some specific points of comparison. We are going to discuss all of these points in the following section:

• Cost Over Time

While assessing the overall value of various flooring choices, it is not a good decision to start your search by looking at cost over time. At first glance, you may find epoxy flooring to be more affordable than polished concrete flooring. But, it is not an affordable option to go for in the long term. 

Compared to concrete floor polishing, epoxy flooring requires more ongoing maintenance. So, the epoxy flooring might make sense if you are looking for a flooring option for a short period. It is because, due to its characteristics, it can be considered as a temporary flooring type. 

Also, the epoxy flooring can be damaged by wear and tear, and one will have to redo or replace this altogether. An epoxy floor may be again less expensive to install, but the truth is that you will have to put another coat to maintain the appeal of your floor.

On the other hand, polished concrete is more durable and has a much longer lifespan when compared to the other flooring options. Its lifespan is almost two times more than the epoxy flooring. It means that you do not have to redo your floors as often. 

But, still, the selection between the polished concrete and epoxy floors is solely dependent on your unique requirements and performance. While considering the cost over time, you are assured of getting a much better lifetime value with polished concrete. 

• Cleaning And Maintenance

Another integral aspect to keep in mind while considering the overall value of your flooring choices is cleaning and maintenance. In this aspect, you should keep in mind that both cleaning and maintenance can involve additional expenses, labour and time. Due to this reason, it is essential to think about those costs as well.

 One of the most significant disadvantages of epoxy flooring is that chemicals are required to clean epoxy floors. These floors are much more challenging to clean as many of these chemicals risk causing the epoxy coating to peel. 

So, you have to buy specialised chemicals for cleaning purposes. Acid-based cleaners aid in effectively cleaning the epoxy without peeling it. These chemicals are expensive, and you will require eyewear, protective clothing and breathing devices to use this safely. All of these involve extra expenses, labour and time. And, if used improperly, then these cleaners pose serious health hazards.

On the other hand, the concrete flooring is effortless to maintain and much easier to clean. A simple pH-neutral cleaner is the best option to clean a concrete floor. Just hot water is sufficient to remove debris and dust from polished concrete. Sometimes, you can even use a dry dust mop to clean the floors. But, mainly, simple hot water will provide you with the desired results. 

 So, the polished concrete floors win the competition whenever it comes to maintenance and cleaning. Again, it is challenging to scratch the concrete flooring with the concrete being hardened so much during polishing. It is almost impossible for polished concrete to delaminate as there is no topical coating.  

• Durability

Durability plays a significant role in determining the overall value of a floor. As already mentioned earlier, polished concrete tends to last longer and is much easier to maintain when compared to epoxy. The polished concrete floor is practical compared to the epoxy flooring in terms of durability. 

 Polished concrete, when sealed correctly, is resistant to water. So, it allows the floor to breathe, thereby improving its resistance to moisture transmission problems. Ultimately, it contributes to more outstanding durability. Therefore, if you are looking for a more durable option, you should go for polished concrete flooring. 

Wrapping Up

We hope you have gained a perfect understanding of the critical differences between these options. Choose one that is suitable for your unique needs and preferences. All in all, polished concrete flooring is a much better choice in terms of maintenance, durability, etc. 

Are you looking forward to going for concrete floor polishing? Many diamond drilling London companies like CA Drillers can offer you related assistance. Contact us today for any of your concrete floor polishing or diamond drilling requirements.