What Is Epoxy Flooring? Types, Finishes and Where It Is Used

Epoxy flooring is a resin-based coating applied over concrete. A hardening agent is mixed in, so the resin sets into a hard, seamless surface. The main Australian types are self-levelling, flake, metallic, solid colour and high-build systems. Installer pages describe them differently, so check the product data sheet.

What epoxy flooring is

A resin and a hardener

Epoxy flooring is a resin with a hardening agent applied over the concrete surface, as one source puts it. The two parts react chemically, which is why it is described as a two-part system and not as paint. One installer notes epoxy resins were first used in mid-20th-century industrial and military settings for their chemical resistance and adhesion, and today it is treated as an alternative to tiles, vinyl and polished concrete.

What it is not

It is not polished concrete, which is the slab itself ground and polished. The comparison is in epoxy vs polished concrete for a garage floor.

The main types

Self-levelling

Applied over new, old or cracked concrete to make a smooth, seamless, level surface. Installers describe it as the most common variant for offices and commercial venues.

Flake

Small chips of coloured vinyl or acrylic are scattered onto a base coat and sealed with a clear topcoat. The flakes help hide imperfections and add grip. One Sydney installer gives about 1 to 3 mm as the typical thickness.

Metallic

Metallic pigments are mixed into clear, 100 percent solids, self-levelling epoxy to give a shimmering effect. The same installer gives about 2 to 4 mm. See metallic epoxy flooring.

Solid colour

A single uniform colour, popular in showrooms and retail spaces according to one supplier.

High-build or industrial

Applied in thick layers, about 2 to 5 mm, and designed to resist forklifts, impacts and chemicals.

Where it is used

Homes

Garages are the usual domestic use. Flake and metallic finishes are the common decorative choices, and a garage floor is where the cost question comes up most: see what epoxy flooring costs.

Commercial and industrial sites

Installers list warehouses, showrooms, offices, commercial kitchens and industrial sites. Fast-curing resins such as polyaspartic are covered in polyaspartic vs epoxy garage floor. Kitchen floors have their own requirements: see commercial kitchen flooring.

What the sources say it does well and badly

Strengths

The sources describe epoxy as resistant to stains, easy to clean with a mop and water, able to cover surface inconsistencies and available in many colours. One Australian installer calls it hard-wearing, non-slip and waterproof, which is marketing language, so ask what the specific system is rated for.

Limits

Prolonged sun can make some epoxy floors yellow or fade. Grip is not automatic: traction usually depends on added flakes or additives. A coating can also fail if the slab is damp or badly prepared, which is why moisture barriers for epoxy floors matter.

Thickness and product details

Thickness and product details differ between installers. We found no Australian standard or independent test data to check them against. Ask for the product data sheet and compare it with what the quote says, rather than relying on a general figure from a web page.

Questions to ask before you book

About the system

Which resin, how many coats, what thickness and what topcoat? Is the topcoat UV stable? What is the cure schedule?

About the slab

How will it be prepared, and is diamond grinding included? Has it been tested for moisture? Are cracks assessed first? See concrete crack repair.

Find an installer in NSW

NSW Flooring lists 56 businesses with a confirmed epoxy service across 22 regions, from Google Maps, retrieved 22 October 2026. Start with epoxy flooring western sydney, epoxy flooring south west sydney or epoxy flooring newcastle & hunter, or browse all epoxy flooring contractors in NSW. Read how this directory collects data first.

Quick answers

Can epoxy go over cracked concrete?

Installers say self-levelling systems can be applied over cracked concrete, but the crack and its cause need dealing with first. See concrete crack repair.

Is epoxy waterproof?

One Australian installer describes it as hard-wearing, non-slip and waterproof, but treat that as marketing and ask what the specific system is rated for.

Is epoxy the same as polyaspartic?

No. They are different resins, though some systems use both. See polyaspartic vs epoxy garage floor.

Does epoxy need a licence to install in NSW?

The NSW licence list does not name epoxy coating, so it is not confirmed either way. See do you need a licence for flooring work in NSW.