3 Reasons to Avoid Coating Epoxy Over Concrete Driveway

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You may have heard that applying epoxy over concrete driveway is a great way to resurface and rejuvenate your old, boring and worn out driveway. 

To be honest there is truth in it, but it is not the complete truth!

Epoxy is terrific for garage floors. However, it is not such a great concrete driveway resurfacing option.

Application of epoxy over concrete driveway certainly has the potential for transforming it, both in looks and performance. 

However, an epoxy coating on a driveway with heavy traffic and continuous exposure to the vagaries of weather carries 3 major downsides!

So before you jump on to the bandwagon, you may want to consider the pros and cons of using epoxy over concrete driveway to resurface it. 

This post does exactly that, so that you have a complete understanding and can then make an informed decision.

Epoxy Over Concrete Driveway – Key Takeaways

Pros
Enhanced Durability and Longevity
Epoxy coatings provide exceptional resistance against chemicals, oils and stains. They are also hard wearing and abrasion resistant. Your driveway looks beautiful for longer.
Aesthetic Versatility and Customization
With a wide range of colors and finishes available, epoxy coatings can create visually appealing driveways. For a unique and stunning look, consider using decorative flakes.
Low Maintenance Requirements
Epoxy-coated driveways are relatively easy to maintain, requiring only regular sweeping and occasional pressure washing to keep the surface clean. They reduce the need for frequent resealing or reapplication.
Enhanced Safety and Slip Resistance
Non-skid additives can be added to the top coat to improve traction and reduces the risk of slips and falls, especially during wet or icy conditions, providing a safer driveway for you and your family.
Cons
Potential for Peeling or Delamination
Wicking of groundwater from grade to the concrete can result in peeling or delamination of the epoxy coat from the driveway. Use of penetrating sealer can mitigate the risk.
Vulnerability to UV Exposure and Potential Fading
Over time, exposure to sunlight can cause the epoxy coating to fade or yellow. Applying a UV-resistant topcoat periodically can help mitigate this issue and preserve the appearance of your driveway.
Higher Initial Cost Compared to Traditional Concrete Finishes
While epoxy coatings offer numerous benefits, they do require a higher upfront investment compared to traditional concrete finishes.

Read on for all the details:

Pros of Epoxy Over Concrete Driveway

Enhanced Durability and Longevity

Epoxy coatings are extremely hard wearing and abrasion resistant making them a great choice to resist wear & tear from tires.

By applying an epoxy coating to your concrete driveway, you get enhanced resistance against chemicals, oils and stains too.

Unlike traditional concrete surfaces, epoxy-coated driveways are known for their long-lasting performance, ensuring that your investment will stand the test of time.

Aesthetic Versatility and Customization

Epoxy coatings offer a wide range of aesthetic possibilities for your driveway. With an extensive selection of colors and finishes to choose from, you can create a unique design that complements your home’s style. 

In my opinion a classic sleek and glossy look is timeless and goes well with most architectural styles. However, if you are so inclined, you can create patterns or print designs on your driveway using stencils and different colors.

For a stunning and unique looking driveway use decorative flakes. Be sure to lock in the flakes with a coat or two of clear topcoat.

Epoxy over concrete driveway provides the flexibility to achieve your desired look. Enhancing the curb appeal of your driveway has never been easier!

Low Maintenance Requirements

Maintaining an epoxy-coated concrete driveway is relatively hassle-free. Regular sweeping and occasional pressure washing are usually sufficient to keep the surface clean and free from dust, dirt, and debris. 

Epoxy coatings are resistant to oil spills and grease stains, minimizing the need for frequent resealing or reapplication.

Overall, epoxy over concrete driveway will significantly reduce the time and effort that is generally required to maintain it in good condition.

Enhanced Safety and Slip Resistance

Safety is a crucial consideration for any driveway surface, and epoxy coatings can help in many ways.

As epoxy coating is available in a range of colors including traffic colors such as white, black, yellow and orange, it is possible to make your driveway comply with good visibility and safety practices.

Typically epoxy coatings, especially high gloss finishes, are slippery when wet. However, the use of anti skid additives in the epoxy coating can make your driveway slip resistant and safe.

The smooth and non-porous nature of epoxy-coated driveways makes snow removal easier, as shoveling or plowing can be done with minimal effort. 

All these factors make concrete driveways that are resurfaced with epoxy coating, much safer. 

Cons of Epoxy Over Concrete Driveway

Potential for Peeling or Delamination

In my opinion, the most serious pitfall of using epoxy over concrete driveway is the highly possible risk of peeling or delamination.

The adhesion of the epoxy to the concrete substance is highly dependent on the moisture content of the concrete driveway. The 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.

Your only option is to repair and fill all the cracks and seal the old concrete with a high quality penetrating sealer. You must certainly do this and hope for the best!

Vulnerability to UV Exposure and Fading

Epoxy has very poor UV resistance. Over time, exposure to sunlight will cause the epoxy over concrete driveway to lose its gloss, fade and yellow. 

To mitigate this, a UV-resistant PU topcoat must be applied over the epoxy coating. PU has very good resistance to UV but its abrasion resistance is poor. It will need periodic reapplication.

Another way to reduce the visual effect of fading is to use colors such as gray or blue that are less prone to fading than brighter colors like yellow or orange.

Actually, if the entire driveway was to fade uniformly, it would not look too bad. Unfortunately areas that are in shade, say of a tree, do not fade as fast and the result is that you end up having a patchy driveway.

Using decorative flakes that are sprinkled on the epoxy coat and overcoated with UV resistant PU clear topcoat will camouflage the effect of fading. The fading is unlikely to be noticed.

Initial Cost and Installation Complexity

The fact is that epoxy over concrete driveway is not a cheap resurfacing option. The coating itself is fairly expensive.

Applying epoxy over concrete driveway can be considered as a DIY activity and many homeowners do the application themselves.

However, it does require skill and experience to do it right and get the perfect finish. If you are not confident then you will require professional installation. And that further adds to the cost!

Some resurfacing materials, especially flexible rubberized coatings, require minimal surface preparation before application. Not so with epoxy. The surface preparation for an epoxy coat has to be extensive.

Obviously this also increases the cost, time and effort requirement.

Bottom Line

The bottom line is that while epoxy has many advantages when it comes to concrete floors it is best kept indoors. Epoxy over concrete driveway is not a good idea and there are many other better options, such as micro topping, skim coat and cementitious overlays.

RECOMMENDED PRODUCT

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The Best Concrete Resurfacer for Your Driveway, Patio, Walkway, etc.

The best DIY Concrete Resurfacer for small or even slightly larger exterior concrete surfaces such as driveways, concrete walks, patios, etc. is Sakrete Flo-Coat Concrete Resurfacer. The product is a polymer-modified, sand and cement resurfacing material requiring only the addition of clean water.

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Thank you very much for reading this post. I do hope you found it informative and helpful.