Epoxy coatings are hard, two-component films that bond tightly to properly prepared concrete and steel and resist chemicals, abrasion and corrosion. They suit plant floors, secondary containment, structural steel and primers under other coatings. Epoxy is the right call for interior or protected surfaces that need chemical resistance and a cleanable finish and do not move much.
Epoxy coatings create a hard, chemical-resistant barrier over steel, concrete, and metal substrates — protecting against corrosion, abrasion, and chemical exposure in industrial and manufacturing environments.
We apply epoxy systems to structural steel, concrete floors, and metal roof substrates, selecting formulations rated for the specific chemical and traffic exposure on each project.
Epoxy fails fast on a poorly prepped surface — rust, contamination, or moisture under the coating will undermine adhesion no matter how good the product is. We media-blast or grind every substrate to spec profile before we prime.
That surface prep discipline is why our epoxy systems hold up under real industrial use, not just in the spec sheet.
Most epoxy systems have a primer, a build coat and often a topcoat. Each layer needs the right surface and the right conditions, in order.
| Spec | Typical Value |
|---|---|
| Chemistry | Two-component epoxy resin and amine-type hardener; novolac for aggressive chemicals |
| System build | Primer, build coat, optional topcoat |
| Concrete prep | Typical: shot blast or grind to ICRI CSP 2 to 5, per system |
| Steel prep | Typical: SSPC-SP 6 to SP 10 abrasive blast, per exposure |
| Film build | Typical: 4 to 10 mils dry per coat on steel; thicker for floors and linings |
| Foot traffic | Typical: 12 to 24 hours at about 70°F |
| Full chemical cure | Typical: about 5 to 7 days at about 70°F |
| Sunlight | Chalks outdoors; topcoat with polyurethane |
Epoxy material is a small part of the price. Most of the cost comes from preparing the substrate and fitting the cure time into your operations.
Spalls, cracks, old coatings, oil-soaked concrete and corroded steel all add removal and repair work before the first coat.
When testing shows high moisture vapor emission, a moisture-mitigation primer is needed to keep the coating from blistering or debonding.
Standard epoxies cost less than novolac and other chemical-resistant linings. The harsher the exposure, the higher the material grade and thickness.
A thin-film sealer, a broadcast system and a troweled mortar are different scopes. Coves, trench drains and joints add detail work.
Working in sections, nights or weekends keeps a plant running, but it adds mobilizations and limits how much area cures at once.
| Epoxy & Protective Coatings | Polyurea Coatings | Polyurethane Coatings | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardness | Very hard, rigid | Elastomeric, tough | Hard to flexible | |
| Chemical resistance | Broad; novolac grades for harsh exposure | Good; check data per chemical | Good against oils and weather | |
| Crack bridging | Low | High | Moderate | |
| Return to service | Slowest; days for full cure | Fastest; often hours | Moderate; varies by product | |
| Outdoor UV | Needs a topcoat | Aliphatic grades only | Aliphatic grades hold color | |
| Common job | Floors, containment, primers | Tanks, rims, fast shutdowns | Topcoats, exposed steel | |
Strong Contractors takes on spray foam, coating, and ballast removal projects outside Colorado, bringing our own crews, equipment, and project management to the job. Before we bid an out-of-state project, we confirm that state’s licensing, registration, and permit requirements so the work moves forward cleanly.
Most epoxy floor systems take foot traffic in 12 to 24 hours and vehicle traffic in a few days, with full chemical resistance after 5 to 7 days at room temperature. Cold slabs slow curing considerably. We confirm the cure schedule for your specific product and plan the sequence around when each area must reopen.
The most common causes are moisture rising through the slab, a surface that was never profiled and contamination such as oil or curing compounds. Applying outside the product’s temperature range or missing its recoat window also weakens the bond. Moisture testing and mechanical prep before the first coat prevent most of these failures.
Usually the failed material has to come off first, because a new coating is only as good as the layer it bonds to. At South Platte Renew, an epoxy coating applied by another company had failed on a corroded 500,000-gallon wastewater tank rim. We blasted the rim to near-white metal (SSPC-SP 10) and applied fast-setting polyurea to meet a tight deadline. The surface and the schedule pick the coating.
Epoxy works outdoors as a primer or build coat, but exposed epoxy chalks and fades in sunlight. For exterior steel, tanks and platforms, epoxy is typically topcoated with a UV-stable aliphatic polyurethane. That pairing gives you the adhesion and corrosion protection of epoxy with a finish that holds its color.
Novolac epoxy is more densely crosslinked, which gives it stronger resistance to concentrated acids, solvents and higher temperatures. It is typically used in secondary containment, sumps and chemical process areas. Standard epoxies cost less and work well for floors and general protection. We specify the grade based on the chemicals on your site.
Often, by phasing the work. A floor can be split into sections, worked on nights or weekends, and isolated so production continues nearby. Odor and ventilation, cure time and traffic routing all shape the phasing plan, so we set it with your operations team before work begins.
Yes. Our epoxy work covers floor systems, including anti-slip and heavy-duty floors, as well as protective coatings on structural steel, tank and vessel surfaces, and equipment. The prep, product and thickness change with each surface, so every scope starts with a review of the substrate and the exposure.
