(210) 430-4181 |  emc1construction@gmail.com

Our Reviews 

FREE QUOTE!
EMC Logo

(210) 430-4181

FREE QUOTE!
Polyurea VS Epoxy: Which is The BEST Garage Flooring Option?

Polyurea VS Epoxy: Which is The BEST Garage Flooring Option?

Say you have noticed wear and tear on your garage floor, including staining, cracking, or chipping. You may feel it’s time to restore your garage flooring with a beautiful, durable coating.

When you are looking to update your garage flooring, there are several flooring options to choose from, including garage floor rolls, garage floor tiles, epoxy, and polyurea. Polyurea and epoxy are two of the most popular options, but which is best for your needs?

Read on to learn more about the difference between these two flooring products and find out which one is right for you.

What is Epoxy Flooring?

Epoxy is a polymer, a material comprising large molecules known as macromolecules. A polymer’s structure makes it elastic and tough, a reason it’s popular for construction applications.

An epoxy mixture used for concrete floor coatings comprises a resin and a polyamine-hardener. Epoxy is among the best flooring options for garages that need a strong floor. After curing, a 100% solid epoxy coating will give your concrete surface a glossy, transparent, durable finish.

You can leave the coating as-is or add various materials or colors to achieve your desired texture and look. Either way, epoxy coating looks and performs well on most floors and garage tile. However, the epoxy garage flooring is prone to cracking and chipping over time.

It is worth noting that epoxy coating cures slowly since it is a thick resin, often in two to three days. Various environmental factors can affect the cure time, including:

  • Moisture
  • Direct sunlight
  • Temperature fluctuations

These factors can also change the appearance of the floor coating. So, don’t be surprised if your garage floor doesn’t look exactly as you expect it to as time passes.

Now that you understand epoxy garage floor coating, let’s look at polyurea garage flooring.

What is Polyurea Floor Coating?

Polyurea is a rubber-like synthetic polymer. While you can also use it as a two-step resin like epoxy, it is significantly different from epoxy resin. This material is four times stronger and 98% more flexible than epoxy.

Polyurea’s flexibility makes it exceptionally durable and long-lasting. It also doesn’t peel or crack. Another outstanding advantage of polyurea floor coating is that you can use it in extreme temperatures that epoxy can’t handle.

This garage flooring material is nonreactive to harsh chemicals, including gas, salt, and oil. It also resists scratching better than epoxy. Polyurea is UV-resistant, so you don’t have to worry about your floor turning yellow or fading due to sunlight exposure.

These coatings come in various textures and colors so that you can create your desired finish. They also have a quick installation process. You can walk, drive, or do anything else on your polyurea concrete coating within 24 hours of installation.

Which is Better, Epoxy or Polyurea?

Polyurea and epoxy garage floors have many similarities, so choosing the best one for your needs can be challenging. Several factors can influence your choice, including:

  • Cost considerations
  • Installation process
  • Aesthetic preferences
  • Durability

Generally, the best flooring option will depend on your needs and goals. If you want your garage floor coating to last longer with minimal maintenance, polyurea is a better choice.

If you plan to sell your home and just want to give the garage floor a simple touch-up, you might want to choose the less costly epoxy concrete floor coating. While polyurea is more expensive than epoxy, that higher price tag comes with durability and longevity.

Another critical consideration when choosing between polyurea and epoxy is the installation process and cure time. Epoxy usually takes up to five days to cure completely, depending on the area you are coating. This prolonged cure time can significantly disrupt your daily routine.

If you are unsure which product is right for you, a reputable floor coating professional can evaluate your needs and help you make an informed decision.

Get a Free Quote

If you want to upgrade your garage flooring and are looking for a reliable professional in the greater San Antonio, TX, area, look no further than EMC Concrete Coatings. We are an owner-operated company with over ten years of experience in the business.

While we specialize in epoxy flake systems, we also do polyurea base and polyaspartic top coats. We offer a 24-month warranty for our installations, covering the product’s bubbling, peeling, lifting, and general defects.

Call EMC Concrete Coatings at (210) 430-4181 to discuss your garage flooring project and request a free quote.

What are the benefits of coating my garage or patio floor?

There are a multitude of benefits to coating your concrete surface. Our prep phase will eliminate high spots or surface deficiencies through diamond grinding or shotblasting. In addition, our trained technicians will fill in any cracks, holes, or spalls on your concrete surface prior to any coating being placed. This ensures a smooth and uniform appearance throughout your slab. Concrete is very porous and can make stain removal difficult. With a high-performance coating installed, you will be able to remove otherwise tough stains with a spray of your water hose. And lastly, our floors look amazing! The garage is often overlooked when it comes to renovation/upgrades, but a professionally installed resinous coating will add $$$ to the value of your home.

How long does a typical installation take?
In most cases, our highly trained technicians can wrap up your residential project in as little as 2 days. We do offer a state of the art 1 day system, where you can walk on your new floor the next day, but we do not recommend these rapid cure systems during the summer months. Commercial projects and larger residential projects (1K sq. feet or more) can certainly take more time to complete. As always, our sales team will visit your site to take accurate measurements and offer a realistic timeframe.
Do you offer free on-site quotes?
Yes, we do. EMC Concrete Coatings always prefers to visit you at your project site to take
measurements and go over your coatings/color options. Our quotes are valid for 90 days and there is never any pressure. We are not here to make you feel uncomfortable or pressured. Our process is smooth and easy for everyone involved.
Can you give me a “ball-park” price over the phone?
Yes. However, this is not the way we prefer to quote jobs. Each project is unique and a
“standard 2 car garage” is going to be different for every homebuilder in town. Square footage’s, linear walls, garage aprons, and condition of the slab all play a very important role in providing you with an accurate quote. This simply cannot be done in a matter of seconds via a phone call or messenger.
How much does it cost to install a decorative coating on my garage floor?
A typical 2 car garage coatings installation in the greater San Antonio area will cost between $2’400 and $3’000. Our pricing is based on square footages and other aspects of the project, including the linear footage of any stem walls, aprons, or repair work.

Oversized or multi-car garages, patios, or other areas will result in higher priced estimates.

Do you use epoxy or polyurea for garage coatings?
We use all the above. Resinous coatings do not come in a one size fits all application. The
details and specs of each project will help our trained technicians determine what coating is best for your project. Typically, we use polyurea coatings for our garages and patio installations. However, shop floors and other commercia/residential spaces will call for epoxies, urethanes, or water-based materials. Rest assured, no matter which products we use, they are from reputable coatings manufacturers and TDS sheets are always available to our customers upon
request.
Is this service affordable?
We are not the lowest priced team in town. We are also, certainly not the most expensive outfit on the block. Our pricing is determined by the costs of materials, inflation, demand, labor, and level of service. When choosing EMC Concrete Coatings, you have done yourself a great favor by hiring the best in the business. EMC does run specials throughout the calendar year for discounted floors and we always honor first responders, military, and front-line workers discounts.

Our team is always mindful of our customer’s budget. We are a locally owned and operated
small business, and we know the value of our hard-earned dollars and how much they mean to each one of us. We strive to provide our customers with the best possible pricing throughout the year. EMC honors our warranties, we show up on time, every time, and will go above and beyond to ensure you are 100% satisfied at the end of each project. If we miss the mark, we will rectify it. Simple as that.

Does my new floor come with a warranty?
Yes! We offer an excellent written warranty with all our floor coatings installations. Depending on which option you choose (stain, seal, epoxy/flake, solid color, or polish) the length of time will vary from 5 years to a limited lifetime homeowners’ warranty. We HONOR our warranties.
Who am I hiring if I choose EMC Concrete Coatings?
The best crew in town. From our brand-new trucks, wrapped-trailers, uniformed employees, and state of the art equipment – we are the best. Our technicians are certified and experienced installers. EMC is bonded, commercially insured, and experienced. Multiple professional references are available for commercial projects at any given time and our online reviews speak for themselves when it comes to our residential portfolio. You have made the right choice by calling the team at EMC Concrete Coatings. Most importantly, the owner of the company, Eric Calderon is personally involved in every project that comes through our door. Generally, Eric and his sales team will be the person you meet with at your project walk thru. You will then see Eric and his crew upon the day of installation. We never sub out our projects, our employees are in-house guys and Eric is there each step of the way to ensure maximum customer satisfaction!
(210) 430-4181