If you need a high-performance garage surface that is smooth, durable, and can withstand heavy loads, epoxy garage floor coatings are the best. Designed for commercial and industrial markets, epoxy flooring will provide the solution you need for your concrete floor.
Epoxy garage floor installers will take care of cracks and imperfections before sealing and coating your floor. When applied by a professional garage flooring contractor, an epoxy coating will protect your floor for many years.
Table of Contents
- What is Epoxy Floor Coating?
- Step-by-Step Epoxy Floor Installation
- Benefits Of Epoxy Flooring
- Why Hire a Professional Epoxy Floor Contractor?
- Common Mistakes Found In DIY Epoxy Flooring
- Tips For Hiring a Professional Epoxy Garage Floor Installer
- FAQs – All About Epoxy Flooring
- Where To Hire Professional Epoxy Garage Floor Installers?
What is Epoxy Floor Coating?
Epoxy floor coating is a two-part mixture consisting of resin and hardener. Epoxy is widely recognized as the industry’s strongest resin. It provides the strongest bond between a resin and the reinforcement, allowing the lightest and most durable modules to be built.
Because of its hardener additives, epoxy coatings offer excellent strength and durability. It is also very versatile and can be made to achieve a wide range of performance and aesthetic requirements.
Step-by-Step Epoxy Floor Installation
Professional epoxy installers have nailed the most effective ways of installing epoxy flooring, using the best available products. Here’s a breakdown of how they do it.
Step 1 – Prepping the Concrete
For an epoxy floor installation to be successful, preparing the concrete sufficiently is vital. Roughen the surface up by using a diamond grinding process that cleans and profiles the concrete. It is a dust-free process, as the equipment attaches to a vacuum that sucks up the dust as it’s created.
Some contractors prefer to use acid etching or high-pressure cleaning with water. These prepping methods don’t prevent the epoxy from developing imperfections, peeling, chipping, or flaking.
Grinding the floor reduces moisture and speeds up the installation process by allowing the epoxy to seep into the concrete slab. It also ensures that the epoxy and concrete form the necessary structural and chemical bonds that will guarantee a long floor life.
The contractor will patch holes and fix any cracks or imperfections with epoxy patching material. There are very few holes and cracks that are beyond repair.
Step 2 – Primer Application
Primer is vital for a successful epoxy flooring application, particularly in areas of high traffic. Grinding should create a surface on the floor that has the proper finish for the primer to adhere to. The surface must be spotlessly clean, with no oil, dirt, or dust. A bare concrete cleaning solution will take care of any residue that could prevent the primer from adhering successfully.
Apply primer to the surface in thin coats, either using a roller or a spray. The contractor will take care to avoid over-coating, which can cause puddling.
The primer coat soaks into the concrete and creates a foundation for the next epoxy layer. Low viscosity epoxy of industrial-grade gives maximum penetration and concrete slab bonding.
The primer needs to dry for at least two hours before the next step—factor in high humidity that will increase drying time.
Step 3 – Epoxy Paint Application
Once the primer is dry, the contractor inspects the surface and removes any debris or dirt. Then he’ll stir the high solids, and high build epoxy paint, and begin applying multiple coats. Apply each coat thinly and evenly to avoid a lumpy finish. This coat is thicker than the primer.
The primer and epoxy paint create the right floor color. The number of coats affects design preference, though two to three coats are recommended for most floors.
Step 4 – The Flecked Look
To mimic the flecked look of a granite floor, add decorative flakes and chips by hand. Apart from design appeal, these also make the floor less slippery by providing traction. The flakes also aid with durability and add style and color to your garage floor.
After adding the flecks, allow a further 6 – 10 hours for drying. Sweep away, or vacuum up any extra flecks once dry.
Step 5 – Epoxy Sealant for Protection
To finish off, brush a clear coat of sealant on. A sealer adds a durable finish that lengthens the life of the floor. Blend the sealer properly. Apply the sealer and leave the floor to cure for 24 – 36 hours. Avoid foot- and vehicle traffic completely.
Benefits Of Epoxy Flooring
1. Durability
Durability is the most sought-after benefit of epoxy in garage installations. With epoxy coating, your garage floor will be extremely strong and durable, allowing it to handle any heavy loads and activities.
Epoxy floor coating is also very durable against cracks and impacts so you do not have to worry about dropping your heavy tools or putting too much pressure on the floor.
2. Appearance
A dull and unappealing block of cement can be transformed into something amazing with an epoxy coating. The coat is typically available in a variety of colors and designs, which will undoubtedly set the tone and complement your home design. There are also a variety of finishes to choose from.
Epoxy coating can do a lot of things for your garage floor and for the garage itself. However, before making any major alterations to your garage floor, it is strongly advised that you have it checked by a professional.
3. Resistance
Epoxy floor coatings are highly resistant to gasoline, bleach, cleansers, oils, transmission fluid, and literally almost everything. This is one of the reasons why they’re widely used in the automotive industry.
In addition to being resistant to most substances, epoxy floor coating is also water and heat-resistant. This makes the floor resistant to almost all possible spills that usually happen in garages.
4. Maintenance
Another benefit of epoxy is how easy it is to maintain. The dust and cement particles released onto other surfaces of your garage are reduced by covering the concrete. Unlike a rough concrete floor, the shiny and resilient surface of epoxy is easy to clean and maintain.
In addition, even if vehicle fluids linger on an epoxy floor coating’s surface for a long time, the surface can still be cleaned without any staining or discoloration.
5. Safety
One of the lesser-known benefits of epoxy on a garage floor is that it improves visibility inside the garage because it reflects lights off the floor.
Epoxy floor coating is also resistant to temperature changes, slippage, and even fire. This means that you and your family can do any garage work safely and comfortably.
Why Hire a Professional Epoxy Floor Contractor?
DIY these days is as easy as watching a video online, right? Not always. Knowing the steps to complete a task isn’t always enough, especially when it comes to a home improvement that should last the next twenty years.
Here are four reasons to hire a professional flooring contractor to get the job done.
1. A Professional Will Assess and Handle Your Flooring Correctly
An epoxy flooring professional will assess what needs to be removed from your garage floors, such as paints, sealants, coatings, and dirt before beginning the process.
All repairs and cracks will be properly treated to ensure a completely level surface across the entire floor.
Professionals have the right tools, experience, and know-how to open concrete pores to just the right depth. This is a vital step to ensure the primer soaks in properly.
2. A Professional Will Help You Avoid Making Costly Mistakes
A professional has the right tools to measure the moisture content and do moisture removal from your concrete slab before the epoxy solution is poured.
Incorrect moisture levels will not only make your DIY kit fail as a floor sealant but will make it hard to remove. A contractor will do the job right and help you avoid messy, time-consuming, expensive do-overs.
3. Contractors Use Professional Products and Tools
DIY kits are widely available, which creates the illusion that they are the best product for the job. This isn’t always the case, as DIY kits contain over 50% water. This creates a thin, brittle coat on your floor while also lengthening drying time.
Professional epoxy garage floor installers use industry-grade kits. They are suitable for commercial and industrial use, promising a better result and lifespan.
DIY’ers seldom have all the right tools for the job. Professionals have an entire arsenal of tools available to do the job well.
4. Contractors Can Give You More Styling Options
With store-bought DIY epoxy kits, your options are very limited. A solid color or a solid color with a light spread of colored vinyl flakes are the only ones you can find in most stores.
You’ll also have to accept that the finished coating will have flaws. When using a store-bought epoxy coating, bubbles, roller marks, and pinholes are not only probable but almost certain.
A skilled epoxy garage floor installer can provide you with a variety of color and style options. You’ll have no trouble picking a look that suits your garage. From quartz flakes to marbled or metallic epoxy and/or complete or partial spreads of speckled vinyl, a good professional garage floor contractor can provide it for you!
5. Contractors Will Spare You From Hard Labor
Applying an epoxy floor covering is a labor-intensive job that requires strength and stamina. Professional installers use teams, which eases the workload, instead of being a one-person job.
Common Mistakes Found In DIY Epoxy Flooring
Avoiding a professional’s service fee can lead to some expensive fixes. DIY’ers tend to make the following mistakes.
Short Cuts In The Floor Preparation Process
For epoxy to attach to the concrete surface of your garage floor, the floor will need to be a spotless surface. The top layer of concrete has to be removed to create the right surface that the epoxy floor sealant will attach to.
DIY’ers don’t always get the floor properly clean or the right degree of scoring on the concrete. Both these issues will lead to adhesion problems.
Badly Mixed Epoxy
An epoxy mixture needs even mixing for it to harden correctly across the entire floor. DIY’ers aren’t always able to get this mix done right. This leads to adhesion problems and expensive fixes.
Concrete Moisture Levels That Are Too High
This is common when an epoxy floor is thrown on new concrete that hasn’t had time to dry sufficiently. Damp concrete will cause bubbles and cracks in the epoxy coat.
Allowing Sunlight Exposure
If your epoxy will be directly exposed to sunlight or UV light during the application, it may result in air bubbles and discoloration in the finished product. Even if the resin is already set, constant exposure to sunlight or UV light will darken the surface.
Stretching Out the Epoxy
When you stretch the epoxy out to cover the entire floor when you’re out of it, it will result in a weaker coating, clear color difference, and the surface will also be much less glossy.
Tips For Hiring a Professional Epoxy Garage Floor Installer
1. Do Your Research
Epoxy garage floor coatings come in a variety of forms. Make sure you complete your research before deciding which garage floor coating is ideal for you. This will assist you in weeding out any installers who do not use the coating you are looking for.
2. Read Customer Reviews
Reading a company’s reviews and testimonials is one of the best ways to assess whether or not it is credible. It is the simplest action you can do to verify the company’s claims of quality.
Some contractors may display actual customer reviews on their websites. It is also a good idea to look at Google reviews and the social media pages of the company. If most of the company’s reviews are unfavorable, then of course it is a red flag.
3. Check the Company’s Previous Projects
Most of the trusted epoxy garage floor installers showcase their previous projects on their websites’ galleries for the reference of their prospective clients. It is always a good idea to check these galleries to see for yourself how good their work is.
Pay special attention to their previous projects that are similar to the one you’re looking for. This will give you an idea of if the company can handle your garage needs.
FAQs – All About Epoxy Flooring
These are some of the most frequently asked questions that clients ask when finding out about the benefits of epoxy floor covering and the process of applying it.
Q: Is epoxy flooring good for the garage?
Yes. Epoxy flooring is one of the strongest and most durable garage floor coverings available today. It does not only safeguard your garage floor, but it can also transform your dull or unsightly concrete into a professional-looking floor that is both beautiful and functional.
Q: How much does it cost to epoxy a garage floor?
Epoxy is one of the more affordable garage floor coating options. Just like any other option, it doesn’t have universally agreed-upon pricing so its cost will typically depend on the quality of materials you want.
In general, the cost of getting epoxy coating over an existing garage floor ranges from $3 to $12 per square foot. A one-car garage is typically 250 square feet in size so it can cost anywhere from $750 to $3,000, depending on the type of coating used. A two-car garage, on the other hand, is typically between 400 and 500 square feet so it follows that the total cost ranges from $1,200 to $6,000.
Q: Can I epoxy my garage floor myself?
Yes. With enough research about the process, you can apply epoxy to your garage floor by yourself. If you don’t have enough money for a professionally installed coating, installing a DIY epoxy garage floor from a home improvement store is better than leaving your garage floor uncovered.
However, if you have a few hundred dollars to spend, hiring a professional epoxy garage floor installer is the more cost-effective solution since it is 5-10 times more durable than DIY epoxy kits. Doing this will also save you all the hassle and keep you from committing expensive mistakes in the process.
Q: Are epoxy floor coatings slippery?
When dry, epoxy floor coatings are not slippery. However, just like most other floor coating options, epoxy can become slippery when wet. The amount of gloss the coating has can also affect its slipperiness when wet.
Color flakes can add texture to a coating and make it slightly less slippery, but they are not a replacement for an anti-slip surface. Anti-slip material should be put into the final layer if wet grip or non-slip is a concern.
Q: What about the huge crack in my garage floor? Does this mean I can’t get epoxy flooring?
Most holes, gouges, and cracks can be repaired with epoxy patching material. Your professional contractor will have a look at your crack before starting and making the call.
Q: Is it hard to keep my epoxy garage floor clean?
One of the most attractive features of an epoxy floor is how low maintenance it is! Blow loose debris off with an electric leaf blower. For mud or oil stains, a regular green cleaner and water will do the trick.
Q: What is the lifespan of an epoxy floor coating?
Factors that influence an epoxy floor coating lifespan are how much the floor is used and correct installation. In a residential garage, epoxy flooring should last at least 20 years. This is part of what makes it a top choice for garage flooring.
Q: From start to finish, how long will the installation process take?
While each project comes with its challenges and variables, typically, you should set aside two days of being garage-less.
Q: Does a brand new concrete floor still need to have the surface ground?
Yes! Concrete has a layer of brittle concrete that dries on the surface. That’s called the laitance layer. Break this layer up so that the epoxy primer and coating can sink in and be properly absorbed. Grinding also cleans the surface, which is good for bonding.
Where To Hire Professional Epoxy Garage Floor Installers?
An epoxy garage floor covering is an asset that adds value to your home when done right. It will save you cleaning time, it looks good, and is hard-wearing.
If you’re looking for epoxy garage floor installers who use the best products and offer exceptional quality, then you are in the right place. You are also in for a treat since we are currently offering a rare deal!
You can get a $250 discount for a garage organization project if you use our services now. So, what are you waiting for? Request a free estimate today and get the best garage floor coating you will never regret!
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