Although epoxy can bond with numerous different surface materials, there's a notable set commonly used for interior decor projects like epoxy countertops, table tops, and other types of furniture or art, as well as some structural materials such as concrete and ceramic.
This article will cover that material set, along with a few outliers.
Common decor materials that bond well with epoxy
We'll start with a list of the typical interior decor materials. These are things like wood and many metals, including stainless steel and copper.
Wood
Epoxy bonds especially well to porous materials, making wood one of the most reliable substrates. Wood and epoxy complement each other: the wood provides structure and character, while the epoxy adds durability and a smooth, protective finish.
Stainless steel
Stainless steel is widely used in construction and crafting. Epoxy can form a strong bond with stainless steel as long as the surface is thoroughly cleaned and properly prepared (e.g., degreased and lightly abraded).
Copper
Copper behaves similarly to stainless steel when used with epoxy. With proper surface preparation, epoxy adheres well and can create a durable, long-lasting bond on copper surfaces.
Bamboo
Bamboo is often grouped with wood in construction, but it is technically a type of grass with a different internal structure. Despite this, bamboo functions similarly as an epoxy substrate and will bond well, particularly when the surface is clean and lightly sanded.
It's our UltraClear Table Top Epoxy that tends to get used most for these types of projects.
Structural materials that can fuse with epoxy adhesive
Concrete
Concrete is one of the most reliable structural materials for epoxy bonding. Epoxy coatings are commonly used on concrete surfaces such as garage floors, basements, and workshops because they form a strong, durable bond when the surface is properly prepared.
While epoxy coatings cost more than leaving concrete bare, they add long-term value by protecting the surface from moisture intrusion, chemical spills, abrasion, and surface degradation that can weaken concrete over time.
Stone
Stone surfaces bond well with epoxy when properly cleaned and prepared. Like concrete, stone is porous enough to allow epoxy to mechanically grip the surface, creating a durable bond.
Epoxy coatings on stone are often used to enhance durability, improve stain resistance, and stabilize natural surface imperfections while preserving the material’s natural appearance.
Other Common Metals
In addition to copper and stainless steel, many other metals readily accept epoxy adhesives and coatings when correctly prepared. Materials such as brass, aluminum, iron, and bronze can all serve as effective epoxy substrates.
Proper surface preparation—such as degreasing, cleaning, and lightly abrading the surface—is essential to ensure strong adhesion. When applied correctly, epoxy forms a durable bond that seals and protects metal surfaces from corrosion, wear, and environmental exposure.
The typical epoxy countertop materials
There's not much to say about each of these individually. Epoxy will bond with most countertop surface materials, so unless you're using something unusual, it's probably fine.
- Granite
- Marble
- Laminate
- Formica (a type of laminate)
- Quartz
- Porcelain
It never hurts to ask if you're uncertain, so feel free to contact us at any time to speak to an epoxy expert.
Many materials embed well in epoxy.
Although objects embedded in epoxy don't have to be ideal for bonding, it definitely doesn't hurt. Here are some frequent choices we've seen epoxy users go with, listed below.
- Corks - Cork as a material in general is good, but specifically corks (like from wine bottles) are a popular choice for embedments in epoxy table tops. They look nice and are easy to position for aesthetic appeal.
- Pennies - Pennies are also a nice choice due to their thin, flat shape and good bonding structure. We've seen these in countertops, bar tops, and epoxy penny floors and tables.
- Bottle caps - Bottle caps are much like pennies and corks in how they fare with epoxy.
- Stickers - Stickers usually have adhesive on one side and a hydrophobic surface on the other, though not always. You'll still find them okay for embedment, but because they are thin and can be slippery, we recommend gluing them down to your substrate, then applying a seal coat of epoxy before moving onto the main coats.
- Photos - Photos are handled similarly to stickers. In fact, almost all paper will benefit from a sealing coat of mod podge to protect it from the epoxy resin in its liquid state. This will prevent discoloration or other subtle damage while the epoxy is still curing.
- Paper - Protect your paper with something like Mod Podge after gluing it to your substrate. Only then should you apply a seal coat to secure it in place before pouring your floor coat or deep pour coat (if using UltraClear Deep Pour Epoxy).
- Shells, sand and rocks - Beach themes are a common choice for epoxy art and river tables, owing to both epoxy's glasslike finish and ability to retain color pigments made from mica powder, as well as certain liquid pigments. As such, we are listing these together.
The number one thing about embedding objects is that you want to make sure you prepare the embedments properly before you do any epoxy pouring. It's really difficult to undo things after that step of the epoxy process.
Have questions? Want planning advice? Contact us!
If you have questions about any of these materials or something not listed here, please reach out to us at UltraClear Epoxy. Our epoxy experts are ready to assist you in planning your project and can help you make sure you get just what you need.
You can contact us via phone or email here, and you can also text chat online directly with an epoxy expert by clicking the help button on the bottom right of your screen.
