An epoxy floor coating will do many things for your garage floor. Many people are turning to it to improve the look and safety of their concrete floors. Although it is being used in many homes, it is often questioned whether or not it is safe for pets. Also, how do you select the right one?
Epoxy is a floor coating that is applied to concrete floors. It resists grease, oil and many other substances. It creates a surface that is easier to clean, and often increases the life span of a floor. Epoxy usually comes in two parts that are mixed together right before they are applied. One part is the resin, and the other part is the hardener, and when mixed together create an extremely strong bond. They are found in either a solvent or liquid based form when purchased for noncommercial, home based projects. The liquid that forms can be painted onto the floors surface.
When epoxy is in liquid form it can be dangerous. While it is being applied it is important to keep children and pets away, and also to turn off any appliances that are located in the area. When applying an epoxy floor coating it is also important to wear protective clothing so it doesn’t come into contact with skin, and to make sure the area is well ventilated. Pets should be kept away from a floor that has been painted with epoxy until it has completely hardened. This could be up to 7-10 days depending on the product.
Once epoxy is dry and has hardened, it is perfectly safe for pets. In fact many kennels are using it. Since they are often made with concrete, applying epoxy to the floors in a kennel makes the cleaning a much easier process. New kennels along with those that are making improvements are turning to epoxy. It can also be skid resistant which makes it a popular choice with many kennels. Veterinary clinics use epoxy in their operating rooms for the ease of cleaning, and the skid resistance.
Although there may be information around that leads to the belief that epoxy is toxic to animals, This is only the case before it has hardened. You do want to make sure that pets are kept away during the process of applying the paint, and while it it drying. But, after it has hardened, epoxy is a safe floor covering to have in your garage, basement or any other surface in your home or business where you will keep your pets.
It will also serve as a safety precaution to prevent you from falling, particularly when it’s wet. This type of non slip floor coating, when properly applied will look shiny and smooth, but won’t let you get injured from a fall.