Advantages and Disadvantages of Epoxy Resin Countertops
The popularity of epoxy countertops is increasing day by day across the world. Thanks to their durability and mechanical resilience. But similar to any other materials, there are advantages and disadvantages of epoxy resin countertops.
And today, that’s what we’re going to unfold!
But, before heading to the pros and cons of epoxy countertops, it’s vital to know what it is actually!?!?
What Is An Epoxy Resin Countertop?
There’re various types of countertops you can install in your kitchen, bathroom, or workroom. It can be made up of materials like marble, granite, or laminate. You can find most of these materials in home improvement stores.
However, that’s not the case with an epoxy countertop.
It refers to a coat of resin applied to an already existing countertop. Unlike granite and marble, you’d have to make one yourself or get a professional to do it for you. And this coat produces a rock-hard and glazy durable finish that refurbishes the surface.
You can turn any surface including wood and concrete into an acrylic-coated countertop. Considering its durability, your surfaces will last for years without getting damaged provided it is properly maintained.
Advantages of Epoxy Resin Countertops
Extremely Durable
The acrylic coat forms a durable surface when it cures fully. It protects the surface from various damages for a very long time. You can treat it as your usual one made with other types of materials. Some acrylic coats are highly heat resistant.
So the extra-hard finish doesn’t chip off or scratch easily and becomes moisture-resistant as well.
High Gloss Finish
Cured epoxy gives your surfaces a glossy polished and super-shiny finish. For this, you can use it to make worn-out or cheap materials look more luxurious. Unlike other coatings, this shine is durable, so you don’t need additional layers to keep it looking new.
This is because it doesn’t fade or turn dull over its lifetime.
Food-Safe & Non-Toxic
Although this doesn’t apply to all epoxies, most brands in the market are non-toxic. It means their formulas are free of harmful ingredients and VOCs. So, they’re safe to use on food preparation surfaces and don’t have any negative impacts on your health.
However, you’ve to ensure the epoxy has cured fully before you put your meals over the surface.
Simple to Clean
Resin-coated surfaces are quite simple to clean and care for. They are compatible with most cleaning products in the market. Besides, being hard and non-porous, deep cleaning is rarely needed. Instead, you just need a rag and a non-toxic cleaner.
That way, you can effectively clean your countertop without damaging its glossy finish.
Heat-Resistant
Apart from being resistant to scratches and cracks, the surface becomes high-temperature resistant. So, placing hot food dishes, coffee mugs, water bottles, or hot pans on your epoxy countertop won’t affect its finish.
This, however, doesn’t mean that it becomes fully heatproof. You better note the heat tolerance level of the material you’ve used. And treat the surface following its tolerance.
Unlimited Design Options
There’re tons of epoxy resin countertop design ideas you can implement. You can put pattern, cell, and lacing effects with various color pigments you can think of. However, the simplest design is the use of plain hardener and resin. This produces a clear and shiny finish on the surface.
You can use color resins to create an opaque finish that matches your kitchen’s aesthetics. Also, you can add metallic resin to create a unique art piece. Overall, these options will allow you to decorate your countertops with various designs.
Adheres to Most Countertop Materials
Epoxy resin is one of the most versatile materials for finishing your countertops. Thanks to its ability to adhere to almost every material out there. You can apply it on granite, wood, Formica, natural stone, granite, and more.
Seamless
One major drawback of marble and laminate countertops is that they form seam lines. These lines disrupt the counter’s pattern and provide cracks for debris and food to hide in. Luckily, you can solve that issue once and for all by pouring epoxy.
It involves a single-pour process, thus offering a seamless surface. That brings me to the end of the benefits of resin-coated countertops. Now, let’s have a look at its drawbacks!
Disadvantages of Epoxy Countertops
Messy Application Process
One of the biggest cons of epoxy countertops is that it’s quite messy to apply. Regardless of how careful you’re, the chances of making a mess are quite high. Unfortunately, most manufacturers will make you believe that the application process is simple.
In reality, pouring the acrylic can be a bit challenging. It becomes complicated if you don’t follow the right procedure with all the required materials equipped.
For this, I always encourage DIYers to wear protective clothes, respirator masks, resin gloves, etc. Also, make sure you use some high-quality resin tape to mold the edges. Then, coat the edges and get the surface leveled. You should also cover the floor with a plastic sheet and move portable units out of the space.
You also need to find a way to remove bubbles that appear in the resin surface as you are pouring.
Produces Toxic Fumes during application and curing Place
The chemical reaction necessary to create your epoxy countertop create toxic fumes that pose serious health risks, especially in poorly ventilated areas or spaces with limited airflow. Inhalation of these fumes may cause respiratory irritation, headaches, dizziness, and nausea. Individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions or sensitivities may be particularly susceptible to these effects. Moreover, long-term exposure to VOCs has been linked to more serious health concerns, including damage to the central nervous system, liver, and kidneys.
Sometimes Prone to Staining
Acrylic poured surfaces can sometimes stain easily if spills aren’t cleaned adequately. To avoid this, always make sure you clean your drink or food spills from the surface right away. Doing so will prevent the formation of permanent marks on your resin countertop.
Hard to Remove when Cures
Epoxy is almost impossible to remove once it hardens. So, when it gets on your skin, cabinets, or carpet, removing it will be quite a challenging task. Hence, cover the surrounding surfaces with plastic before you start your project.
Also, make sure to use some good-quality resin gloves to protect your hands.
Requires Skill to Apply
Applying epoxy requires a certain level of expertise. Otherwise, you may not get excellent results. For instance, air bubbles may be trapped in the epoxy, creating a lumpy surface. Besides, the self-leveling nature of resin makes it drip on the counter’s edges.
Consequently, it makes the application more complex and messy. So prior experience working with things will help to get this done professionally.
Conclusion
So, that explained the benefits and drawbacks of epoxy resin countertops. Hopefully, that will make things easier for you to maintain if you already have installed something. Or, it will also be beneficial to determine whether you should have one or not.
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