Epoxy Driveway Coating: The Truth No One Told You!
drivewaygeek.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
Should an epoxy driveway coating be your choice, just because an epoxy coating is possibly the best option for your concrete garage floor? Many recommend an epoxy driveway coating but they may not know the truth or have personal experience with it!
In spite of epoxy coatings having exceptional chemical & abrasion resistance, good adhesion and stunning aesthetics, they remain unsuitable for residential driveways. This is mainly because of their poor UV resistance, brittleness, risk of peeling or delamination and tendency to mirror cracks in the underlying concrete.
Let me reveal the untold truth about epoxy driveway coating.
What is an Epoxy Driveway Coating?
An epoxy driveway coating is a protective layer applied onto your concrete driveway. The epoxy coating has two components: a polyamine hardener and an epoxy resin. The two parts are mixed together and applied to the concrete driveway. The mixture forms a strong bond with the concrete surface and hardens into a durable and strong film.
Unlike air-drying paints, an epoxy coating cures through an exothermic chemical reaction between the two components, namely the epoxy resin and the polyamine hardener. For the reaction to be completed 100%, it is critical that the two components are mixed in exactly the right proportion which is indicated on the packaging.
Pros & Cons of Epoxy Driveway Coating
At the outset an epoxy coating seems to be the perfect answer if you want your concrete driveway to be durable & strong. However, an epoxy coating has some limitations too!
An epoxy coating is widely used in the industry, on metals and even concrete surfaces. Even in a residential setting, an epoxy garage floor coating is a highly recommended option; and for good reason.
But before you get excited and spend a lot of money on epoxy driveway coating, it is wise to understand the pros and cons. That is exactly what I am going to do. I am going to tell you the “untold and unbiased truth” about epoxy driveway coating, based on facts and experience.
Just to clarify, I will be talking about epoxy coatings and not about epoxy paint. The two are quite different and epoxy paint is more of a marketing gimmick. It is barely better than an acrylic or latex paint.
1 Part Epoxy Paint does have a small quantity of Epoxy resin and it does improve the durability of the paint. However, the improvement is marginal.
Garage Made Simple
Epoxy coatings must be 2 part and must develop a dry film that is at least 2 mil thick. So here are some of the pros of using 2 part epoxy coatings:
Pros of Epoxy Coatings
1. Exceptional Chemical Resistance
Epoxy coatings are known for their exceptional chemical resistance, making them ideal for protecting against chemical spills that are common on driveways and garage floors.
Substances like oil, gasoline, or harsh cleaning chemicals can wreak havoc on unprotected concrete surfaces, causing staining, deterioration, and safety hazards. However, with an epoxy coating, these chemicals are repelled, preventing them from penetrating the surface and causing damage to the concrete.
Because the oil spill or grease mark remains on the surface and does not penetrate into the concrete, it is relatively easy to clean up and avoid a stain. Often cleaning chemicals used on driveways or garage floors contain bleach or ammonia-based compounds. An epoxy coating is pretty much inert to such harsh chemicals.
2. Excellent Abrasion Resistance
More often than not, car and truck tires have dust and sand stuck to them, making them pretty abrasive. However, epoxy coatings have excellent abrasion resistance. They do not get scratched, dented or abraded by the wear and tear caused by car tire movement on them.
The constant traffic of vehicles on a concrete driveway will slowly, but surely abrade the surface. Cracking, pitting, and surface deterioration is sure to follow. However, with an epoxy coating, the surface is fortified. Epoxy driveway coating can protect the concrete from car tires, foot traffic, and even sand or snow storms.
3. Terrific Adhesion
Epoxy coatings will stick to almost any surface, be it metal, wood or concrete. As such the terrific adhesion of epoxy coatings to concrete surfaces, whether driveways or garage floors, is a huge advantage.
When correctly applied, epoxy forms a strong bond with the concrete substrate. Of course the concrete surface should be prepped and primed as recommended. In the rare occasion when the epoxy coating delaminates, a closer examination will reveal that the bond is still intact but the concrete has failed.
A requirement of surface preparation is that the concrete surface should be just slightly rough. Only then can the epoxy penetrate into the pores of the concrete and anchor itself firmly. Using a compatible primer is also critical to ensuring good adhesion.
4. Stunning Aesthetics & Design Options
Epoxy coatings let you create stunning aesthetics for concrete surfaces like driveways or garage floors. With a wide range of design options, you can customize the look to suit your preference and complement the existing looks of your home.
Epoxy coatings come in a wide range of colors, from classic neutrals to vibrant hues, allowing for endless design possibilities. Generally speaking, epoxy coatings will result in a high gloss finish that gives your driveway or garage floor a polished and professional look.
If you want something even fancier, you can choose to incorporate decorative elements such as flakes or metallic pigments. They can add texture and visual interest to the surface.
5. Low Maintenance
Epoxy coatings are prized for their low maintenance requirements. Unlike other flooring options, such as bare concrete or traditional paving, epoxy coatings are resistant to stains, spills, and surface damage.
Once you apply epoxy coating to a concrete surface, you can pretty much forget it. All an epoxy driveway coating needs is regular sweeping with a broom to remove the dust and debris and an occasional rinsing with some soap water and a garden hose.
Unlike porous or soft sticky resurfacing options, an epoxy coat will not harbor dirt and grime. In fact, epoxy coatings create a smooth, non-porous surface that repels stains and spills, making cleanup a breeze.
Further, epoxy coatings are durable and long-lasting, reducing the need for frequent repairs or replacements.
Cons of Epoxy Coatings
Based on the above pros, it may seem that an epoxy driveway coating is an excellent resurfacing option. Unfortunately some of the cons discussed below make epoxy coatings quite unsuitable for residential driveways.
1. Very Poor UV Resistance
One significant drawback of epoxy coatings is their poor UV resistance. UV rays from the sun break down the epoxy coating resulting in discoloration, yellowing, fading, chalking, brittleness and even peeling.
UV exposure also weakens the chemical bonds within the epoxy, making it less and less effective as time goes by. While certain epoxy products such as Rust-Oleum EPOXYSHIELD Garage Floor Coating will last for years, the product label specifically mentions that it is for interior use only.
Should you want to use an epoxy coating on your driveway, you will need to overcoat it with an UV-resistant top coat, such as a polyurethane or a polyaspartic.
2. Peeling or Delamination Risks
I know I have mentioned in the pros that epoxy coating has excellent adhesion to concrete. I stand by it but there is a caveat. The concrete substrate must be sound and have a negligible water content.
The adhesion of the epoxy to the concrete substance is highly dependent on the moisture content of the concrete driveway. Concrete is a very porous material and it sits on grade which is also porous.
Groundwater is most likely wick up due to capillary action and make the interface between the concrete and epoxy moist. If the driveway had an impervious membrane between the grade and the concrete, that would help.
In my opinion, a serious “no-no” for using epoxy over concrete driveway is the high risk of peeling or delamination.
3. Hard but Brittle
The advantage of using epoxy is that it forms a very hard film. Unfortunately, hardness comes with brittleness. In essence an epoxy coating is great at handling stresses cause by compressive forces or impact but poor at handling tensile stress.
Unlike flexible coatings, such as polyurethanes, that can bend, epoxy coatings are rigid and will mirror cracks in the underlying concrete. When the concrete driveway shifts or settles due to soil movement or other factors, the epoxy coating is quite likely to crack.
While epoxy coatings could provide a durable and attractive finish for driveways, their lack of flexibility makes them vulnerable to crack propagation. The high gloss levels of epoxy coatings only exaggerate the appearance of cracks.
A coating with cracks can not protect the concrete below as it can not stop moisture migration. It is also aesthetically unappealing.
4. High Material Cost
A standard 2 car garage is 20’X20′ (400 sq ft), whereas a residential concrete driveway could be from 40’X20′ (800 sq ft) up to 100’X20′ (2000 sq ft). So, epoxy driveway coating will cost you twice to 5 times as much as epoxy garage floor coating.
Here is a table to give you a feel for the numbers
Material Cost Comparison
| Dimension | Area (sq ft) | EpoxyShield (2 part Epoxy) | RockSolid (Self Leveling) |
| 20’X20′ | 400 | $200 | $250 |
| 40’X20′ | 800 | $400 | $500 |
| 60’X20′ | 1200 | $600 | $750 |
| 80’X20′ | 1600 | $800 | $1000 |
| 100’X20′ | 2000 | $1000 | $1250 |
NOTE: You will not be able to use a self-leveling epoxy on most driveways, unlike garage floors, as driveways usually slope from the house to the curb.
The Best Alternative
The bottom line is that an epoxy coating is fantastic but just not suitable for outdoor applications like driveways. So what is the best alternative for protecting your concrete driveway?
Acrylic topical concrete driveway sealers are the most cost-effective and practical answer to keeping your concrete driveway in good shape.
Acrylic topical concrete sealers use acrylic polymer resin as the binder in their formulation. Acrylic polymer resin is derived from acrylic acid or its derivatives.
Of course, acrylic topical concrete driveway sealers also contain other ingredients such as, solvents, UV stabilizers, and adhesion promoters. The solvent could be water or a hydrocarbon.
When the acrylic sealer is applied onto the concrete surface, the solvent in the sealer begins to evaporate, the acrylic polymers coalesce and bond together, forming a continuous film that adheres to the concrete surface.
I highly recommend Foundation Armor AR350 Solvent Based Acrylic Wet Look Concrete Sealer as it is the best concrete driveway sealer for you, in my opinion!
I like it because it:
- Results in a durable, non-yellowing finish with a low gloss wet look
- Reduces damage from abrasion, road salts, water absorption, and UV exposure.
- Lasts 1-3 years before recoating and is made with high-quality US-manufactured resins.
- Easy to apply with a roller or sprayer, suitable for unsealed or previously sealed surfaces.
Foundation Armor AR350 Solvent Based Acrylic Wet Look Concrete Sealer
- Enhances dull and faded concrete driveway with a low gloss wet look.
- Reduces damage caused by surface abrasion, road salts, water absorption, and exposure to the elements.
- UV resistant, non-yellowing, breathable.
- Can last for up to 1-3 years before the need to recoat.
Choosing The Right VOC For Your State: VOC regulations for paint/sealers/coatings vary by state. Please use the following VOC guidelines to help choose the appropriate formulation for your project.
- 700 VOC: The 700 VOC formulation can be shipped to every state except AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, IL, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, UT, VA.
- 350 VOC: The 350 VOC formulation can be shipped to every state except CA, CO, NY, OH.
- 50 VOC: The 50 VOC formulation can be shipped to every state.
Thank you very much for reading this post. I do hope you found it informative and helpful.
