Concrete floor coatings: which one? Acrylic, epoxy or PU

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Concrete floor painting, all systems · 20+ years of experience

Concrete floor paint: which system to choose? Acrylic · Epoxy · PU

Different concrete floors need different kinds of paint, and using the wrong system is a major reason paint peels within a year. This page sums up what your floor should use, and we take on homes, factories and large areas nationwide.

20+years of experience
200+completed projects
NationwideFree site survey
Free advice — LINE @DMHGROUPS083-805-2305
Choose a system

The 3 main concrete floor paint systems: how do they differ?

Concrete floors face different levels of load, moisture and abrasion. Matching the system to actual use matters more than choosing a brand or color.

Acrylic — general use, budget-friendly

Water-based, fast-drying and low-odour, UV-resistant and holds its shade well. Suited to foot-traffic areas, home car ports and rooftops, and to work that does not carry heavy loads or chemical contact.

Acrylic paint — view material specsAcrylic waterproofingHow to paint front-yard concrete yourself in 6 steps

Epoxy — factories, warehouses, heavy-duty floors

A hard, easy-to-clean surface that resists abrasion and chemicals. Widely used in factories and warehouses, and available as a roller-applied or poured self-leveling system.

Roller-applied Epoxy CoatingEpoxy Self-Leveling, poured and spreadEpoxy Coating floor installationWhat is an epoxy floor?

PU (polyurethane) — flexible, temperature resistant

Tougher and more flexible than epoxy, it tolerates structural movement, UV and a wide temperature range. Suited to outdoor floors, cold rooms, food factories and areas that are washed frequently.

PU Coating polyurethane paintPU Coating floor installationWhat is a PU floor? Pros and consEpoxy vs PU: what's the difference?
Choose by area

Which system suits which floor?

If you are not sure which type your floor falls into, our crew will survey the site free of charge and recommend the system that fits.

Home driveways · Walkways · Low-traffic rooftops

Acrylic is enough here: low cost and quick to apply. If the rooftop also leaks, install a waterproofing system first and then paint over it.

Factories · Warehouses · Storage facilities

Epoxy is the main choice. If forklifts run constantly or the floor takes heavy impact, increase the thickness or use the PU HF system.

Food factories · Cold rooms · Frequently washed areas

Use PU, because it handles a wider temperature range and is more flexible. Standard epoxy can crack when temperatures change quickly.

Outdoor floors in constant sun

Avoid bare epoxy, because it yellows under UV. Finish it with a PU or acrylic top coat.

Common causes

Why concrete floor paint peels — and how we prevent it

On real job sites, almost all peeling problems come not from paint quality but from surface preparation.

Too much moisture in the slab

Moisture pushes up on the paint film from below until it blisters and lifts. We measure moisture before every job, and work starts only when it is within the limit.

Concrete surface not opened up

Paint applied over a slick or dusty surface will not bond. We always open up the surface first with a grinder or by shot blasting.

Skipping the primer

The primer is the layer that determines the life of the whole system. Skipping it to cut costs is why cheap jobs often don't last a year.

Wrong system for the use

House paint in a factory, or epoxy used outdoors, will fail quickly even if every step is done correctly.

Our process

How the DMH team works

Every job follows this sequence, with no steps skipped to save time or cost.

01 Site survey and moisture testing (free)

We check the existing floor, cracks, moisture and how the floor is actually used, then propose a suitable system along with a quotation.

02 Surface preparation

Grind to open up the concrete surface, repair cracks and voids, and level low spots — this step takes the bulk of the time and is the critical one.

03 Apply the primer

The primer is applied so it soaks into the pores, improving adhesion between the concrete and the coating layers above.

04 Coating system application to specification

Applied by roller or poured to the agreed number of coats and thickness, with drying time between coats as the material requires.

05 Curing and handover

The system is left to cure fully before the area is used, followed by a handover inspection with care and maintenance advice.

Real project examples

Concrete floors coated by DMH's own team

On every job, we grind the floor before applying the system, and we do not coat over a floor that is not ready.

Factory floor with a smooth, glossy concrete coating that stands up to trolleys and heavy foot traffic, by DMH Groups
Factory floors — a smooth, glossy surface that is easy to clean and stands up to trolleys and heavy foot traffic
PU Concrete coating on an indoor concrete floor, resistant to heat and washdowns, by DMH Groups
PU Concrete flooring — for areas exposed to heat, chemicals and frequent washing
Frequently asked questions

Questions clients often ask before ordering concrete floor painting

Common questions from real job sites. If you can't find the answer you need, just message our team.

Which concrete floor paint system should factories and warehouses use?
Areas with forklift traffic or heavy loads should use an epoxy system that gives a thick, strong surface. Areas exposed to heat, steam or chemicals, or that are washed often, such as food factories, are better suited to PU Concrete. Outdoor floors in direct sun should use a UV-resistant PU system, because epoxy can yellow with prolonged sun exposure. For walkways or yards that do not carry heavy loads, acrylic paint is enough.
Can newly poured concrete be painted straight away?
No. The concrete must cure for at least 21–28 days so the moisture in the slab can evaporate first. If paint goes on too early, the moisture pushes it up so it blisters and peels off in sheets. Before every job, our team checks the floor condition and moisture.
The floor is already painted. Can it be painted over straight away?
If the existing paint is still well bonded and is a compatible system, the surface can be ground open and painted over. But if the old paint is peeling, oil-stained or a different system, it must be ground off completely with a floor grinder first, because painting over a coating that is not bonded will make it peel again even sooner than before.
How many days must the area stay out of use once the work is finished?
Generally, light foot traffic is possible about 24 hours after the work is finished, and full loads after 3–7 days, depending on the coating system chosen, the thickness and the weather on site. Our team will confirm the exact schedule before work starts, so you can plan the downtime in advance.
What is the difference between concrete floor paint and epoxy flooring?
Concrete floor paint is the umbrella term for every type of paint used on concrete floors, and epoxy flooring is one of those systems. The difference is that epoxy is a 2-part resin that must be mixed before use, giving a thicker, harder and more chemical-resistant surface than standard single-part floor paint.
How is the price worked out, and is there a charge for the site survey?
The price depends on the system chosen, the coating thickness, the floor area and how much preparation the existing floor needs, for example whether old paint must be ground off or the floor repaired first. DMH Groups offers a free site survey and quotation nationwide, and every system comes with a workmanship warranty, with the warranty period depending on the type of work.

Not sure which system your concrete floor needs?

Let the DMH Groups team survey your site, inspect the floor and prepare a quotation, free of charge, nationwide.

Line @DMHGROUPS 083-805-2305 02-149-5284
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