Epoxy resin is widely celebrated for its exceptional durability, offering remarkable protection against scratches, dents, moisture, and other potential forms of damage.
However, what is less commonly discussed is epoxy resin's performance in outdoor settings. Given its aesthetic appeal as a finishing material, utilizing epoxy for outdoor projects is an attractive choice, particularly for areas bathed in natural light which highlights its stunning visual qualities.
In this Primaloc Answers article, we'll explore the resilience of epoxy resin when exposed to the elements outdoors and provide strategies for addressing the challenges that may arise.
Will Epoxy Hold Up Outside?
There are several features of epoxy that give it a an advantage over other sealants in the outdoors.
Let's take a look at the list of advantages we'll discuss:
- High Physical Durability.
- A Waterproof Surface.
- A Smooth, Easy to Clean Surface.
- Freely Customizable Finish.
- Low Maintenance Requirements.
Below, we examine each feature, starting from the first.
Outdoor Feature #1: High Physical Durability
Epoxy resin is renowned for its exceptional durability, making it an exceptional sealant option for many outdoor applications, including bar tops, benches (and similar seating), table tops, and more. Its robustness is attributed to its unique chemical composition, which, when cured, forms a solid, high-strength plastic material.
Epoxy resin is highly resistant to wear and tear, capable of withstanding scratching and heavy impacts without exhibiting signs of damage. Additionally, it adheres strongly to a wide range of substrates, providing a long-lasting bond that contributes to its overall durability. It's also resistant to elevated heat typically present in outdoor settings, and it can maintain its integrity over a wide temperature range.
Because of its sheer strength, a high-quality epoxy resin can serve reliably for many years, both indoors and outdoors.
Outdoor Feature #2: A Stain-Free, Waterproof Surface
Epoxy resin is waterproof once it has fully cured. This characteristic makes it an ideal choice for applications requiring a moisture-resistant finish, such as in outdoor settings. The chemical structure of cured epoxy forms a non-porous, solid barrier that prevents water from penetrating through its surface. This waterproof nature allows it to protect underlying materials from water damage, mold, and mildew.
However, for optimal waterproofing performance, especially in continuously wet environments or under direct water exposure, it's important to ensure the epoxy has been applied correctly and fully cured, and that your edges and seams are properly sealed.
Outdoor Feature #3: A Smooth, Easy-to-Clean Surface
In addition to being impressively strong and waterproof, epoxy resin is also uniquely easy to keep clean. This is because of it's super-smooth surface, which prevents residues and liquids from permeating and binding to it.
Instead, these forms of debris remain at surface level, where they can be easily wiped away with basic cleaning supplies, such as warm water and soap, or a common household cleaner.
Outdoor Feature #4: Freely Customizable Finish
Alongside epoxy's function as a protective sealant are the aesthetic qualities it brings to any project. Epoxy resin by nature is highly customizable in appearance, making it a favorite among artists, DIY enthusiasts, and professionals for a wide range of projects. Its clear, viscous liquid form can be mixed with an array of liquid colorants, powder pigments, and other types of additives to achieve various colors, effects, and finishes.
Here are a couple examples:
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Bottle Cap and Penny Embedments: One popular type of project includes embedding small objects like bottle caps or pennies beneath the epoxy finish, giving it a sense of depth and texture while also allowing for a delightful personalized arrangement.
- Epoxy Colorants: Epoxy can be imbued with vibrant, colorful shades or soft, neutral tones to give it a distinct appearance, whether you choose to give it a smooth, singular tone or to shake it up with several throughout the epoxy finish.
Outdoor Feature #5: Low Maintenance Requirements
Epoxy resin has surprisingly low maintenance requires, which stem from its durable, long-lasting surface that can withstand many forms of wear and tear. It's the physical characteristics of epoxy which all come together to make this possible, including:
Seamless and Non-Porous Surface: Once cured, epoxy forms a seamless and non-porous layer that prevents dirt, bacteria, and stains from penetrating its surface. This characteristic makes it easy to clean, as spills and messes can be wiped away without special cleaning agents or intense scrubbing.
Chemical Resistance: Epoxy is resistant to many chemicals, acids, and solvents, making it impervious to many types of spills that would otherwise damage or stain other surface types. This resistance ensures that the epoxy retains its appearance without the need for frequent repairs or refinishing.
Durability: The hard, solid finish of cured epoxy is remarkably durable, resisting scratches, impacts, and abrasions that can mar other surfaces. This resilience means that epoxy surfaces maintain their appearance for longer periods, reducing the need for touch-ups or resurfacing.
Moisture Resistance: Epoxy's waterproof nature makes it ideal for areas prone to moisture, such as kitchens, bathrooms, and outdoor spaces. This prevents the underlying material from water damage, mold, and mildew growth, further reducing maintenance needs
The combination of these properties is what makes epoxy such a solid option for outdoor finishing. Where many types of sealants would require frequent reapplication or regular monitoring, epoxy resin can be treated less delicately, allowing it to be a cost-effective, time-efficient sealant choice for almost any situation.
Okay, But What Are Epoxy's Disadvantages?
While epoxy is incredible resilient, it's still not impervious. There are a couple of disadvantages to consider before deciding on an epoxy finish.
Epoxy Yields To Extreme Heat
In some regions, ambient temperatures can rise to sweltering heights. Epoxy has a medium level of heat resistance, but eventually will weaken if exposed to intense heat (the kind a human wouldn't want to be in). In most cases, an epoxy resin can handle temperatures of up to 135°F without breaking a sweat. Beyond that, the resin finish may begin to soften, warping the finish and potentially leaving it deformed.
Typically this will only occur in hot regions with direct, continuous sun exposure. As such, this concern can be mitigated by provided the epoxy finish shelter and keeping it from being overexposed to the sun's powerful UV rays.
Ultimately, very few sealants can handle high temperatures of this sort, and those which are often vulnerable to other more common issues.
Continuous Sun Exposure Can Cause Yellowing
Clear epoxy resin has a tendency to yellow over long periods of direct exposure to sunlight. This is caused by the UV (ultraviolet) radiation inherent in sunlight—the same stuff that can cause sunburn.
The likelihood of this occurring can be reduced by providing your epoxy finish with shade from the sun. Avoid direct exposure when possible. The effect can also be mitigated by adding epoxy powder pigments to the finish. These are insoluble mica-based colorants that, when added to an epoxy finish, reflect much of the sunlight, preventing it from full permeating the finish in a way that would cause yellowing
On top of that, they all provide the epoxy finish with beautiful colors that shimmer in the light.
Learn more about using mica powder pigments here.
Primaloc Epoxy: Premium Epoxy for Premium Results
When it comes to epoxy resin, Primaloc Epoxy gets the job done. Our epoxy resin is premium-grade, with high performance in every category, making it exceptional for outdoor epoxy projects.
Epoxy resin can be beautiful, strong, and long-lasting—which is why you shouldn't compromise on quality. With Primaloc Epoxy Resin, you get the ultimate finish in durability and visual appeal.
Protect your surfaces by giving them a rock-solid epoxy finish. Choose strong. Choose reliable. Choose Primaloc.