What does commercial epoxy flooring look like? Well, the short answer is that it looks like anything you want it to look like! The long answer requires a more in-depth look into what epoxy is, what it does, and what the various creative methods are to create a unique floor covering you cannot buy ready-made anywhere.

Working With Epoxy

If you have ever used any sort of epoxy, you know that small tubes of epoxy come in a dual syringe. You have a plastic resin in one side and a glue-based substance in the other. When expressed from the tube, the syringe mixes the resin with the glue, which aids the resin in its application and adherence to the surface to which you want the epoxy applied. Similarly, the process for applying epoxy to a concrete floor is the same. You have a resin dyed a particular color, and it is applied and sealed to the concrete with a type of bonding agent or glue. It is thicker than acrylic paint so that it cannot be so easily peeled up after it has been applied, so you need to be sure that you have exactly the right color or pattern of epoxy that you want. 

Cleaning the Concrete and Preparing the Floor/Slab

In order to get the epoxy mixture to adhere to the concrete slab or floor, the concrete has to be cleaned and prepped. Pressure washing is usually the first step, as this type of washer will clear away dirt, oil, or grease. Then the professional painter will create a slightly roughened surface that will help the epoxy mixture stick. The floor will still appear smooth when the job is done.

Knowing Flat Color, Shiny Color, Glittery Color, Multicolor, or Splatter Pattern

Finally, the floor is ready for the application of your chosen epoxy. Most consumers just want a flat color, like black or steel gray. However, you can create flat colors, shiny colors, glittery colors, splattered patterns, or block patterns of different colors. Whatever you and the professional painter dream up, you can have done and apply to the concrete floor. Just keep in mind that epoxy does have a limited selection of colors, and anything you dream up that does not exist the painter cannot mix like paint. (For example, if you are thinking puce or neon orange, it probably is not going to work out.) It helps to see what is available for epoxy coatings and kits and then create a drawing of what you want to help the pro get started.

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