Epoxy vs Polyaspartic: Which Floor Coating Should You Use?
Epoxy and polyaspartic are both two-part floor coatings. They differ in how fast they cure, how they handle sunlight and how much time they give you to work. Most good garage floors use both: epoxy to build the floor and polyaspartic to finish it.
Epoxy vs polyaspartic at a glance
| Epoxy | Polyaspartic | |
|---|---|---|
| Cure time | Slower. With our epoxy kits you walk on the floor on day 3 and park on it after 4 to 7 days. | Faster. With our One-Day kit you walk on the floor the next day and park on it two days after the clear coat. |
| Working time | More time to roll it out and fix mistakes. | Less. It sets quickly, so you work in small sections. |
| Sunlight | Ambers in sunlight unless it has a UV-stable topcoat. | UV-stable. |
| Price, one-car solid color kit | $584.99 for the Garage Pro System | $714.99 for the Garage One-Day System |
| Price, one-car full flake kit | $904.99 for the Garage Pro System | $839.99 for the Garage One-Day System |
| Best for | A first floor or a weekend project. | A floor that has to be back in use fast, or one that sits in sunlight. |
When epoxy is the better choice
- You have a weekend and want more time to work.
- You want a solid color floor at the lower price.
- You are coating a floor for the first time.
When polyaspartic is the better choice
- You need the garage back quickly.
- The floor sits in sunlight.
- You are comfortable working fast, or you have a helper.
Why most floors use both
Epoxy makes a good base coat. Polyaspartic makes a good top layer because it is UV-stable. The Garage Pro full flake kit is built this way: a high build epoxy base, a full flake broadcast, and a polyaspartic clear coat on top. See full flake epoxy floor kits.
What about polyurea?
Polyaspartic is a type of polyurea. Both cure fast. The Garage One-Day System uses a fast-cure polyurea base coat with a polyaspartic clear coat, so the whole floor goes down in one day. The polyurea base coat can go down at 45°F. Epoxy needs the slab and the air between 60 and 90°F.
Which kit to buy
- Garage Pro System: epoxy base with a UV-stable topcoat. More time to work.
- Garage One-Day System: polyurea and polyaspartic. Done in a day.
Either way, prep decides how the floor turns out. Read how to prep a garage floor before you order.
Common questions
Is polyaspartic better than epoxy?
It is faster and it holds up in sunlight. It also gives you less time to work. The right one depends on your floor and your schedule.
Which costs more?
It depends on the finish. In solid color, the One-Day kit costs more than the Garage Pro kit. In full flake, the One-Day kit costs less.
Can you put polyaspartic over epoxy?
Yes. The Garage Pro full flake kit does exactly that.
Which is easier for a first floor?
Epoxy, because it gives you more time. If you choose the One-Day kit, bring a helper and call us first.
Not sure which fits your floor? Call (877) 703-7699. If we miss you, we call back within an hour.
