The 3D flooring guide for your home: How it works, advantages and disadvantages?
Floors are the most important part of the home. They’re what you walk on, where you live, where you play. If you’re renovating and want to have special flooring, it’s worth exploring different types before you decide what would work best for you.
As a real enthusiast of floors, I always wanted to find out about floors with an interesting design or unique characteristics that are very difficult to find somewhere else. So, I tried to research this topic and here I found my inspiration.
There are many interesting things about 3D flooring, but it’s not easy to find them anywhere. That’s why I decided to write down some information for my friends who like beautiful floors in their homes.
What is 3D flooring?
3D Flooring has been specially designed to create the illusion of depth or that the floor is not flat. It has an element of depth and a 3D effect.
This 3D floor technology can be used in any room, including kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms, or bedrooms. It is the latest trend in floor finishing, which is incredibly popular all over the world. You can choose any 3D images you prefer such as a floor of lava or a jungle floor which is more common for adventurous people.
The 3D Flooring system is not limited to domestic use only. It can be easily installed in commercial premises and industrial buildings as well as in schools, colleges and universities, government offices, and public buildings.
Featuring a special 3D surface effect, it is ideal for site-specific applications in public places such as hotels, hospitals, or airports. It can also be used in the high-ceilinged rooms of villas and palaces.
What is epoxy 3D flooring?
The 3D floor epoxy is a growing type of flooring. It is very durable, and it provides great value for the customer. This type of floor has been growing in popularity due to its appearance and long-lasting life span.
Epoxy 3D illusion floors are becoming increasingly popular because it looks good. Other benefits of this type of floor are that you do not need a lift to move it, and there is no maintenance required.
For people looking to purchase epoxy 3D flooring for their home or business, there are many different options. There are two main types of epoxy-based products: fiberglass and polyester. The difference between these two products is the type of resin formula used in each. Epoxy resin contains a resin and hardener together: as a liquid, the resin hardens as the hardener cures (dissolves).
Fiberglass is one of the most common forms of resin used in epoxy 3D flooring. You may need to seal the floor with an epoxy primer before you install it. This allows you to get a good finish on the floor. It is important to know that fiberglass tends to crack very easily, so people using this type of epoxy have cut back on the thickness of their flooring due to this issue.
Polyester resin is becoming an increasingly popular alternative for customers who want more durable 3D floor coverings. This type of resin does not crack as easily as fiberglass does, and it will not affect the look or feel of your carpet under it (unlike some other types).
Advantages of 3D flooring
3D graphics flooring offers many benefits and advantages over traditional flooring.
Visual Effect
The most significant advantage of 3D Flooring is its visual effect. Because it provides an illusion of depth, it can make the floor look like a three-dimensional space, and therefore the feeling of walking on the real ground is more realistic. Also, you only need to have a simple aesthetic program to automate the floor’s coloring, so that you can enjoy the lighting effect when walking at night or at dawn and dusk, which further improves the visual effect of 3D visualization on your floor base.
Besides this advantage, some people may also like its “3D Effect” or “3D Visualization”. You only need to select some floor designs and have them installed, so you can enjoy walking on your 3D floor every day in every hour.
Durability
The main advantage of epoxy 3D flooring is that it’s extremely durable, so it will last you for many years without losing its appearance or aesthetic appeal. They are often made of a mixture of epoxy resin, floor hardeners, and oils. These 3d flooring materials form together to create a tough surface that is resistant to chemicals and scratches.
This type of coating is also resistant to stains, dampness and also has an anti-slip finish on one side, so you won’t need to worry about accidental slip and fall accidents.
Easy to Maintain
Epoxy 3D floors are easy to maintain and also provide many benefits. One of the many benefits is that these floors are scratch-resistant which means that they will not get scratched easily. If you have pets in your home there is also no worry if there is pet hair on these floors. The floors are also waterproof and will not get damaged by water. Most pets like to drink water so you don’t have to worry that the floor will get damaged by pet urine.
Some people who live on boats and in dry climates like to install these floors as they do not rust and look clean and simple but more importantly, they are also easy to maintain for the owner.
These floors are designed for commercial use as well as residential uses but some prefer this type of flooring over carpet or tile floors. You can install a 3D bathroom flooring or any other room where extreme moisture can occur causing a bacteria problem.
Safe to Use
Epoxy 3D floors are safe and hygiene-friendly because they are made of non-toxic materials that can be cleaned with a mop, which means no need for chemicals. They also come in a variety of colors, textures, and designs. It is also customized to fit the flooring of each room.
Furthermore, epoxy floors are not subject to seasonal fluctuations because they are sealed with a special, permanent adhesive that remains unaffected by rain, snow, and other external elements.
Besides, epoxy floors can be installed in one night on a dry surface so you will not have to wait for the flooring products to arrive at your home or office (usually about 5-7 business days).
Fire Resistant
3D epoxy floors are resistant to fire because the 3D epoxy has a heat-resistant layer that covers the top of the flooring. Heat resistant layer = resin paper, glass fiber fabric, and black shiny powder.
Disadvantages of 3D flooring
3D flooring makes our home look better; however, there are several disadvantages that you should consider. It is a good way to learn about the many pitfalls that can come with this type of flooring.
Requires Professionals
One disadvantage could be that it requires a certain amount of skill and expertise to install the product correctly, so you’ll need to have your own contractor for this job or consult an expert if needed.
Although many have attempted installing this type of flooring by do-it-yourselfers, which means saving a penny from hiring professional installers, the main problem is what happens when it is not installed correctly. Many people have reported problems after the installation of this type of flooring. It is very expensive to fix if you get it wrong and it really isn’t worth the hassle.
Time-consuming
Applying epoxy resin is a time-consuming process and involves a lot of preparation. The installation process may take a few days in order to allow for the resin to cure. First, the surface of the material to be repaired must be sanded, cleaned, and roughened. This provides a surface that will bond with the board after it is cured. In addition, you might also need to stay off the floor for a few days until the product dries completely.
Costly
Epoxy flooring is not only expensive, but it also requires a special type of adhesive to install. The cost of the epoxy 3D flooring can vary as it depends on the type of material used in its construction as well as its size and complexity. Some types tend to be more expensive than others due to their high quality or innovative design. You may also have to pay extra for professional installation, which costs anywhere from two thousand dollars to three times that amount.
If you’re looking for affordable 3D flooring for sale, there are many epoxy 3D flooring manufacturers nowadays, all of them offering several styles and designs to choose from depending on your personal preferences.
Difference between 2D and 3D epoxy flooring
2D epoxy flooring is a two-dimensional surface. It is a sheet of material that is laminated with various resins to create a waterproof surface. This material can be installed over just about any type of subfloor, and can also be used in conjunction with other materials.
This laminate is designed to withstand heavy use, and can also be used to make custom work surfaces, such as in a kitchen or office. This flooring material is very sturdy and can be cleaned easily.
On the other hand, 3D epoxy flooring is three-dimensional in that it has height, width, and depth. 3D flooring is a resin impregnated sand (or other aggregates) that is applied directly to a substrate. It creates a seamless joint between the floor and wall materials and is typically used on floors in commercial and industrial areas where it can be easily cleaned with no risk of staining.
3D flooring is also a good choice for applications where aesthetics and durability are important. The sand base used in 3D flooring is typically denser and harder than that used on 2D epoxy floors, making it less susceptible to impact damage from heavy objects such as forklifts.
3D epoxy floor materials
Epoxy is a material that can be used for many applications. As a flooring material, epoxy is often used to fix structural problems. It can also be used to create decorative patterns or designs. To install the 3D floor, you need the following epoxy floor materials:
- The canvass or 3D image
- Cleaning supplies to remove dirt and dust
- Plastic roller to distribute the resin
- Plastic squeegee for smoothing the canvas
- Epoxy resin
- A hardener
- A self-leveling primer.
Epoxy 3D floor installation
Before installing the 3D floor design, make sure the substrate must be absolutely flat. This means it cannot have any unevenness. If there are bumps or undulations on the floor, they will be reflected in the 3D illusion and this is what causes the “ghosting” effect. This is why it is so important to have a perfectly flat floor before putting down 3D flooring. So how to install 3D flooring? Simply follow these steps:
- Be sure to apply and work in a well-ventilated area. Use the appropriate wear personal protective equipment such as vinyl gloves, nitrile gloves (particle or low-emission), paper, and disposable shoe covers.
- Prepare the substrate surface. Clean the concrete floor and remove any loose materials, stripping, or waxes. Remove any dust with a vacuum cleaner for a clean-sweep look.
- Protect the surface with a self-leveling epoxy primer and let it dry, then brush a coat of paint over the top 1 sq. cm (approx. 1/4 inch) at a time until you are satisfied with the coverage.
- For a large area: Pour an even layer of small beads onto your prepared surface from one edge (do not pour over 5 ft of the edge). Push them into the crack with a squeegee to minimize work time and bubbles.
- For a small area: Pour an even layer of beads onto your prepared surface, slowly wet it with a foam brush in a circular motion to minimize work time and bubbles.
- After the epoxy dries (24 hours), lightly wet the hardened surface with warm water and scrub the surface with light pressure from a bristle brush to clean off any residual from the previous step. Re-wet areas where necessary. Fill in cracks with putty or sanding sealer before filling can be done for the best results.
- Lightly sand the entire floor according to the manufacturer’s specifications before priming, sealing, or painting the floor.
- Use water-based, low odor, non-toxic products where necessary for accidents and clean up. Protect basement and crawl space areas when painting before the epoxy dries
- Polish floors with a soft cloth or dampened mop according to manufacturers’ instructions for high gloss shine.
- Wax floors are permanent in that they do not need to be re-applied after curing according to the manufacturer’s directions. Their maintenance is more intensive as they must be kept free of debris such as dirt, grit, gravel, etc. Stains can be removed with ammonia and warm water if necessary according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Final thoughts
3D Flooring can improve the design features of an otherwise monotonous or sterile-looking space by creating interesting patterns on the floor much like 3D floor murals.
The patterns are created by combining various colors of resin with different colors of aggregate. Some of the more common aggregate colors are red, brown, yellow, and green. Combining these colors with a variety of resin colors creates virtually unlimited pattern possibilities.
A big advantage of using 3D Flooring is its ability to create floors that have certain design features due to the fact that there is no need to stick to the same color in order for it to be perceived as one unit.
