Epoxy vs. Poly Surfboards it comes to future-proofing your property floors, it’s important to choose materials specifically designed to tackle everyday challenges. But why all the talk about modern technologies for surfboard construction? Well, let’s break both options types down.
Hardwearing resin systems, Epoxy vs Poly Surfboard are normally used for busy floors that are constantly subjected to physical impacts, point loading, and traffic from equipment like heavily laden trolleys and forklift trucks.
Obviously, such factors can cause damage to a floor finish and if the coating itself is too thin, hard to clean cracks can appear in the finish, creating room for unwanted bacteria.
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Epoxy vs Poly Surfboards: Overview
Polyester surfboards feature a core made of polyurethane foam or PU with a wooden stinger in the middle. The core is covered by fiberglass and enhanced with polyester resin.
Although the manufacturing process is often manual, larger factories tend to use machines to perfume the first stage of the shaping process, and everything else is done by hand. That means that there are significant differences in quality and finish between one workshop and another.
Epoxy Surfboards, sometimes referred to as EPS have a polyester foam core. This core is laminated with fiberglass and epoxy resin. Mostly, the surfboard is painted or has a last layer of protection.
EPS is essentially foam with less density than PU blanks softer, but compensated by more layers of fiberglass. Plus, there’s the use of epoxy resin that contains the chemical properties far superior compared to polyester.
Poly Surfboard
Conventional Poly boards generally use the traditional construction of polyurethane foam, polyester resin, and fiberglass cloth. These boards are reinforced with a wooden stringer that runs down the center of the board. The end result is a board with a dense core and thin glass yielding simply a soft flex.
According to surfers who use poly, these boards are more responsive even though they have a little extra weight. In fact, they are said to be 10-15% heavier on average and are associated with the ability to depend dig into the wave to achieve clean carving turns.
The best part about Poly boards is that they just feel good. Of course, this may be a little abstract but it’s the fact. When you hold a hand-shaped poly board, you’ll realize something about the purity of it- more like you can tell who came before you right from the board. There are a few shortcomings to poly boards, though
First, with their soft flex, poly boards are more prone to heel dents in the deck. This could be just a pressure dent from pounding your foot or knee down, either when wiping out or just standing. Most users feel the soft flex but the way it performs is a great tradeoff for putting a few dents in it.
Poly board
Another thing to keep in mind about a poly board is the way it ages. The polyester resin tends to yellow from the sun, which leads to faded colors and a very old look. However, this may not be a big deal if you like the way the board performs.
Despite the downsides, the soft flex and construction have enabled poly boards to dominate the market for quite a while. They are normally well tested and refined on boards of every size and shape. Plus it caters to users at every level.
Lastly, there’s the price. There are several factors that go into determining the price of a surfboard including shape, length, graphics customizations, and so on. Generally speaking, the cost for a poly short-board would range anywhere between $500 and $800. But for a longboard, expect to spend $800-$1200.
Epoxy Boards
Extended polystyrene foam, epoxy resin, and fiberglass cloth make epoxy boards. Epoxy’s construction may or may not use a wooden stringer, unlike poly boards’ wooden stringers. They are durable and lightweight.
Most of these boards use solid material, usually PVC, to increase strength without sacrificing lightness. Due to epoxy resin’s stiffness and strength, some producers may not employ a stringer.
Positively, epoxy boards are the strongest and lightest available. Epoxy surfboards have a stiffer resin and less dense foam, giving them a unique feel underfoot. Epoxy boards may be cleaned with denatured alcohol and are eco-friendly with reduced VOCs.
Drawback to epoxy
Just like poly boards though, epoxy has its share of drawbacks. The open-cell beads can cause a problem if the board is cracked. This is because of the extra space between beads that could allow water to get in.
Another drawback to epoxy is its sensitivity to sunlight. Epoxy boards can be hugely damaged by heat and UV. When the heat reacts with the materials of epoxy, the board will expand and can even delaminate if not fixed.
The easiest method to tackle this issue is by using a reflective bag, especially if you are planning to have your board in direct sunlight for a while. Keep in mind that epoxy is less responsive in overheated waves.
Coming down to price, epoxy is actually the best option for those new to surfing. You will come across epoxy shortboards selling for $500-700 and longboards for $700-1000.
Epoxy vs Poly Surfboard: How Do They Compare
Polyurethane floors are generally softer and more elastic in comparison to epoxy. This gives them better resistance to scratching, making them suitable for spaces like multi-deck car parks, which receive high levels of foot traffic.
Overall, you are likely to gravitate to one or the other. If you are new to surfing we would suggest epoxy due to the fact that they’re durable, affordable, and are much easier to paddle and carry as they tend to be lighter than conventional poly boards.
Most surfers, however, enjoy 30% longer durability with their epoxy boards. So if you are experienced and want something special and unusual in size, color, and shape, traditional poly boards can be an easy recommendation.
