And what are epoxy floors exactly?

These types of floors are also known as polymer flooring systems, which means that they are created thanks to the combination of two or more chemical ingredients that are applied to a concrete surface so the floor can harden or “cure.” What do you get from this process? A long-lasting flooring system that’s chemical resistant and easy to clean. An epoxy floor is also anti-slip and anti-dust.

It is important to know that his type of floor is not a DIY system, as the elements used are dangerous to handle unless an expert takes over the process. In addition, you might find epoxy floor in big hardware stores, but the product will mainly consist of paint and only provides a thin coat of protection that has a high-risk of peeling off in less than two years.

How long will it take until the floor is ready?

Day 1:

  • A degreaser is applied to the floor to remove oily spots while taping off the perimeter. 
  • The floor is then etched with a special bonding degreaser formula, and scrubbed
  • The floor gets neutralized and flushed with the help of Grinding or Shot Blasting
  • Once that’s done, the floor is ready for surface repairs, such as hairline cracks, chips, and others
  • A concrete primer coat is added to prepare the bonding adhesion for the epoxy
  • The floor is ready for the Epoxy

Day 2

  • The floor is blown out to eliminate dust
  • The Epoxy is applied with decorative chips that are anti-slip
  • The floor area is taped off and then left to dry until it has a semi-glossy finish.

Day 3

  • The floor is inspected and freed from dust
  • The final coat is applied and is a coat of Polyurea, which is the #1 topcoat in the market and leaves the whole area shining with a high-gloss longer lasting finish.

Day 4:

  • This is the day when the floor might need an additional check-up if weather or dampness is not favorable, mostly during winter.
How long before it dries?
Drying time is essential for a successful Epoxy floor, as it will ensure long-lasting results. It takes approximately 48 hrs to dry, depending on the ventilation. But if you want to park a car on the floor, or move heavy items that might be in the area, then you should wait a week for it to dry, so you can avoid any issue with it.
Do I really need a professional installer?

The real question is why wouldn’t you? Concrete preparation needs to be done perfectly to achieve a successful installation. Professional expertise assures you the best preparation method, as existing coatings or other agents may need to be completely removed before starting the Epoxy floor process. If you want to have a perfect Epoxy floor, then you have to make sure that proper leveling, crack, joint repair, and patching is done beautifully to help reduce the possibility of failure during the installation.

A professional installer knows how to handle polymer coatings and safety equipment, and has extensive working knowledge of the products they recommend, humidity ranges compatibility, and knowledge of reactive properties, as well as mixing radio tolerance, temperature varieties and more.

Why are you going to grind to prep the surface even if there isn't anything to grind off?

This process is also called diamond grinding and is the “old school” way of getting the concrete ready. There might be times when it’s not needed, but when it is, it’s done with a Blastrac shot blaster or a diamond grinder. The surface is prepared like this for the following scenarios:

  • When the floor already had epoxy but with a topcoat that’s peeling.
  • When the residential floor has glue residue due to pre-existing rubber, tile, or carpet.
  • When the home is old and full of oil stains.
  • And when the customer demands to have the floor shot-blasted.

Normally, there’s an extra charge for shot blasting or diamond grinding a floor, but it comes with a warranty. As we mentioned, diamond grinding isn’t needed most of the time in residential garages with less than ten years of use.

Can epoxy be done in 1 day? Other companies say they can do it.
If a company says that an epoxy job can be done in 1 day, then it can mean that new products recently hit the market and are trying to experiment their quality on you. If this is the case, watch out, as these products are designed to cut down on the labor involved, such as cutting corners and dry quicker than original epoxy; results may not be as durable as the usual process of installation. If the person you’re talking to claims they have it all figured it out and speaks in highly technical language, then it’s a red alert. The 1-day products can be cheaper than others, but the contractors that handle them charge more money.
Can the expansion joints be filled in?
This is something that’s not recommended, but some companies will try to “upsell” someone to do it, so they can make extra money with the idea. Expansion joints are designed to absorb cracks and to drain water to the driveway; in case someone fills them in, then they might crack over time. Nevertheless, if a customer demands to fill in the expansion joints, then we will make an additional charge depending on their size.
What happens to the section of the garage floor exposed to the Sun?
You don’t have to worry about this, as we use a 100% UV Polyurea so you can have the section that’s exposed done and the expansion joint without any problem. Don’t want to see that section? We can cut it off where the garage door comes down. Even so, we highly recommend you opt for the first described scenario. In certain cases, garages have a lip that makes the door come down, and if that is your case, we will go to the end of the lip.
How much would you charge me if I have a custom home and non-standard garage floor size?
Our pricing is based on standard size garages— +/- 50 sq ft – 2-car is around 400 sq ft, 3-car is around 600 sq ft and 4-car is around 800 sq ft— If you have a custom home and is larger than 850 sq ft. then just give us a call and we’ll give you an estimate.
Why does Epoxy get a bad name, companies that use non-proven products say epoxy isn’t the way to go?

Several non-professional companies sell the “Do it yourself” kits from home improvement stores, which are, most of the time, just garage paint with about 5% epoxy, and only contains 1 thin coat of paint that wears off or peels up after 1 or 2 two years. However, we offer a 100% solid Epoxy, including primer and topcoat. Our team of professionals will properly install the quality epoxy that you need.

Have you heard that Epoxy fades or turns yellow over time? This only happens if the company you hire uses a Poly that’s not 100% UV protectant, so it fades over time, more if it’s exposed to sunlight. At Epoxy Flooring Co. you don’t have to worry about this, as our products are durable, high-quality, and basically the real thing. We work with Polyurea or CRU products, products that never fade.

Do you take credit or debit cards? Or what types of payment do you take?

First of all, we don’t charge until the job is done, but we do create payment plans according to the measures of the area you want to be covered with Epoxy, and a 10% deposit for commercial jobs.

We coordinate payment on the final day after we made sure the installation was successful. We accept credit cards via PayPal and checks. When paying by credit card, we ask for an email address so we can send a PayPal invoice, for which we will charge an additional 3%

What about moisture issues?
Moisture is common in concrete slabs, but our Epoxy products are strong against it. The chances to get moisture issues that can lift the epoxy floor are practically a couple out of 1,000 floors. You can detect a moisture problem if you see white powder that comes up after a rainy day or when you wash the area and is typically isolated in a small area. What causes moisture can vary but is still very rare. Some companies will try to push you into considering a moisture barrier, but be careful, as this can only be an excuse so they can charge you more than expected. Nevertheless, if you happen to stumble upon a moisture issue, then you can call us to fix it right away!