Which is right for flake garages? Polyaspartic or Polyurethane? It depends!

Dallas Epoxy Garage Floor

At Smallcrete we expect our floors to last around 10 to 12 years. Our diamond grinding and coating application procedures are second to none. This repeatable process ensures beauty and quality in every garage regardless of the top coat. Some people ask why we use a combination of an epoxy base coat and a polyurethane top coat when a polyaspartic system will return the garage to service in 24 hours. Simply, we don’t get the consistent results from a polyaspartic system and we’ve actually seen an extreme case where it peeled off the very next day. Epoxy binds better than polyaspartic but is not UV stable so it requires protection from the vinyl flake. The UV stable polyurethane protects the flake underneath.

Polyaspartics are very thin and are sensitive to Texas’ heat and humidity during application. That being said, we do offer a polyaspartic system when a client needs a very high quality floor but must have it the next day. While it’s not our “go-to” system we have installed several polyaspartic systems that we can confidently expect 6 to 7 years of service.

Polyaspartic and polyurethane are both types of resins that are used in a variety of applications, including coatings, adhesives, and sealants. They are both very durable and offer good chemical resistance, but they have some key differences.

Epoxy Garage Floor Dallas

Polyaspartics are a newer type of resin that is made from a combination of acrylic and urethane monomers. They offer several advantages over polyurethanes, including:

  • Faster curing time: Polyaspartics can cure in as little as 2 hours, while polyurethanes can take up to 24 hours.
  • Increased durability: Polyaspartics are more resistant to abrasion, chemicals, and UV light than polyurethanes. But with less elasticity, it will wear away faster in the long run.
  • Better water resistance: Polyaspartics are less likely to absorb water than polyurethanes, which makes them a good choice for applications where water exposure is a concern.

However, polyaspartics are also more expensive than polyurethanes. They are also more difficult to apply, as they require special equipment and training.

Polyurethanes are a more traditional type of resin that has been used for many years. They offer some advantages over polyaspartics, including:

  • Lower cost: Polyurethanes are less expensive than polyaspartics.
  • Easier application: Polyurethanes are easier to apply than polyaspartics, and they can be applied with standard tools and equipment.
  • A wider range of applications: Polyurethanes can be used in a wider range of applications than polyaspartics, including applications where water exposure is a concern.

However, polyurethanes also have some disadvantages compared to polyaspartics, including:

  • Slower curing time: Polyurethanes can take up to 24 hours to cure, while polyaspartics can cure in as little as 2 hours.
  • Reduced durability: Polyurethanes will get micro-scratches over time quicker than polyaspartic. So your garage floor may become less shiny over time.

Ultimately, the best choice between polyaspartic and polyurethane will depend on the specific application. For us, Polyurethane is a more consistent long term top coat and worth the extra cure time.

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