If you have concrete floors, you probably know they should be coated occasionally to protect them from stains and other damage. Plus, a coating can give your floors a lustrous shine and rejuvenate their appearance. There are a few options in residential concrete coatings, but polyurea and epoxy are among the most popular. Here's a look at how these two types of residential concrete coatings compare.

Cost

Of the two options, polyurea is more expensive. It can also be more expensive to install since installation is difficult. It's harder to install since polyurea dries so fast. If a mistake is made, it's difficult to undo. You'll want to hire a contractor to install a polyurea concrete coating so you get professional results.

Epoxy coatings tend to cost less than polyurea coatings, but epoxy can come in a range of prices depending on the percentage of solids in the product. The more solids in the epoxy, the more durable it is and the more it costs. Although somewhat difficult and labor-intensive to install, you might be able to install an epoxy coating yourself and save on installation costs, which helps make an epoxy coating even more affordable.

However, if you'll be coating the floors in your home, you may want a professional to put the coating on no matter what kind it is so the floors look their best afterward.

Durability

A polyurea coating is usually more durable than an epoxy coating. Polyurea concrete coatings can be used in a garage and even outdoors on a patio or pool deck because they are so durable. The coating resists damage from acids and tires. Plus, it isn't damaged easily by UV rays and temperature extremes.

The durability of polyurea makes it an ideal coating for all types of residential concrete. However, since it costs more than epoxy, you need to consider price too. Epoxy is a good residential concrete coating on interior floors that don't get a lot of abuse, so you may want to choose epoxy for your kitchen, basement, or living room.

Installation Time

It will take longer for an epoxy floor to be ready for use than a floor with a polyurea coating. Installation of a residential concrete coating involves many steps that include cleaning and repairing the old concrete floor. This can be a long process in itself. Plus, the contractor applies several layers on the concrete to cover the old floor, provide uniform coverage, ensure good adhesion, and obtain a glossy sheen.

It could take days to complete the job, depending on the size of the work area. After that, the epoxy coating might need to cure for a few days. A polyurea coating may only need a day to cure, but a few factors affect how quickly a concrete coating dries. Your contractor lets you know how long you need to stay off the floor so the coating can dry thoroughly. Look into residential concrete coatings near you.