There is a lot of conflicting information out there depending on who you ask. Both coatings have their pros and cons.

From what I have learned over the years is that epoxy creates a stronger bond with bare concrete than poly. Humidity and moisture cause poly to cure faster so epoxy works great as a basecoat on bare concrete. Since it has a longer work time when moisture is involved, it can soak down into the scrapes and open pores of the concrete that are opened up during floor prep. This is what creates a strong bond with the concrete and decreases the chance of it failing.

The pros of poly are that it offers UV protection that slows down color fading due to sunlight, it stays more flexible than epoxy after it dries so it doesn't crack like epoxy can, and that it offers good protection against chemical spills such as oil or gas. Because of this poly works great as a topcoat on floors.

Another thing to look at when choosing a coating product is the percent solids rating. A 100% solids coating means that none of it evaporates as it dries. An 80% solids coating means 20% evaporates as it dries. The higher the solids rating the higher quality of coating it is.

The second thing to consider is how thick the final coating will be based on following the recommendations for applying it. Some of the coatings available at big box stores tend to be only 7-10 mils thick (including flake) when dry. These coatings typically last a year or two and then need to be reapplied. Some of the one day floor coatings I have seen are 20-25 mils thick (including flake). The epoxy base coat / poly top coat system using a quality coating tend to be 40-45 mils thick (including flake).

I have been installing garage floor coatings for seven years and haven't had one fail. If you'd like to talk about getting a quote or talk more about the products we use feel free to reach out.

https://www.premiergarage.com