Application of an external coating on any object adds to its life and gives it a better finish. Till about two decades ago, only industrial products were coated with suitably formulated chemicals. The intention was the same: To protect an item from atmospheric pollution and thus enhance its life. Aesthetic looks came as a bonus!

With the advent of technology and the introduction of new materials for manufacturing, a number of chemical products were formulated with the same intention: Enhancement of durability and aesthetic appeal. Now we have a suitable coating material for almost anything and everything from industrial products to floors. Floors need coatings to enable them to resist day-to-day wear and tear brought in by scratches and other damages likely to be caused by household chemicals or mechanical abrasions.

There is quite a variety of epoxy-based floor-application. You have epoxy concrete floor paint. Its application is easy and can be cleaned very easily. For large industrial floors or warehouses and auto shops it’s now customary to apply a coating of industrial epoxy floor coatings. They give a shiny look, are odorless and thick enough to prevent the floors from damages likely to be caused in any industrial unit. But, it’s slippery when wet. Rough coat epoxy concrete floor paint has anti-skid properties with a tan color. This is rather thin but solvent based. Then we have an epoxy floor coating with water as a bonding agent. Compared to other epoxy floor coatings it is very thin, being water bound. An epoxy floor coating with water bond is unable to conceal floor-cracks. Being user friendly and economical it is ideally used for residences.

Garage is certainly an extension of your home, if not a part of the home. Just as we maintain our living room, bathroom or kitchen, a garage too needs to be taken care of. It need not be used as a dumping ground for obsolete tools and tackles. This can be made a beautifully looking colored place by covering its floor with an appropriate coating to withstand day to day damages caused by oil, dirt and water. There is a wide choice of colors to give it a shiny new look all the time. Apart from the aesthetics, the treatments also add to the life of its floor. You might have noticed the application of these coating at auto body shops and car dealerships.

Here again you have a choice of coatings. An epoxy coating is the most durable as it jells well with the concrete flooring, whereas Polyurethane resists chemical leakages. All that leakage of fuel, oil and greases make the floor too shabby and inconvenient to wash. Even repeated washings with water fail to give it a clean look. Why not simply cover the floor with a coating of latex paint? It is very economical. And imagine the volume of water and physical labor that you will save! Surely, early morning you would prefer to be greeted by a clean and shiny floor.

Likewise, even the floor of a swimming pool may be given a coating to give it a healthier and a brighter look. There is a choice of three types of coatings for the pool: acrylic, epoxy and rubber based.

Acrylic paint is easier to handle and can be applied to any kind of surface. This is a perfect coating for all the places where you anticipate periodic painting. Its average life varies from two to three years.

Epoxy coatings are more durable and thus more expensive too. They would easily retain themselves for seven to ten years. Average cleaners and chemicals do not affect it nor do ultra violet rays.
Availability in different colors coupled with low cost and easy application makes chlorinated rubber a preferred coating for swimming pools. But, it’s not as durable and would last for just about three to five years.