If you are looking for a solution to strengthen your floors and shield your home from outside threats, look no further than epoxy floor coatings. Epoxy coatings protect basement floors from all manner of pests by creating a barrier from the outside world.
What Is an Epoxy Coating?
Epoxy floor coatings seal concrete floors, shielding them from moisture and other damaging elements. They give basement or garage floors a more luxurious appearance and make them easier to clean because the coating is smooth. They come in a variety of designs and colors and are highly customizable by the owner. Most importantly, they extend the lives of the floors they cover.
The Danger Zone
Of all the places in your home, basements may be the most likely to have issues with moisture. Their placement underground makes them cooler and darker than the rest of the house, with nearer access to underground elements like insects and groundwater. Generally speaking, the basement also experiences less traffic than the rest of the house, so the likelihood that damage goes unnoticed for a while is higher than for other areas in a home.
Epoxy coatings protect basement floors from a wide variety of threats, including moisture, mold, and mice. In addition, epoxy sealants make concrete floors more visually appealing, adding a sense of luxury and increasing home values. They also make floors much easier to clean.
Epoxy Coatings Protect Basement Floors
Moisture
The most common threat to basement floors is moisture. Groundwater can seep up through the floors, or heavy rainfall or runoff can lead to flooding. Humid exterior air can cool once it enters the basement, leading to condensation on floors, walls, or furniture. Because it is at the bottom of the house, the basement is also at risk if any household appliances holding water leak or break. This is especially true of washing machines, improperly vented clothes dryers, and water heaters, which are often housed in the basement.
Displaced water can wreak a lot of havoc on a basement, both the things stored in it and its structural integrity. Mold, rot, and other decay are common results. Be mindful of these signs which may indicate your basement has water damage:
- Visible dripping or standing water
- Condensation or dampness, especially where the walls meet the floor
- Water staining
- Damage to the floor
- Peeling paint on walls, ceilings, or furniture
- Heaviness or humidity in the air
- The smell or rot or mildew
If you experience water damage, act quickly. Seek out a professional restoration team to help clear away excess water, repair damage, and prevent further incidents.
Epoxy coatings protect basement floors only if they are applied before water damage occurs. Sealing the floor will not undo the damage, and any destruction needs to be repaired before a covering can be applied. Floors need to be dried through and through before being sealed because excess moisture in the floor can impede proper curing and minimize the effectiveness of the coating.
Quality epoxy floor coatings make the floors they seal moisture-resistant, keeping water from seeping into your basement from below and protecting the concrete from liquids from above. Concrete is naturally porous, so sealing is an important step to prevent staining. The epoxy coating will not warp when wet, ensuring that your floor is protected.
Mold
Mold and mildew present a big threat to homes and homeowners. They initiate structural damage and can cause many health problems. Because these biological troublemakers love the dark and damp, basements are especially at risk. Fortunately, epoxy coatings protect basement floors from mildew, mold, and fungi.
The structure of epoxy is nutrient-deficient for these microbial munchers, so they have a hard time surviving on a sealant’s surface. If you clean your floors regularly (even if that cleaning is cursory), you are unlikely to have any problem with mold on your floors.
Mice
A little further up the evolutionary chain, mice, other rodents, and insects can cause a lot of problems for homeowners. They tend to sneak into homes through minor gaps or cracks in the walls or foundation, and once inside, they eat whatever they can find, even things we would not consider edible.
Epoxy coatings protect basement floors from unwanted critters because of the way they are applied. When the sealant is applied, the epoxy extends a few inches above the floor, sealing off the seam between the wall and the floor. Any imperfections in the joint are shored up, and any crevices are closed off, leaving no place for mice or other pests to enter your home.
Mechanical Damage
Not all threats to a basement floor’s security are so easily noticed. Time itself can really do a number on concrete or cement. Sealing the floor can extend its longevity, making it invulnerable to things like UV rays, heat, and corrosive salts. A sealed floor will last much longer under heavy use.
Additionally, epoxy coatings protect basement floors from dusting, the gradual breakdown of concrete which leaves a fine powder on the floor’s surface. This protection helps maintain a basement’s cleanliness, but more importantly can minimize respiratory threats like asthma and allergies.
Leave a Reply