Does Epoxy Yellow? Understanding the Truth and How to Prevent It

If you’ve been researching epoxy coatings—whether for a garage, countertop, patio, or commercial space—you’ve likely come across this concern:

“Does epoxy turn yellow over time?”

It’s a fair question. And the short answer is: yes, epoxy can yellow under certain conditions. But here’s the better question:

“Does it have to yellow?”

Absolutely not.

In this article, we’ll break down exactly why yellowing happens, how professionals prevent it, and why epoxy still plays an important role in many high-performance coating systems—even when UV exposure is a concern.

At Polzin Epoxy Designs, we care deeply about helping customers make informed decisions. So let’s unpack the science behind yellowing, and how we create long-lasting, non-yellowing results with the right prep, materials, and protection.

Why Epoxy Yellows: A Quick Overview

Epoxy is a two-part resin system made up of a resin and a hardener. When these two parts are combined, they cure into a solid, durable coating that’s known for its strength, adhesion, and glossy finish.

But there’s one challenge with epoxy that has lingered since its earliest use: UV sensitivity.

☀️ UV Exposure Is the Main Culprit

Epoxy is not naturally UV stable. When exposed to sunlight or other ultraviolet sources, the molecular structure of cured epoxy begins to break down. This process—called photodegradation—can result in discoloration, usually in the form of a yellow or amber hue.

The effect is most noticeable on light-colored or clear epoxy surfaces, particularly when left unprotected in areas with lots of natural light, such as:

• Garages with windows or open doors

• Countertops near sunny windows

• Outdoor patios or entryways

• High-gloss white floors or metallics with light tones

But here's the key distinction: epoxy may yellow if left exposed. That’s why professional coating systems rarely leave epoxy as the final layer.

Epoxy Still Has a Vital Role: It’s All About the Base

Despite its UV limitations, epoxy remains one of the best materials for base coats, especially in high-performance flooring and countertop systems.

Why?

Because epoxy offers superior adhesion and bonding to concrete and other substrates. When properly installed, it creates a strong chemical bond with the surface, sealing it off from moisture and preparing it for additional layers like flakes, pigments, or protective topcoats.

Epoxy’s leveling properties, work time, and surface penetration make it an essential part of the equation—but only when followed by a UV-stable top layer.

That’s where polyaspartic topcoats come in.

How We Prevent Yellowing

At Polzin Epoxy Designs, we work with a wide variety of environments—from garages and showrooms to patios and countertops. So we’ve built our systems to address yellowing before it becomes a problem.

Here’s how we do it:

✅ Step 1: Epoxy as a Base Coat for Maximum Bonding

We typically start with an industrial-grade epoxy base coat. It provides deep penetration into the concrete surface and creates the ideal foundation for whatever comes next—whether that’s broadcast flake, metallic pigments, or clear coats.

This base coat is usually tinted or pigmented, which helps reduce the visual impact of any potential ambering. More importantly, it’s not left exposed to UV light.

By using epoxy underneath the final layer, we get all the benefits of adhesion, strength, and consistency—without the risk of yellowing.

✅ Step 2: Polyaspartic Topcoats for UV Resistance

After the epoxy layer is cured and prepped, we apply a polyaspartic topcoat—a material known for its exceptional UV stability.

Polyaspartic coatings were originally developed for industrial and exterior use, so they’re designed to resist:

• Ultraviolet degradation

• Yellowing and fading

• Abrasion and scratching

• Staining from oil, salt, or chemicals

These topcoats are crystal clear, fast-curing, and available in a range of finishes from matte to high gloss. They lock in the visual clarity of metallic coatings, enhance color depth in flake floors, and provide a sleek, durable finish on countertops.

Most importantly, they act as a UV shield, protecting the epoxy base from exposure—and eliminating the conditions that cause yellowing in the first place.

✅ Step 3: Material Selection Based on Environment

We never use a “one size fits all” solution. Every floor and countertop is installed with location, lighting, and usage in mind.

For example:

• A garage with large windows may get a polyaspartic topcoat with additional UV blockers.

• A patio coating will use high-flex, outdoor-rated resins that withstand temperature swings and sunlight.

• A white metallic floor may get a tinted polyaspartic to keep brightness while preventing ambering.

• Countertops near windows may get UV-resistant finishes similar to commercial bar tops.

This customized approach ensures the coating performs in your space—not just in the lab.

But What If You’ve Already Seen Yellowing?

If you’ve had an epoxy floor or countertop that yellowed over time, it’s usually due to one or more of the following:

• Epoxy left as a final layer without UV protection

• Low-quality materials from DIY kits or big-box stores

• Lack of a proper topcoat, or one that wasn’t UV stable

• Installation in a high-light area without taking precautions

The good news? In most cases, yellowed epoxy can be repaired or recoated with the proper materials. But even better—we design our systems to prevent it from happening at all.

Epoxy and Outdoor Installations: A Special Note

While epoxy is excellent for indoor use and as a base coat, we do not recommend leaving it exposed in direct sunlight—especially outdoors.

That’s why for trailer floors, patios, exterior stairs, and entryways, we always use:

• High-flex epoxy primers or bonding layers, followed by…

• Polyurea or polyaspartic topcoats, which are UV and weather-resistant

These systems are designed to hold up against UV light, temperature swings, moisture, and more—without fading or yellowing.

What About Clear Coats Over Epoxy Countertops?

Clear epoxy countertops are popular for their glass-like appearance and depth. But the same rules apply: if left unprotected, the epoxy can yellow over time—especially in kitchens, bars, or bathrooms with lots of natural light.

We prevent this by:

• Using high-performance UV-resistant formulas

• Applying topcoats designed for clarity retention

• Tinting epoxy slightly to offset natural amber tones if needed

This keeps your epoxy surfaces crystal clear and vibrant for years.

Education First, Always

At Polzin Epoxy Designs, our approach is grounded in education. We want our customers to understand how and why we do what we do—because informed decisions lead to better outcomes and happier long-term results.

That’s why we spend time explaining our process, showing you material options, and helping you understand the difference between just epoxy and a complete professional coating system.

Final Thoughts: Epoxy Doesn’t Have to Yellow

Let’s bring it full circle.

Yes, epoxy has the potential to yellow—but it doesn’t have to.

With proper installation, high-quality materials, and a UV-stable topcoat, epoxy becomes an essential part of a system that offers:

• Long-lasting beauty

• Superior strength

• Reliable adhesion

• UV resistance (thanks to polyaspartic finishes)

So while yellowing is a concern, it’s one we’ve solved many times over. And if you’re still unsure, we’re always happy to answer questions and explain the exact system we’d recommend for your space.