When you’re looking at new flooring to increase the value of your home, there are a few options that probably come to mind.
You’re most likely thinking of hardwood floors, though in some cases, you might want to rip out old carpets and opt for laminate flooring. You might even think about installing some tiled flooring in the bathroom or kitchen.
You’re almost definitely not thinking about epoxy flooring – but you should be.
Epoxy flooring has long been the domain of malls, car dealerships, and other commercial businesses.
We’re not going to recommend you use epoxy throughout your entire home – a home with epoxy flooring in the living room or master bedroom is almost definitely going to sell for less.
Instead, we’ll look at what makes epoxy such useful flooring material and at where and when you can use it in your home to increase property value.
The advantages of epoxy flooring
To understand the advantages of epoxy, we went straight to the source: a Canadian company that specializes in the epoxy installation, TCF West Concrete Finishing and Repair.
Here’s what they had to say: “Those looking for beautiful, functional, quality, and durable floors should consider this product; it’s both affordable and seamless, non-porous and stain-resistant.”.
Non-porous and stain-resistant are both excellent qualities in some areas of the home. Epoxy flooring can also be customized – it can be basically any color you want, and you can even get all kinds of interesting patterns on your floors.
Epoxy flooring is also exceptionally easy to maintain – routine maintenance just involves a dust mop and, occasionally, a simple cleaner (often with ammonia – you won’t want to use acidic cleaners).
The disadvantages of epoxy flooring
The disadvantages of epoxy are mostly aesthetic. The look and feel of epoxy aren’t what we would call “warm” – even if you opt for warmer colors.
That’s why, at the top, we mentioned we’d avoid it for bedrooms, living rooms, and the like – but that’s not to say it doesn’t have its specialized uses.
Where to use epoxy to add value to your home
In your garage
The garage has got to be the number one spot for epoxy flooring. It looks great, you can customize it, and the lack of warmth isn’t a problem at all since you’ll probably have shoes on in your garage anyway – and very few garages have a “cozy” aesthetic.
Functionally, epoxy is exactly what you want in the garage. It’s incredibly resistant to oil stains, which makes working on your vehicle that much easier.
It’s also a very durable material – it can sustain a lot of weight, and it’s impact-resistant. That means you can drive your car in and out of your garage several times a day without worrying about damage to your flooring.
All told, that means epoxy garage floors will seriously boost the value of your home to any car enthusiasts – or anyone who values a nice-looking garage. This is our top recommendation for where to use epoxy floors.
In your kitchen
Not every kitchen matches well with epoxy flooring. If you’re opting for French Country, Tuscan, or any other kind of traditional or rustic style, epoxy is not going to fit the bill – wood is the way.
On the other hand, if you’re going for a modern or industrial style, epoxy might be the perfect fit.
Not only does epoxy fit the aesthetic needs of a more modern-looking kitchen, where synthetics and metals are key, it also suits all of your functional kitchen floor needs.
Epoxy is almost impossible to stain, it’s heat-resistant, and it’s easy to care for. There’s a reason it’s often used in commercial kitchens and elsewhere in the food and beverage industry.
And remember – epoxy can come in any color you can imagine. That means you can get an epoxy floor that matches the rest of your kitchen’s color palette perfectly.
Outside your home
There are plenty of uses for epoxy outside your home, too – though it might not quite count as flooring, we felt they were worth including here briefly: Epoxy driveways and epoxy exterior steps are all becoming quite popular.
If you’ve got a pool, you can also use epoxy for your pool deck.
DIY vs. professional epoxy installation
DIY epoxy kits are readily available – they’re especially popular for garage floors. You should know that the DIY epoxy kits are rarely as long-lasting or as customizable as what you can get with professional installation.
You might decide to DIY your epoxy garage floor if:
- You have the time
- You have the skillset (it’s not terribly complicated, but it does take some handiwork)
- You don’t want to shell out the extra money for a contractor (DIY is a lot cheaper)
We don’t recommend using a DIY epoxy kit indoors – so save the kitchen floor installation to the professionals. Of course, in order to ensure the work is professionally done, you’ll need to find yourself a good contractor.
We found these tips for hiring a commercial contractor, and everything in there, from checking their previous work to getting multiple quotes, applies to when you’re looking for someone to install epoxy flooring.
Will DIY epoxy add value to your home?
When we talk about “adding value to your home,” it’s all about cost-benefit analysis. DIY epoxy is much less expensive, so if you do an incredible job, it’s sure to add value to your home.
On the other hand, if you botch it, you’ll probably reduce your home’s value. That’s why, most of the time, if value-added is your main concern, you should always opt for a professional installation. The only exception is if you’re very sure of your DIY skills.
Great epoxy floors can be jaw-dropping
At the end of the day, what adds value to a home is somewhat subjective. It depends on a person’s aesthetic preferences, as well as on what matters to them.
Epoxy floors can add to a home’s value because they’re durable, easy to maintain, and stain-resistant. They can even be made slip-resistant. Epoxy flooring Florida is also water-resistant. This means that it helps protect your floors from any spill as well as harsh chemicals.
The extent to which they’ll add value to your home depends on how they look, how they match the overriding aesthetic of your home (reminder: epoxy and French Country don’t mix), and how well you or your real estate agent can explain their benefits to a potential buyer.
Happy renovating!