When applied to the floor, epoxy’s strength makes it a better option for areas that get a lot of heavy traffic from cars and equipment, such as garages. Polyurethane’s flexibility means it’s great to apply to floors that are prone to impacts and scratches, such as outdoor and warehouse floors.
For this reason, polyurethane is often the coating used in hospitals, food manufacturing plants, breweries, and kitchen floors.
Typically, polyurethane costs around $5 – $7 per square foot/meter while epoxy costs about $3 to $6 per square foot/meter. [4] X Research source
Unlike epoxy, polyurethane is pretty thin and isn’t as good at filling in cracks and unevenness.
However, epoxy’s bond depends on how well the concrete is prepared. For a great bond, polish the concrete thoroughly. Sweep and clean the concrete to remove dirt and debris. Then, give it a good sanding with a diamond grinder or an abrasive shot blaster.
If polyurethane is applied with humidity present, it can easily develop unsightly bumps. It also won’t dry as quickly.
This usually makes polyurethane the better choice for outdoor projects.
Epoxy has a longer cure time, often taking 7 days to dry and harden fully.
