Which is Better?
When families and homeowners are looking for a solution to protect their home from water, they tend to fall into two categories of coatings that have become very popular; polyurethane and epoxy. Polyurethane Yuru can be more flexible which means it can accommodate small movements and epoxy can be stronger and more watertight.
A Primer on Polyurethane and Epoxy
To see how these two coatings differ, let’s take a closer look at each one. Polyurethane waterproofing is highly flexible in terms of coatings. This flexibility is ideal for protecting surfaces that might crack. If the ground shifts a little underneath, for example, a polyurethane coating is less likely to crack than the substrate below it. In contrast, epoxy coatings are far stronger and more rigid. That means if the surface they are on moves or flexes, epoxy coatings are more prone to cracking.
The other major difference between these two coatings comes with water as well. Polyurethane coatings are good at resisting water — in other words, they can prevent water from getting within. However, epoxy coatings have superior water resistant properties.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Polyurethane and Epoxy
Polyurethane waterproof coating are well-liked by many because they are stretchy enough to accommodate small movements. This makes them perfect for waterproofing areas such as basement floors, which may shift a little. PU coatings are besides being flexible, also give good protection against sunlight (UV light). This matters because UV light can cause degradation of many surfaces in the long term. Nevertheless, polyurethane coatings come with some drawbacks. It affects the looks in the long run since they can be scratched easily.
Good Points:
It is flexible and its small movements are easy to manage
Shields from ultraviolet light damage
Good at keeping water out
Bad Points:
Can get scratched easily
Not as long-lasting as epoxy coatings
Epoxy Waterproofing
One of the most popular Polymer waterproofing solutions available are epoxy coatings. And people love them because they’re strong, durable, and far better when it comes to resisting scratches than polyurethane coatings. One thing to note though, is epoxy coatings are more inflexible compared to polyurethane. That inflexibility means they can shatter if the ground beneath them shifts too much.
Polyurethane vs. Epoxy
When it comes to keeping water, moisture and humidity out of your home or business, both polyurethane and epoxy coatings are great options but they have their differences in safety, performance and application. Polyurethane finishes are more flexible, so they are less likely to crack, but are prone to scratching and do not have quite the lifespan. Epoxy coatings, on the other hand, are tougher and more durable, but are less flexible and may crack if the foundation beneath them shifts.
