The success of any construction project relies heavily on measurements. In America, we use the Standard system of measures. The rest of the world decided to try and be different. They use the metric system, a system that continues to baffle many do-it-yourselfers. When it comes to working with epoxy, standard units of measurement are still in use. One of those units is called the mil.
How Big is a Mil?
A mil is one-thousandth of an inch long. In the metric system, there is a unit of measurement called the millimeter. A millimeter is one-thousandth of a meter long. Now, the length of a meter is 39.3 inches long. If you cut both an inch and a meter into 1000 equal pieces each, clearly the inch pieces will be much smaller.
Here’s another way to look at the difference: The width of a common garbage bag is just under 2 mils thick. That’s a tiny measurement! Your average credit card is about 30 mils thick. On the metric scale, that same credit card would be about 1 millimeter thick.
Measuring Epoxy
Epoxy coatings are resilient, strong, and adhere to surfaces on a microscopic level. Because of these qualities, it doesn’t take much for an epoxy coating to provide excellent protection for your concrete floors. At West Coast Epoxy, we can apply different levels of thickness to your epoxy coating.
- Thin coats – this option has a thickness of 10-20 mils. It works well on floors with light or low traffic, something that is more for looks than for work. This thickness benefits showroom floors, or new concrete floors whose use is yet to be determined.
- Medium coats – if you have strong wear and tear or heavy traffic, medium coats are better. They typically span a thickness range of 40-80 mils, and are ideal for warehouse floors, shops and garages.
- Heavy Coats – when you need extra protection, getting an epoxy thickness of 125-250 mils is the best way to go. This thickness is recommended for industrial centers, chemical labs, and areas susceptible to heavy spills – especially if corrosive substances are involved.
How Many Mils Do You Need?
When you schedule your free consultation with West Coast Epoxy, we ask you a series of questions to find out the current status of your concrete floor, as well as what kind of pounding it’s likely to take. Along with that, we discuss other options like coved flooring and non-slip finishes, to make sure your epoxy coating withstands whatever your home or business requires it to endure.
How many mils will it take to make your concrete floor strong, safe, and able to last a lifetime? Let’s discuss it over the phone or you may use our online form to schedule a free consultation. Let’s give your concrete floor the full measure of protection.