A grey concrete floor in a basement with exposed beams in the ceiling, showing its final appearance after an epoxy coating.

Why You Should Epoxy Your Basement Floor

Basements tend to be the most overlooked spaces in a house. Usually left looking industrial and grey, they don’t receive the fancy treatment ground floor and second-story rooms usually get. However, there are things you should do to keep your basement in good condition. One process is applying epoxy to the floor, which comes with a raft of benefits. Here’s why you should epoxy your basement floor and how it helps you and your family.

Extra Durability

Basements offer all sorts of possibilities. They’re ideal for exercise rooms, hobby spots, workrooms, and more. Most of these uses require a tough and durable floor that resists damage from dropped tools, heavy weights, and busy feet. Epoxy adds resistance to the floor and prevents stains, breaks, tears, and other unsightly damage. As hard as concrete is, that extra layer of protection keeps it smooth and defect-free, helping it last longer.

Water Resistance and Safety

Being partly underground means the basement is always at risk of leaks, dampness, moisture accumulation, and other water infiltration. This can ruin the floor, allow mold to grow, and otherwise add an unpleasantly clammy feeling to the space. Epoxy creates an impermeable layer of protection against water. Keeping the water out means the floor lasts longer and the basement is a healthier place to reside. This is especially important if there’s a bedroom or common area down there. Epoxy also has nonslip options to prevent injuries.

Keep It Clean

Epoxy flooring is great for concrete floors because it protects them from stains and makes it easier to sweep and mop up after activities. Epoxy also seals cracks and holes where dirt and other materials become trapped and accumulate. Its resistance to liquids also makes wiping up spills so much easier. No need for elbow grease when cleaning the basement floor!

Prettify Your Basement

It’s rare to describe a basement as lovely, but epoxy can add some aesthetic appeal to the atmosphere. While clear sealants are available, you can mix epoxy with other materials to make custom designs and finishes. Go for a slick metallic look or add flakes to make that drab basement floor look fab! You can do it all without sacrificing the protection offered by epoxy.

All the above are excellent reasons why you should epoxy your basement floor. As a special note: while epoxy can do all the above things, it doesn’t lower radon levels in your basement. Radon is a silent killer, being colorless, odorless, and tasteless. It can rise from the ground and enter a basement through cracks and holes in the foundation. Breathing in radon over many years might lead to lung cancer and other respiratory diseases. A good radon blocking concrete sealer provides one line of defense against radon infiltration. Speak with a radon technician about testing your home for the presence of radon and understanding how concrete sealers and other techniques protect your family. Contact us for more information about fighting radon!