Highlights
Epoxy paint is popular for floors due to its durable and affordable qualities.
An epoxy floor can last up to 20 years if properly applied and maintained.
Plan on spending anywhere between $75–$3,080 per room.
You can also customize epoxy with a range of decorative flakes and other elements.
It’s possible to DIY this project with a little bit of practice—or hire a pro.
There are few floor paints on the market as hardcore, durable, and—dare we say—sleek as epoxy. Looking for the perfect flooring solution for your home, or simply trying to figure out what epoxy paint is for? Here’s everything you need to know about using this paint for concrete or other floors.
What Is Epoxy Paint?
Epoxy is a two-part coating system—a resin and a curing agent—poured over concrete and other surfaces to create a scratch-proof shell for your floor. Epoxy is different from regular paint in that it creates a tough, hardened surface that’s virtually impervious. Achieving a mirror-flat finish for flooring with an epoxy product is a built-in feature since it’s a liquid that automatically levels.
Epoxy paint is used for many purposes in residential homes, such as garage flooring, countertops, furniture refinishing, or a spill-proof playroom surface.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Using Epoxy Paint?
Epoxy is a versatile product that many homeowners find themselves using at one time or another. Before you decide if it’s right for you, let’s look at the pros and cons of epoxy.
The Pros of Epoxy
Epoxy has become a go-to flooring material largely thanks to its affordability and durability. It’s not nearly as pricey as hardwood, and much like luxury vinyl flooring, it fits a wide range of budgets. It’s resistant to weather and wear and tear, which is why it’s used so frequently in garages, basements, and various commercial environments (restaurants, airports, warehouses, etc.).
If epoxy is applied correctly, it’s got a very long life span. With proper application and care, many epoxy floors will last at least 10 to 20 years. Epoxy-based paints are also highly customizable, with the option to add glitter flakes, marble veining, a metallic finish, and more.
The Cons of Epoxy
Epoxy floors have a shinier, more austere aesthetic, which isn’t necessarily a con; however, they may not visually suit every home style. While an epoxy kitchen floor might go seamlessly with a glitzy modern high-rise condo, it might not be the best fit for a rustic farmhouse-style home that utilizes a lot of warm wood and stone accents.
The epoxy application can be messy, and the curing time is anywhere between three and seven days. If you’re going the DIY route, follow the manufacturer’s specifications. While epoxy is applied, it emits a strong odor—if you’re applying the epoxy paint on concrete, you’ll need to wear safety equipment like an organic vapor respirator—meaning you may also want to plan on moving out of your house for a few days until it outgasses. Once it has cured, there is no longer an odor.
What Are My Options for Epoxy Material?
Epoxy is extremely versatile in style. Depending on the space, you can get really creative with epoxy flooring ideas. You can choose a standard epoxy color like black, white, or gray, or go all out with a design that’s integrated into the material.
There are many epoxy options available that mimic terrazzo, marbling, granite, and metallic flake. You can even go with a weathered-wood look that replicates aged material while providing a freshly epoxied surface's cleanliness and durable aesthetic.
How Much Does an Epoxy Paint Job Cost?
The cost to epoxy a concrete floor can vary dramatically, from $75 to $600 if you decide to DIY, up to between $1,475 and $3,080 if you hire a professional painter. Epoxy paint itself costs $0.30 to $1.50 per square foot. The cost to install epoxy terrazzo flooring is substantially higher due to the increased time involved in adding embellishments, ranging from $25 to $90 per square foot.
Can I DIY an Epoxy Paint Job?
If you’re willing to learn a new home renovation skill and can follow directions closely, you’ll be able to do a DIY epoxy job, even if you’re new to using epoxy-based paints. Most important to the epoxy application is the prep work—you’ll need to properly seal any cracks or holes in the subfloor before you start.
Use the proper protective gear, and wear special cleats if you’re doing an expansive area and need to walk on the wet epoxy as you work. Additionally, epoxy needs a pristine substrate to properly bond and will require considerable time for the product to fully cure before you start using the floor.
An epoxy job is a multi-day project, so if you simply don’t have the time or interest in doing it yourself, you can hire a local floor painter to prepare your space and pour the epoxy paint over concrete for you.
