4 Maintenance Tips for Epoxy Floors

Epoxy is a popular floor covering material for garages, department stores and warehouses. Although this product is known for being durable and resistant to daily wear-and-tear, epoxy must be kept clean and maintained on a regular basis in order to keep its smooth and homogenous appearance.

Here are 4 tips to keep in mind for optimal epoxy floor maintenance

First of all, it is important to know that if the application process was done using the proper techniques when compared to other types of flooring,  epoxy surfaces will not require a lot of cleaning. However, if they are subjected to a lot of traffic and usage on a day-to-day basis, the following tips will have to be repeated often.

1. Removing the dust

With such a smooth surface, epoxy is easy to clean using a broom and a vacuum cleaner. Without any cracks gathering dust, the floor can be turned spotless in no time. However, certain types of epoxy may gather dust, which settles on the ground and has a tendency to stick there. This dust can be removed using a dust mop and a broom.

Such a procedure will have to be repeated at least once a week or, depending on the amount of traffic in the room, more or less often. For example, in a garage that is being used every day, the floor may need to be cleaned twice a week. However, a room that is rarely used will gather less dust, therefore requiring less maintenance. This part of the cleaning process may seem trivial but if the dust is not removed quickly, the residue will be harder to clean up.

2. Using the right cleaning products for epoxy

Do not use cleaning products that are abrasive or acidic, nor should you employ products that leave a greasy film on the surface. The epoxy floor needs to maintain its anti-slip characteristics, which are one of the main qualities that make this type of flooring so popular. Any typical foam mop, soaked in a mix of warm water and mild soap, will work to clean up most messes.

If the damage is more extensive, we recommend mixing ammonia and water (1/2 cup of ammonia and 3.74 litres of warm water). If needed, a coarse sponge may be used but you will have to be very careful- never scrubbing too vigorously- so you don’t end up scratching the surface. When trying to remove tire tracks, use a degreaser that meets all the criteria that have been cited above (not acidic, not abrasive)

Photo : CTM Adhesives

3. Repairing small cracks in the epoxy surface

Epoxy is not porous. When it hardens up, it becomes waterproof and extremely solid. Regardless, small cracks may appear, due to daily wear and ground movements. Cracks, even small ones, must be repaired as soon as possible, as the damage can spread very quickly. With that in mind, hiring an epoxy floor specialist is the only sure-fire way to get good results.

This type of task is actually doable for anyone with manual skills but it will be difficult to get a nice uniform finish by doing things yourself. If you really wish to fix the floor without hiring someone, you’ll find the products you need in most hardware stores. Make sure you read the label diligently and ask for advice from the employees who work at the store where you buy the product.

4. Protecting the epoxy floor

This last piece of advice is more of a preventive measure that, in a way, is also a form of maintenance. As stated earlier, epoxy is widely used in places like garages, stores or even hospitals. The flooring is often subjected to temporary weight (humans circulating, furniture on wheels) and weight that must be supported in the long haul (cars, boxes, shelves). The best way to protect the ground surface is to install a layer between the object and the floor.

In that sense, floor mats are a popular option, as they are available in different colours and sizes, which means that they can adapt to different decors. With limited means, a piece of cardboard or a plywood board can also do the job. 

Epoxy maintenance: how often should it be done?

If done regularly, cleaning and maintaining an epoxy floor is quite an easy job. By following the advice that was included in this article, chances are that your floor will last years, even decades.

That being said, how often should the previous tips be applied? When it comes to cleaning the dust, it all depends on the type of usage that you make of the room. On average, we are talking about a task that needs to be done about once a week. However, if the room is very busy, you may need to do it more often. Finally, small cracks should be repaired as soon as they appear to prevent them from getting worse.