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Epoxy Vs. Swisstrax-The Easiest Type of Garage Flooring to Clean

innovativestor • May 12, 2021

Homeowners and businesses choose epoxy and Swisstrax for many of the same reasons. Both products add protection, performance, and visual appeal to your garage floors.

However, when it comes to keeping your floors clean, it’s important to break down the various types of dirt, debris, chemicals, and stress your floors will encounter to determine which type of finish comes out on top:

Dirt, sand, and dust
Chemicals, oils, and solutions
Damage due to wear and tear

After evaluating each of these factors, it’s clear that the durability and strength of Swisstrax make it an easier flooring option to keep clean.

No matter which option you choose, the key to keeping your floor looking its best is to follow the recommendations for care. It may take a little effort, but you will be rewarded with many years of exceptional performance and ultimately extend the life of your home investment. Keep reading to see the differences in keeping epoxy and Swisstrax garage flooring clean.

Routine Cleaning of Dirt, Dust, and Sand

Not surprisingly, both epoxy floors and Swisstrax tiles require regular cleanup of dust, dirt and sand to keep them looking their best. However, this is particularly true of epoxy flooring, which can lose its glossy coating if neglected for long periods of time. Particularly if you live in a dry, dusty or sandy environment, grime can make its way onto your floors where it will be ground in by your shoes and car tires. That abrasion results in a sanding effect that strips your garage floor of its shine.

To combat this abrasion, you should regularly use a dust mop or soft-bristled broom to lift off dust, dirt and sand. This includes vacuuming between cement floor scoring marks and in the corners where dust and loose dirt likes to hide.

Like epoxy coatings, Swisstrax also benefits from regular sweeping, dust mopping, and vacuuming to look its best. However, unlike epoxy, you don’t risk permanent floor damage if you skip a week’s cleaning. Swisstrax modular floor tiles are constructed of durable materials that can withstand regular wear and tear.

A Jetset Magazine review of Swisstrax indicates that the product’s origins in the commercial market help explain its durability. As a product designed to withstand punishment in the commercial automotive, motorsports, recreation, and aviation industries, it had to still look good after daily punishment. The article notes that this flooring option later crossed into the residential market after having proved itself in high-demand commercial applications.

Advantage of Swisstrax: This tile system was developed to hold up against lots of traffic each and every day in commercial applications. As far as putting up with dirt, sand, and loose soil, it has the clear advantage.

Cleaning Up Chemicals

If you’re considering a flooring option for your garage, it’s worth noting that it will encounter a lot more than just dust and dirt. Various oils, grease, gasoline, and household chemicals are common in garages, where it’s not unusual for spills or leaks to take place. Once those sticky, slippery, or caustic chemicals hit your garage floor, you want to know you’ll be able to easily get them off.

This Old House notes that epoxy excels at resisting oil stains. Water beads up on it, and its slick surface can be mopped clean as if it was a kitchen counter. Even if you did drip some highly stubborn liquid, like paint, epoxy has a cosmetic benefit with colored chips that cover the surface. In addition to providing traction and a unique look, these color chips also hide stubborn stains.

However, more caustic chemicals, such as gas, acid, and solvents, can eat away and weaken the epoxy enamel, causing it to stain, flake away and lose its protective properties. These chemicals can also compromise the life of your epoxy coating. If you frequently use these chemicals in your garage, you may have a harder time keeping your floor clean. Plus, once a chemical does land on your epoxy floor, you must wipe it up as soon as possible to avoid permanent stains or damage.

When it comes to liquid spills, Swisstrax also excels. The manufacturing company explains that the tiles are made from polypropylene, a material that naturally resists almost any type of chemical damage, staining, and fading. The only exception is battery acid.

In addition to its naturally chemical-resistant properties that make it easy to keep clean, Swisstrax also features a unique design that keeps chemicals from sitting on it and potentially causing harm. Known for its self-channeling system for drainage, this innovative design limits the tile’s contact with liquids, which minimizes potential damage, extends the product’s life, and makes it easier to clean. Swisstrax floors actually do better with a simple mopping, using a solution of dish soap and water.

Advantage of Swisstrax: While Epoxy is generally easy to clean after encountering common chemicals you may find in your garage, like water and oils, it can be more vulnerable to harsh chemicals that Swisstrax resists.

Protecting Against Damage

If you’re like most homeowners, your garage is filled with many heavy, sharp items that could fall and damage your floor. Once that damage occurs, it can compromise the integrity of your flooring system and shorten its lifespan. It will also make it harder to keep your floor clean once it’s damaged.

In addition to abrasions from dirt, sand, and dust, epoxy floor coatings are vulnerable to other sources of scratches or gouges that frequently occur in garages. The enamel coating is also prone to chipping if a hard, heavy object is dropped on it. LSX Magazine explains that if something heavy is dropped, not only will the epoxy coating get damaged, but the concrete flooring below will as well. That all leads to a flawed appearance that can make your garage floor look less attractive.

Again, as a product developed for commercial use, Swisstrax can shrug off some serious abrasions and impacts. In fact, this highly durable material is made to withstand incredible weight. According to their website, Swisstrax can tolerate over 3,000 psi in “compressive strength.” If a wrench, bike, or folding chair topples onto the tiles, you can rest assured that you won’t be left with an ugly chip, scuff, or scrape.

Advantage of Swisstrax: Again, its resistance to chips, scuffs, and scrapes make Swisstrax the winner here. Additionally, as a system that sits on top of your garage floor, it won’t be impacted by any cracks that develop in the concrete, unlike epoxy coatings.

Conclusion

Both epoxy and Swisstrax are excellent garage flooring options. Each provides exceptional longevity, performance, and aesthetic options that you can’t get otherwise.

However, when judging based on ease of cleaning alone, Swisstrax is the clear winner. This flooring option simply outperforms epoxy in all areas, from minor scratches and chemical exposure to serious cracks and scuffs. If you’re looking for a hassle-free garage flooring option that requires minimal special precautions and minimal maintenance to stay clean and look its best, it’s a clean sweep for Swisstrax.