Have you been noticing that your garage flooring is starting to yellow? Starting to wonder what this unsightly change in color is all about?
As it turns out, epoxy floor coating has a nasty tendency to turn yellow over time. Yet still, it remains one of the more popular flooring options. It’s highly protective, durable, and affordable.
If you have epoxy flooring or are considering it, there are several things you should know. First, there are options that are stronger than epoxy, but let’s explore why an epoxy clear coat turns yellow and how to prevent it.
What Is Going On Here?
Epoxy resin is a popular flooring option that undergoes a natural process of ambering, or turning yellow. This discoloration can happen over a long period of time or in a matter of months.
There are many reasons this may happen, most of them naturally occurring and only somewhat preventable. The biggest problem is exposure to UV light. This speeds up the photochemical reaction that creates the yellow color.
Another big problem occurs in the application stage with the resin hardener. Oxidation happens when the hardener is first exposed to oxygen and worsens over time. This increases the risk of ambering in a shorter period of time.
Other less common but still problematic factors include exposure to extreme heat or moisture. If you have epoxy flooring in any spaces where these conditions are present, it is almost guaranteed to yellow.
What Can You Do About It?
If you already have epoxy flooring, don’t fret! If you are considering it, you don’t have to take it off the table. There’s a lot you can do to hold off the inevitable.
Primarily, you will want to get a new topcoat with UV or light stabilizer in it. Making sure that the flooring gets little to no direct exposure will help as well.
Preventing exposure to the risks – extreme heat, moisture, oxidation – is as much as you can do to slow this process. Understanding all the pros and cons of epoxy is critical to making your decision. But epoxy isn’t your only option when it comes to garage flooring options.
Use Something Better Than Epoxy Clear Coat
The best way you can prevent the discoloration of your flooring is to use a better option. At Garage Force, our unique polyurea coating is stronger, more durable, and more resistant to UV damage.
Polyurea is similar to epoxy, but with a much improved final product. Testing up to twenty times stronger than epoxy, polyurea is also easier to install and dries faster, which prevents bubbles from appearing.
We also have a wide variety of styles to choose from, fit for any room where you would use an epoxy clear coat. If you’re ready to step up your flooring game, reach out to us for a quote today.