Though it has recently become trendy for its artful application to floors and countertops, epoxy has been around for almost 100 years–and it’s been used for much more than just epoxy flooring. Aspen Hill, MD residents looking for qualified contractors in the area likely have some questions about the substance before coating the floorspace in it, like what it is made of, if it is safe and damage resistant, and if it is a “green” construction material. In this article, we will answer several Frequently Asked Questions about epoxy resin so you can make an informed decision if this type of flooring is right for your home!

Typically, the conversational term “epoxy” refers to a class of epoxides—though most of the hubbub on social media today is about epoxy countertops and floors made from epoxy resins or polyepoxides.

Polyepoxides must be combined with another substance in order to harden, or cure—generally with other polyepoxides or with a catalytic homopolymer, though there are many different types of co-reactants for epoxy resin. Mixing a polyepoxide or epoxy resin with another co-reactant is referred to as the “curing” process. This creates a thermosetting polymer functionally desired in a wide array of settings—from insulators, adhesives, metal coatings, and more. For this reason, epoxy resins are popular building materials in the construction, aerospace, composites, electronics, and coating industries, and more!

In summary, “epoxy” is the shorthand term for the polyepoxide resin after it has been mixed with another co-reactant and cured.

As folks planning to build epoxy tabletops, kitchen counters, cutting boards and the like may come to wonder, is this conglomeration of chemical compounds safe to regularly expose to our food? The short answer to this is generally “no,” in that epoxy by its nature relies on a variety of chemical compounds that are not highly researched in terms of their food safety. As of now, most people consider attempting to prepare foods on an epoxy cutting board to be unsafe, unless the exposure is extremely minimal and of short duration.

According to the FDA, however, “food grade” epoxy does exist—meaning the chemicals can safely come into direct contact with foods. However, it is important to note that the type of epoxy plays a huge role—and that certain compounds are more or less safe than others. For example, say you poured epoxy countertops in your kitchen anticipating that at some point or another, the surface of your counter will come into contact with food. It is important to note that a few large components of epoxy resin are Bisphenol A (BPA) and Bisphenol F (BPF). Not only does epoxy contain these compounds, but it contains them, especially BPA in fairly high amounts. As you may have heard in recent years, BPA has been deemed a carcinogen by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) as a carcinogen due to its harmful effects on female reproduction, eggs, and ovaries.

As such, this type of material can make a beautiful surface for floors, tables, or countertops—but take care you are not handling raw foods directly on its surface, but using utensils like a BPA plate or a cutting board.

Yes! One of the key benefits of working with epoxy resin is that it does create a smooth, watertight seal across the surface of your floor, counters, or woodworking project. It is also able to provide a layer of anti-corrosive protection as well!

Most types of fully cured epoxy resin are moderately heat resistant, and are capable of handling temperatures of up to 300 degrees Fahrenheit—at least, with minimal exposure. However, you can purchase extra heat-resistant epoxy that can withstand up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit!

Epoxy itself is not electrically conductive unless combined with another polyepoxide filled with silver, nickel, copper, carbon, or gold. However, epoxy is thermally conductive, which means it can double as an electrically conductive agent and cool the project at the same time.

Yes. Epoxy is a thermoset plastic featuring two atoms of carbon single-bonded to a shared atom of oxygen. However, it is generally considered more durable than many types of plastics.

Epoxy reached social awareness in the 1930s after being developed by two collaborating scientists: Dr. Sylvan Greenlee in the United States and Dr. Pierre Castan of Switzerland. Originally, their creation was honey-colored and was initally used to adhere dental fixtures; eventually, however, folks realized they made great adhesives as well, and since then, we’ve continued to adapt and explore ways we can get even more about this incredible material.

You might think that because epoxy is a thermoset plastic it is not good for the environment—when in truth, it is one of the “greener” methods of protecting a woodworking project, floor, countertop, table, and the like as it is derived from organic plant compounds. Additionally, its manufacturing does not release biohazards into the environment, making it an even more palatable option for the ecologically conscious. Epoxy itself is derived from abundant plants and coniferous trees, and, if applied correctly, a coating of epoxy resin can last upwards of 10 years—maybe even 20! The fewer resources you need to consume to keep your house in good shape, the lower your carbon footprint.

Who would have thought that epoxy resin would go from gluing dentures together to finishing floors and creating stunning countertops in kitchens and bathrooms over the course of a hundred years or so? We hope this article has shed some light on some of these commonly asked questions about epoxy, how safe it is, how hearty, and how good for the environment it is. Are you ready to take the plunge and invest in epoxy flooring? Aspen Hill, MD flooring contractor experts at The Concrete, Etc. can help you achieve your desired epoxy aesthetic—whether you’re building a new home or renovating.

Contact The Concrete, Etc. today to see what we can do for you, or browse our list of services here!