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ARMORTHANE PROTECTING YOUR WORLD

PROTECTING YOUR WORLD

ARMORTHANE PROTECTING YOUR WORLD

Epoxy Floor
Coating: Types, Cost
& Data-Sheet Facts

Water-based, 100% solids, self-leveling, novolac, MVB and ESD epoxy compared with real data-sheet numbers and 2026 prices, plus a system selector and coverage calculator.
Floor Coating Quotes

Epoxy, polyaspartic or both? Get a written spec from a certified applicator.

Tell us about the floor: size, use, sunlight and what's on it now. An ArmorThane-certified applicator will test the slab and quote the prep, system and mils in writing.

  • Epoxy, MVB, polyaspartic and polyurea systems
  • Garages, shops, kitchens and warehouses
  • Moisture testing included in the quote
  • Contractors: ask about floor systems and training
Rather talk now? Call (417) 831-5090
Step 1 of 3
3–5 vs 10–15
Dry mils per coat: solvent vs 100% solids
SW ArmorSeal 1000HS; BM Corotech V430
50°F
Typical minimum to apply
Westcoat, Sherwin-Williams, Sika data sheets
7 days
Typical full chemical cure
At about 70–77°F
$4–$10
Installed, per sq ft
HomeGuide 2026 (residential)

"Epoxy floor coating" covers everything from a $90 water-based garage kit to a quarter-inch troweled mortar in a meat-packing plant. They share a chemistry and not much else. We make polyaspartic and polyurea floor systems, and we still put epoxy under a lot of them, because for moisture control and adhesion on indoor slabs it's hard to beat. Here's the honest version: the types, the real data-sheet numbers, what it costs in 2026, and the two places epoxy reliably lets people down.

Quick answer

An epoxy floor coating is a two-part resin (epoxy resin plus an amine hardener) that cures into a hard, chemical-resistant film bonded to concrete. Residential installs run about $4–$10 per sq ft in 2026; industrial systems run $3–$15+ depending on thickness and chemistry. A professional 100% solids system lasts roughly 10–20 years indoors; a water-based DIY kit, 3–5. Epoxy's two weak spots are sunlight (manufacturers' own data sheets say it ambers and chalks) and cold slabs (most need 50°F or warmer). Indoors, out of the sun, on a dry, ground slab, it's an excellent floor. Find the right system for your floor.

What's in this guide
  1. 1What epoxy floor coating is
  2. 2The 9 types of epoxy floor coating
  3. 3Real data-sheet numbers, side by side
  4. 4Which epoxy system do you need? (selector)
  5. 5Coverage & kit calculator
  6. 6How temperature changes your schedule
  7. 7Where epoxy falls short
  8. 8Epoxy floor coating cost in 2026
  9. 9How it's installed
  10. 10Epoxy vs polyaspartic vs polyurea
  11. 11Epoxy floor FAQ
Chemistry in plain English

What epoxy floor coating is

Almost every floor epoxy starts with the same resin: bisphenol-A diglycidyl ether (often written DGEBA or BADGE), made by reacting bisphenol A with epichlorohydrin. On its own it's a thick syrup. Mix it with a hardener, usually a polyamine or polyamide, and the two cross-link into a thermoset plastic that won't melt or dissolve once cured.

That reaction is what gives epoxy its strengths: excellent adhesion to concrete, high compressive strength (Benjamin Moore's Corotech V430 lists 11,500 psi), and good resistance to oils, many solvents and alkalis. It also explains its quirks:

  • Pot life. The clock starts when you mix. A 100% solids epoxy may give you 30 minutes at 77°F; a solvent-borne high-solids product, about 4 hours. Leave it in the bucket and the reaction heats up and kicks faster.
  • Recoat windows. Each coat bonds chemically to the one below only within a window, often 12–24 hours. Miss it and the surface must be abraded first.
  • The aromatic ring. Bisphenol A contains benzene rings that absorb ultraviolet light. That's why epoxies yellow, "amber" and chalk in sunlight, and why outdoor floors use an aliphatic top coat.
  • Solids vs carrier. Water-based and solvent-based epoxies thin the resin so it rolls easily; the carrier then evaporates. Only the solids remain as film, so a 45% solids product leaves less than half the thickness you rolled on.
Know what you're buying

The 9 types of epoxy floor coating

Sherwin-Williams groups resinous floors by thickness: coatings at 4–30 mils, slurries at 30–250 mils and mortars at 125–250+ mils. Within those bands, these are the types you'll see on quotes and shelves. Click a heading to sort.

TypeBuild per coatSolids by volumeBest forInstalled $/sq ft
Water-based≈2–4 mils (300–600 sq ft/gal)43–49%DIY garages, low-odor recoats, sealing dusty slabs$0.50–$2 materials
Solvent-borne high-solids3–5 mils≈61–65%Primers, thin industrial coatings, penetration on dense slabs$3–$5 (thin film)
100% solids roll coat10–15 mils≈100%Garages, shops, warehouses$5–$8 high-build
Flake or quartz broadcastSystem 20–60+ mils≈100% binderGarages, kitchens, locker rooms (texture + hide)$5–$9
MetallicFlood coat≈100%Showrooms, retail, decorative interiors$8–$12
Self-leveling / slurry30–250 mils≈100% + fillerFlattening rough slabs, food plants, labsQuote
Mortar / troweled3/16–1/4 inResin + aggregateImpact, forklifts, thermal shock zonesQuote (often $9+)
Novolac15–24 mils≈100%Secondary containment, strong acids$8–$12
ESD / static-controlSystemConductive fillersElectronics, data centers, munitions$8–$15
Moisture-vapor barrier (MVB)One coat, 250–300 sq ft per 2.64 gal≈100%Damp slabs, under any resin floor+$2–$4 add-on
Build and solids from Westcoat EC-11, SW ArmorSeal 1000HS, Corotech V430, Sikafloor-264/-160, Five Star Epoxy Novolac and Sika MB data sheets. Installed prices: FindEpoxyPro (Mar 2026), Summit Industrial (Jun 2026), Today's Homeowner (2025). Ranges, not quotes.

The three most people mix up

Water-based vs 100% solids. The water-based kit is easier to roll and safer to breathe, but at 43–49% solids it leaves roughly 2–4 dry mils per coat. A 100% solids epoxy leaves 10–15. That's the difference between a floor you'll redo in three to five years and one you may not touch for fifteen.

Novolac vs standard epoxy. Novolac resins have more reactive sites per molecule, so they cross-link more tightly. Five Star's novolac lists resistance to sulfuric acid from 1% to 98%, the kind of exposure a standard bisphenol-A epoxy won't survive. It also stains brown-red under sulfuric and nitric acid, which is cosmetic.

MVB epoxy vs a primer. A moisture-vapor-barrier epoxy is formulated and tested to hold back vapor: Sika MB is rated to 100% RH (ASTM F2170) and 25 lb/1,000 sq ft/24 h (ASTM F1869), and Simiron MVB to 25 lb. An ordinary primer is not, even if it's the same color.

No marketing numbers

Real data-sheet numbers, side by side

Here's what six widely used epoxy floor products publish on their technical data sheets. We picked one per category, not the "best" in each, so you can see how far apart the categories really are. Abrasion is Taber CS-17 at 1,000 g and 1,000 cycles: lower is better.

Product (type)Pot lifeRecoat windowFoot trafficFull cureMin. tempAbrasion / strength
Westcoat EC-11 (water-based)60–90 min @ 72°FDry to touch, within 24 h6 hVehicles 72 h50°F—
SW ArmorSeal 1000HS (solvent high-solids)4 h @ 77°F8–24 h min, 7 days max24 h7 days50°FTaber 64.8 mg
BM Corotech V430 (100% solids)30 min @ 77°F12–24 h (abrade after 72 h)—7 days50°FTaber 0.06 g; 11,500 psi compressive
Sikafloor-264 (self-leveling)25 min @ 68°F8–24 h @ 68°F8–24 h4–10 days50°FTaber 90 mg; Shore D 80–85
Five Star Epoxy Novolac35 min @ 70°F3 h – 14 daysIn service 24 h3–5 days40°F, rising5,600 psi tensile
Sika MB (moisture barrier)—Per system———100% RH / 25 lb rating
Sources: manufacturer technical data sheets linked below. Taber results are reported in different units by different makers (mg vs g); compare within a sheet, not across sheets. "—" means the sheet doesn't state it in a comparable way.

Two things jump out. First, pot life shrinks as solids rise: the thicker, tougher products give you less time to work. That's why 100% solids epoxy is usually poured out onto the floor in ribbons and spread immediately, not rolled out of a tray. Second, every one of these products needs a slab at 40–50°F or warmer. In an unheated garage in February, epoxy isn't the right chemistry no matter whose label is on it.

Tool 1 of 2

Which epoxy system do you need?

Answer six questions and the selector builds a layer-by-layer system, the way a specifier would. It also tells you when epoxy isn't the right answer.

Epoxy system selector

Your floor, layer by layer

Typical systems only. A data sheet or an applicator's written spec has the final word.

—

    Tool 2 of 2

    Epoxy coverage & kit calculator

    Coverage on the label is theoretical. Real coverage depends on how porous the slab is and how thick you put it down. This calculator uses the industry formula, gallons = area × dry mils ÷ (1,604 × solids), then adds waste.

    Coverage calculator

    How many gallons and kits

    Presets use data-sheet solids. Slurry presets follow Sikafloor-264's published rates.

    10–15% is typical
    —
    Sq ft / gal at this build
    —
    Wet mils to apply
    —
    Gallons incl. waste
    —
    Kits

    Plan the install

    How temperature changes your schedule

    Epoxy cure is a chemical reaction, and reactions slow down when it's cold. Sika publishes how Sikafloor-264 behaves at three temperatures, which makes it a good illustration of what happens to any epoxy:

    Slab / air temperaturePot lifeRecoat windowWhat it means on the job
    50°F≈50 min24–48 hLong working time, but a two-coat floor becomes a three-day job.
    68°F≈25 min8–24 hThe "normal" schedule most installers plan around.
    86°F≈15 min6–12 hMix smaller batches; the bucket can kick before the floor is done.
    Source: Sikafloor-264 product data sheet. Application limits on the same sheet: 50–85°F, substrate moisture ≤4% (Tramex), RH ≤85%, and at least 5°F above the dew point.
    The dew point ruleAlmost every epoxy data sheet requires the slab to be at least 5°F above the dew point. If it isn't, moisture condenses on the surface and the coating can blush (a greasy, cloudy film) or lose adhesion. In humid climates, check it in the morning, not just the afternoon.
    The fine print

    Where epoxy falls short

    We'd rather you hear this from us than find it on your floor in year two.

    Sunlight

    It ambers. The makers say so.

    Corotech V430's sheet says it "will amber and chalk" in UV. Sikafloor-264's says it "will discolor over time." ArmorSeal 1000HS: "may darken or yellow." Where sun reaches the floor, top it with an aliphatic polyaspartic or polyurethane.

    Cold

    It stalls below 50°F

    Most floor epoxies need a 50°F slab, rising. Below that, cure slows and can stay incomplete. Polyaspartics and polyureas cure at much lower temperatures.

    Downtime

    It's slow to return to service

    Even fast epoxies need 24 hours for foot traffic and 48–72 for vehicles, with full chemical resistance at about 7 days. A 1-day polyaspartic floor is usually back in use the next day.

    Hot tires

    Thin films lift

    A 3-mil water-based film over an acid-etched slab is the classic hot-tire-pickup floor. A thick 100% solids system over a ground slab is far more resistant.

    Brittleness

    It's hard, not flexible

    Shore D 80–85 is great for wear but poor at bridging moving cracks. Cracks that move will reflect through any rigid coating.

    Slip

    Gloss is slippery when wet

    Smooth epoxy needs a broadcast aggregate or grit in the top coat anywhere water, oil or grease reaches the floor.

    2026 pricing

    Epoxy floor coating cost

    Price ranges vary by source, region and slab condition, so treat these as planning numbers. Prep is where quotes diverge most: a clean, dry slab that just needs grinding is a very different job from one that needs coating removal, crack repair and a moisture barrier.

    SystemInstalled, per sq ftSource
    DIY water-based or solvent kit (materials)$0.50–$2National Concrete Polishing; Today's Homeowner
    Solid-color epoxy (residential)$3–$5FindEpoxyPro, Mar 2026
    Epoxy, general residential range$4–$10HomeGuide 2026
    Flake epoxy$5–$8FindEpoxyPro, Mar 2026
    Industrial high-build (10–20 mils)$5–$8Summit Industrial, Jun 2026
    Quartz / flake broadcast (industrial)$6–$9Summit Industrial
    Metallic epoxy$8–$12FindEpoxyPro
    Novolac$8–$12Summit Industrial
    ESD / static control$8–$15Summit Industrial
    Common add-ons (FindEpoxyPro, Mar 2026): diamond grinding $1–$2/sq ft, moisture mitigation $2–$4/sq ft, old coating removal $1–$3/sq ft, crack repair $1–$3 per linear ft.

    What a typical garage costs. At $4–$10 per sq ft, a 2-car garage of about 400–576 sq ft lands around $1,600–$5,800 before any moisture work. Our garage floor coating cost guide breaks this down by garage size, and the garage floor coating pillar has a lifetime-cost calculator that compares epoxy with polyaspartic and polyurea over the years you'll own the floor.

    Lifespan. HomeGuide puts water-based epoxy at 3–5 years and 100% solids at 10–20; National Concrete Polishing puts DIY at 2–5 years and professional installs at 10–20+. Sherwin-Williams describes properly installed resinous floors as lasting "ten years or greater." The spread is mostly prep and thickness.

    Step by step

    How an epoxy floor is installed

    1. Test the slab

      Moisture (ASTM F2170 RH or F1869), concrete age (28+ days), old sealers (water-drop test) and slab temperature versus dew point.

    2. Profile the concrete

      Diamond grind or shot blast to the profile the data sheet calls for, typically CSP 2–3 for high-build coatings, then vacuum thoroughly. Acid etching only reaches about CSP 1.

    3. Repair

      Fill cracks, spalls and pitting with an epoxy or polyurea patch and grind flush. Honor moving joints.

    4. Prime or block moisture

      A penetrating primer on a dry slab, or an MVB epoxy if the slab tested wet.

    5. Body coats

      Roll or squeegee the body coat to the specified wet mils; broadcast flake or quartz if the system calls for it. Work within pot life and the recoat window.

    6. Top coat

      A clear epoxy top coat indoors, or an aliphatic polyaspartic or polyurethane top coat anywhere UV, abrasion or hot tires are a concern. Add grit for slip resistance.

    7. Cure before service

      Typically foot traffic at 24 hours, vehicles at 48–72 and full chemical cure around 7 days at room temperature, longer when it's cool.

    Alternatives

    Epoxy vs polyaspartic vs polyurea

    The short version: epoxy is the best-value indoor coating and the best moisture-barrier primer; polyaspartic is the best top coat and the fastest install; spray polyurea is the toughest and most flexible. Many of the best floors use two of the three.

    EpoxyPolyasparticSpray polyurea
    UV stabilityAmbers (aromatic)Color-stable (aliphatic)Aromatic grades need a top coat
    Cold-weather install≈50°F minimumDown to ≈35–40°FFast-set grades to −20°F
    Return to service2–3 days≈24 h≈24 h
    Working time15 min – 4 h10–20 minSeconds (machine-applied)
    FlexibilityRigidModerateHigh elongation
    Moisture barrier optionYes (MVB epoxy)NoNo
    DIY friendlyYesHard (short pot life)No (plural-component rig)
    Detailed comparisons: polyaspartic vs epoxy, polyurea vs polyaspartic and polyurea vs epoxy floor coatings.
    Floors that leave the sun out of the equation

    Epoxy where it shines, polyaspartic where it doesn't.

    ArmorThane-certified applicators build hybrid floors: an epoxy or MVB base where the slab needs it, finished with our UV-stable ArmorFloor polyaspartic. One quote, one crew, prep and mils in writing.

    Get a floor quoteSee polyaspartic floors

    Coating contractor? Add our floor systems →

    Straight answers

    Epoxy floor coating FAQ

    How long does an epoxy floor coating last?

    Water-based DIY epoxy typically lasts 2–5 years. A professionally installed 100% solids system lasts roughly 10–20 years indoors. Sherwin-Williams describes resinous floors as lasting ten years or more when properly installed. Prep, thickness and sunlight exposure matter more than brand.

    How much does epoxy flooring cost per square foot?

    In 2026, residential epoxy runs about $4–$10 per sq ft installed (HomeGuide), with solid colors from $3–$5, flake $5–$8 and metallic $8–$12. Industrial systems run from $3–$5 for thin films to $8–$15 for novolac and ESD. DIY kits cost $0.50–$2 per sq ft in materials.

    Does epoxy turn yellow?

    Yes, in sunlight. Standard epoxies are aromatic and absorb UV, and manufacturers' own data sheets warn that they amber, chalk or discolor. Indoors, away from sun, it's rarely a problem. Outdoors or near an open door, use an aliphatic polyaspartic or polyurethane top coat.

    Can you put epoxy on a basement floor?

    Yes, if the slab passes a moisture test or you use a moisture-vapor-barrier epoxy. Products such as Sika MB are rated for slabs up to 100% RH (ASTM F2170) and 25 lb/1,000 sq ft/24 h (ASTM F1869). Without moisture control, basement epoxy is prone to blistering and delamination.

    How long before you can walk or drive on epoxy?

    Typically 24 hours for foot traffic, 48–72 hours for vehicles and about 7 days for full chemical resistance at room temperature. Cold slabs extend all of these.

    What's the difference between water-based and 100% solids epoxy?

    Water-based epoxy is about 43–49% solids, so roughly half of what you roll on evaporates, leaving 2–4 dry mils per coat. 100% solids epoxy leaves 10–15 mils per coat, lasts much longer and has a much shorter pot life (about 30 minutes).

    Is epoxy flooring slippery?

    Smooth, glossy epoxy can be slippery when wet or oily. A broadcast of flake or quartz, or grit mixed into the top coat, adds traction.

    Can epoxy go over an old coating or painted concrete?

    Not over paint. A sound, well-bonded epoxy can be abraded and recoated, but peeling or unknown coatings should be ground off so the new epoxy bonds to concrete.

    What temperature is too cold to apply epoxy?

    Most floor epoxies require at least 50°F and rising, and the slab must be at least 5°F above the dew point. Some novolacs allow 40°F. Below that, choose a polyaspartic or polyurea system.

    Is epoxy better than polyaspartic?

    It's better as a moisture-barrier primer, cheaper, and easier for DIY. Polyaspartic is better as a top coat: UV-stable, faster to return to service and workable in the cold. Many professional floors use an epoxy or polyurea base with a polyaspartic top coat.

    AT
    Written by the ArmorThane technical team. We manufacture polyurea, polyaspartic and polyurethane floor and protective coatings and train applicators across North America. Updated October 2026.

    Sources

    1. Bisphenol A diglycidyl ether: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A_diglycidyl_ether
    2. Duraamen, coatings coverage chart: duraamen.com/resources/coatings-coverage-chart/
    3. Sherwin-Williams, epoxy flooring systems: industrial.sherwin-williams.com
    4. Westcoat EC-11 water-based epoxy specification: westcoat.com
    5. Sherwin-Williams ArmorSeal 1000HS product data sheet: paintdocs.com
    6. Benjamin Moore Corotech V430 technical data sheet: benjaminmoore.com
    7. Sikafloor-264 product data sheet: usa.sika.com
    8. Sikafloor-160 product data sheet: dciflooring.com
    9. Five Star Epoxy Novolac Coating TDS: fivestarproducts.com
    10. Sika MB moisture barrier: usa.sika.com
    11. Simiron MVB: simiron.com/products/mvb/
    12. HomeGuide, epoxy flooring cost (2026): homeguide.com/costs/epoxy-flooring-cost
    13. FindEpoxyPro, epoxy flooring cost (Mar 2026): findepoxypro.com
    14. Summit Industrial, industrial epoxy flooring pricing (Jun 2026): sumind.com
    15. Today's Homeowner, epoxy floor cost (2025): todayshomeowner.com
    16. National Concrete Polishing, cost to epoxy a floor: nationalconcretepolishing.net

    latest news & bLOGS

    Learn more

    The right resin for the floor, not just the one in stock.

    ArmorThane-certified applicators specify epoxy where it wins (moisture control, indoor value) and ArmorFloor polyaspartic where it doesn't (sunlight, cold, fast return to service). Contractors: we make the coatings, supply the equipment and train your crew, with no franchise fee.

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