Reviewing the Most Common Protective Coating Materials

Apr 13, 2026

Jamie Unruh

A protective coating is a product that is applied to a surface to safeguard against corrosion and rust. Anything that is subject to failure without a protective film applied to it will eventually corrode or erode away, so applying a coating will not only make your equipment look good, but it will also prolong its life.

There are so many types of protective coatings that can be used for an unending number of projects that it would take months, maybe years, to write about it all. In our industry at Beyond Group, we typically use three types of coatings: epoxy, polyurethane, and polyurea, so we’ll focus on those for the time being.

Epoxies

An epoxy is a two-component coating: an epoxy resin mixed with a curing product that results in a chemical reaction that creates a durable protective material. Epoxies are primarily used on floors, tanks, and some civic infrastructure such as bridges and pipelines, although the construction industry is steering away from using epoxies in those situations because it can degrade quickly and is prone to cracking.

Pros

Epoxies are very durable, cost effective, and have a very high resistance to chemical erosion.

Cons

Epoxy coatings are typically sensitive to ultraviolet light, so they're generally not used outdoors unless the epoxy is also top coated. But protecting a protective coating is cost prohibitive, not to mention redundant.

Epoxies have a glass-like finish, so it’s very brittle. This usually limits the application to substrate that doesn't experience any kind of movement or vibration because otherwise it would be prone to cracking or chipping. Epoxies also take a long time to cure.

Polyurethanes

Typically used as top coats, polyurethane coatings are like an industrialversion of paint. It's a very common product used in almost every industry because it can be used almost anywhere. It is good for indoors or outdoors. It’s quite commonly used on structural steel, and for exterior coatings, suchas handrails.

Polyurethane is used more as an aesthetic coating rather than as a barrier. It can still provide barrier protection against rust and the like, but it’s more commonly used as a decorative topcoat.

Pros

Polyurethane coatings are very cost effective. They're flexible and very stable in ultraviolet light and have an aesthetically pleasing finish. It also doesn’t take long to cure.

Cons

Polyurethane coatings are very moisture sensitive which means anything it’s applied to must be completely dry before spraying. The slightest dampness will hinder its adherence. Luckily, it’s not complicated to establish proper environmental conditions to apply the coating.

Polyurethanes also have a longer curing process.

Polyureas

Polyurea coatings are a great product all around as they have thousands and thousands of blends that can be tailored to so many specific use cases. Polyurea coatings are the main products that we at Beyond Group use in our protective coatings because of they're versatility.

Polyureas are commonly used for containments such as inside tanks and wastewater treatment areas. It’s also used on flooring and concrete walls and so much more.

It’s not just a type of paint. There are so many different formulations for so many different jobs you can do with it that it would take another few months to write just about polyurea applications.

However, one interesting use is in automobile upholstery. Some interiors that are not leather or fabric are in fact a blend of polyurea.

Pros

Polyureas can be rigid or flexible depending on the formulation they're made up of, but 90 per cent of polyurea coatings are flexible, which is what makes them so universal.

Polyurea can be dry and ready to go within three seconds. It's an excellent waterproofing product and is also chemical resistant.

Cons

Polyurea products require specialized application equipment, so it’s not a project that any Contractor can take on.

Each coating has its own best uses and pros and cons, which is why it’s important to talk to the experts about what type of coating is best for your project.

One might be set on using the more popular polyurethane, but perhaps anepoxy or polyurea is more suitable.

Most surfaces are prone to the elements, even if they are indoors. Over time, wear and tear, UV light, and moisture can affect how long the surface will last before succumbing to corrosion and rust.

A protective coating is great for protecting those surfaces while making them look aesthetically pleasing.

As we’ve learned, the three most common types of coatings: epoxy, polyurethane, and polyurea all have a role in specific circumstances, and each type has a positive and a negative side to it.

If you’re looking into protective coatings for your assets or project and aren’t sure which type you should use, our team is just a phone call or email away, and we’re always keen to chat with our clients to come up with the best solution for you.

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