Epoxy, polyaspartic or PU-cement flooring?
Choosing between epoxy, polyaspartic and polyurethane cement starts with the job the floor must do. A dry warehouse aisle, a daylit showroom and a kitchen receiving hot washdown have different demands even when all three are concrete floors. This guide compares the three ALKA pathways, then shows what to verify before ordering a complete system.
Epoxy vs polyaspartic vs PU cement at a glance
| Decision | Epoxy | Polyaspartic | Polyurethane cement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where to start | General indoor industrial and commercial floors needing a hard-wearing, cleanable finish. | Where exposed colour, decorative finish or a limited shutdown window is a significant design factor. | Wet processing, hot-water cleaning, thermal cycling and impact-heavy service. |
| ALKA examples | ALKA-902 with ALKA 110; ALKA-901 for a nominated higher-build route. | ALKA 210 as a pigmented layer in an approved build; confirm the compatible primer and full schedule. | ALKACRETE 255 in ALKA-904 for severe thermal/wet duty. |
| Important check | Moisture, concrete strength, chemical exposure and any daylight-facing finish. | Exact primer and intercoat compatibility, UV exposure, ambient conditions and verified reopening schedule. | Specified build thickness, anchorage and drains, thermal cycle, chemical register and texture for wet traffic. |
These are selection directions, not a ranking of strength. A specified epoxy system can be substantial; a thin polyaspartic finish does not replace a damaged concrete substrate; and PU cement is not automatically needed on every busy floor. Compare installed systems at their approved thickness and finish, under the same exposure.
Choose by the exposure that matters most
Dry traffic and a straightforward indoor finish: start with epoxy
For a sound, prepared warehouse, workshop or showroom slab, an epoxy route is a useful starting point. ALKA-902 describes the general-purpose system, while ALKA 110 Revision 4 describes the pigmented wearing layer, surface preparation, application controls and limitations. For greater build or a smoother presentation, review ALKA-901. A smooth gloss floor and a textured floor require different finishing and cleaning decisions.
Do not select by the word “epoxy” alone if there are concentrated solvents, high-temperature washdown or a prominent sunlit threshold. List the actual substances, temperatures, dwell times and cleaning cycles for a written compatibility review. ALKA 110’s TDS does not treat a generic chemical-resistance statement as an unlimited approval, and it asks that exterior suitability and any compatible finish be confirmed.
Daylight, colour and programme pressure: review polyaspartic
ALKA 210 is a two-component pigmented polyaspartic product; its Revision 4 TDS positions it as a wearing or finish layer in selected coloured and decorative builds. It is a route to consider where daylight exposure and appearance matter, provided the complete system is approved for the site. A polyaspartic finish can also be paired with an epoxy body only when the specific primer, epoxy layer, intercoat condition and finish are confirmed as compatible.
For a short shutdown, request a temperature-specific installation and reopening programme for the complete proposed build. “Touch dry,” “ready for another coat,” “light traffic” and “full service” are different milestones. The published ALKA 210 data does not justify a blanket next-day traffic promise for every polyaspartic floor; verify the selected primer, finish, film build and actual site conditions before scheduling access.
Wet heat and process duty: review PU cement
In commercial kitchens, dairies and process rooms, consider the combined effect of hot-water washdown, temperature swings, wheeled loads, spills, drainage and repeated cleaning. ALKA-904 is the published thermal-duty route using ALKACRETE 255, a three-component polyurethane cement topping. The product information describes a trowelled, millimetre-scale build; request the current approved sheet for preparation and anchorage details around boundaries and drains. The final thickness and thermal resistance must be specified together; one product name is not a blanket hot-washdown rating.
For food premises, floor design must also suit the activity, allow effective cleaning and address water, grease and food particles under Food Standards Australia New Zealand Standard 3.2.3. Ask for the evidence covering any claimed food-related approval for the exact product and use. A smooth surface may clean more easily, while wet or greasy traffic may need greater grip. Choose a testable texture with the operator; aggregate changes the cleaning method as well as traction. Safe Work Australia’s slip guidance makes wet contamination and maintenance part of the assessment.
What to confirm before choosing the build
- Map the slab: age, strength and surface condition, existing coatings, repairs, cracks, movement joints, falls and drains. Investigate oil penetration or unsound concrete rather than assuming a coating will conceal it.
- Measure moisture: agree a quantitative test and product-specific acceptance criteria. ASTM F2170 describes in-slab relative-humidity testing; its result represents the locations and time tested. A damp-tolerant claim does not establish protection against rising moisture or hydrostatic pressure.
- Define service: traffic type and turning points; sun and weather; each chemical’s concentration, temperature and spill dwell time; cleaning agents and washdown temperature; wet-traffic slip target.
- Approve layers: preparation profile, repairs, primer, body, aggregate, finish, nominal thickness, recoat window and joint/drain details. Trial a representative area where the substrate or an existing coating is uncertain.
- Agree release: record installation conditions, curing stages, inspections and the earliest permitted traffic, washing and chemical exposure. Use the current TDS and SDS for every supplied component.
If adhesion is disputed, ASTM D7234 addresses pull-off testing of coatings on concrete; agree test locations, cure, acceptance and failure-mode reporting before the trial. A measured number without its failure mode can mislead.
Common questions
Is polyaspartic always faster than epoxy?
No. A rapid-cure system can help a time-critical programme, but installed thickness, primer, temperature, humidity and service load control the actual schedule. Compare the specified systems and their current product data, not the resin names.
Can I put polyaspartic directly over an existing epoxy floor?
Only after confirming the existing coating is sound and compatible, preparing it to the approved procedure, and checking the permitted recoat condition. On an unknown floor, use a representative trial and agreed adhesion assessment.
Does PU cement solve a wet or damaged slab?
No blanket answer. ALKACRETE 255’s TDS describes moisture tolerance, but its own application limits still apply. Investigate the moisture source, weak concrete, movement, drain details and condensation. Repair or redesign failed substrate conditions before specifying the topping.
Technical references
- ALKA 110 Technical Data Sheet, Revision 4 and ALKA 210 Technical Data Sheet, Revision 4.
- ALKACRETE 255 product information; obtain the current approved TDS and written project build before specification.
- FSANZ Standard 3.2.3 guidance; Safe Work Australia slip and trip hazards.
- ASTM F2170, in-slab RH method; ASTM D7234, pull-off strength of coatings on concrete. The standards’ full texts may require purchase.
Need a project-specific build?
Send the substrate condition, exposure, photos and programme to ALKA for a technical review of the complete system.
Planning guidance only. Confirm the current technically approved ALKA TDS/SDS, compatibility, testing and application limits before specifying or installing a system.