Pros And Cons Of Basement Epoxy Flooring In New Jersey

Pros Of Epoxy Basement Flooring

Durable, stain-resistant, chemical-resistant, heat-resistant, and aesthetically eye-pleasing in color and design — is the objective nature of epoxy flooring. Now, for why such a flooring option is a good choice for your New Jersey basement:

Waterproof Flooring

The following are the statistics on precipitation (rain or snow) and humidity for New Jersey, also known as the ‘Garden State.’ Epoxy floors in the basement protect NJ basements from the inevitable damp basement and the inevitable growth of mold and mildew.

Increased Resale Value

According to the National Association of Realtors, a finished basement in New Jersey can give significant resale value to your home, with an approximate 69 percent ROI (Return On Investment) of the cost of such home renovation project. With simply installing an epoxy basement floor, the dusty, dirty, cracked, and stained concrete floor is transformed into a beautiful finished floor, enabling any potential homebuyer to imagine the basement as a children’s playroom, family room, home office, or perhaps an additional bedroom or guest bedroom.  

Safety From Radon

High levels of radon, a naturally occurring gas with no odor, color, or taste, has been detected in 10% of New Jersey homes. Choosing epoxy basement flooring can prevent radon gas from entering the house from the soil beneath the home foundation.

Cons Of Epoxy Basement Flooring

The Prep Process

While it is true that installation is ‘easy,’ installation of a basement epoxy floor is quite labor intensive and requires experienced professionals — who understand the prep process of cleaning, repairing, and prepping the concrete floor to ensure proper adhesion of the epoxy material. 

Basement Moisture

If a basement is excessively damp or humid, there will be adhesion issues of the epoxy to the concrete, requiring the application of an epoxy moisture barrier to the concrete surface to prevent moisture. Failure to properly contain moisture within the concrete floor will result in chipping, peeling, and flaking of the epoxy resin floor.  

Slippery When Wet

While the non-porous nature of epoxy prevents moisture from seeping into the underlying flooring (laminate tile, hardwood, or concrete), water that remains on the surface of the floor can result in a slippery floor — unless a non-slip aggregate is added to the epoxy mixture. 

Challenging To Remove

Consider the words durable, long lasting, and labor intensive in pondering the possibility of installing this floor option. It is equally labor-intensive to remove such flooring if one wants to change the color or design of this basement flooring.

Long Cure Times

The curing, also known as drying time, of the epoxy coating to a basement floor is in respect to the size of the area, type, and thickness of the epoxy mix. Humid conditions can increase the time it takes for the epoxy floor to completely cure. Jersey Epoxy does offer a one-day basement floor coating service. 

Strong Fumes

If basement ventilation is inadequate, wet epoxy can produce pungent, sometimes toxic, fumes. Jersey Epoxy contractors do wear masks and safety goggles during the application process. Still, individuals suffering from any respiratory condition are advised to be cautious during installation and consult with a health professional regarding such installation. When the epoxy is fully cured, there is no longer an odor unless the epoxy resin is sanded, and epoxy resin dust occurs. 

Go To The Pros Who Know

Installing an epoxy basement floor requires serious thinking as to whether the floor option is best for your New Jersey basement. The good news to keep uppermost in mind is the PROs that supersede any CON! The knowledge and 20+ years of experience of Jersey Epoxy who will assess and advise if an epoxy floor option is best for your New Jersey basement. Contact us to discuss your basement, garage, or poolside epoxy deck project!