Polyaspartic or epoxy for a Kanata showroom that can close one night?

Neither data sheet we read reopens a floor to traffic within a single night. One polyaspartic data sheet lists dry to touch at two to four hours, light traffic at 24 hours and vehicles at 7 days; one 100%-solids epoxy data sheet lists foot traffic at 24 hours, light vehicles at 72 hours and heavy traffic at 7 days. The only system we found with a figure of about one hour is MMA, in a brochure from 2010. So a one-night closure has to be checked against the data sheet for the exact product the contractor proposes, before you plan around it.

What else shapes the schedule: the size of the floor, how much surface preparation is needed, the room temperature (one polyaspartic data sheet sets a minimum surface temperature of about 4 degrees C), and whether the slab needs moisture testing before coating. Ask whether moisture testing is in the schedule, because in-situ probes have to be in the slab before a reading is taken.

For a showroom, the floor also needs to look good under display lighting and handle foot traffic, rolling carts and any vehicle movement if cars or equipment are displayed.

Ask for proof of liability insurance and references on similar commercial showroom floors. Published 2025-2026 contractor ranges put polyaspartic and polyurea commercial work at about $6 to $15 per square foot installed, at or above epoxy ranges of about $8 to $15 per square foot; your quote will differ based on slab condition, prep, anti-slip texture and the closure plan.

Before a contractor visits, pull together the floor's history, any records of old tile or adhesive, what spills and traffic the floor sees daily, and a clear picture of exactly how many hours the space can be closed.