I recently got a phone call from a customer moving into a new home in Eagle, ID. They wanted to finish the garage by applying a floor coating and had questions. They had spoken to a number of companies about options and had found that the prices as well as the processes varied greatly. They were confused and even considered buying an epoxy kit from Home Depot or Lowe’s and doing it themselves.
I spent time with them explaining the process and the options. I’ve had this conversation with many homeowners, and I decided to share my thoughts in this post. Let me start by saying that everyone is different when it comes to their budget, ability to do-it-yourself, and time. Therefore, I’m not going to say that either of these options is “wrong.” However, it is important to figure out which option is the best for you before spending any of your time or money.
The Do-it-yourself option
There have never been as many options for homeowners to improve their homes themselves, and this goes for floor coatings as well. If you decide to do it yourself and buy a kit from the hardware store, be prepared to prepare, or “prep.” Many people are anxious to apply the new coating and do little more than sweep the garage floor before applying the epoxy.
A concrete floor, even a new one, must be “etched” before applying a coating, or the coating will fail and begin to peel. Etching is similar to sanding a piece of wood trim before applying a new coat of paint. It gives teeth to the surface to which the coating will bond.
Etching can be done using many methods. The simplest for the average homeowner is an acid wash. This process involves applying muriatic acid to the floor and then neutralizing it with Baking Soda. After this step, the floor must be thoroughly rinsed and dried. Follow the instructions on the label of the coating you purchase.
I have received many calls from owners who applied their own coating the first time and are now looking to have the floor recoated four or five years later. It isn’t that they applied the coating the wrong way; it has just been my experience, based on what I’ve seen, that this is the life span of the coating.
Hiring a professional applicator
There can be a variety of options and prices when hiring a professional to apply epoxy floor coatings. While I can’t speak to what is available or what other companies offer, I can walk you through our process and explain why we do it.
The first thing I prepare clients for is the time frame. I tell them to expect heavy traffic to stay off the floor for a week. The following is a breakdown of our process and timelines.
Day one:
On the first day, we will prep the floor. In most cases, we will do this using a large machine called a scarifier, which is basically a sander for concrete. It allows us to etch the floor while keeping it dry, making it possible to apply the first coat of our epoxy on the same day. (Some existing floors might take two days for this process if an old coating is being removed or there are areas requiring patch work.)
The first coat is a two-part, color-specific epoxy. We offer four standard colors, but the client can choose from thousands of options. During this coating, we typically apply the “color chips,” which give the floor its showroom look. Again, there are thousands of color chips to choose from.
Day Two:
The next step is applying a two-part clear urethane top coat. This is when the non-skid surface is added as well (if requested by the client). This hard coating will absorb the brunt of the wear and tear while maintaining the floor’s color and life. On some floors, this coating might be applied on day 3.
By day 4, you can walk on your new floor and drive on it by day 7.
We offer a lifetime warranty against normal wear and tear and pricing options for moving your things into and out of the garage.
Our customers in Eagle, Idaho were thrilled with their new epoxy floor coating and even happier they didn’t have to do it themselves. Knowledge is power so getting the facts before you start into an epoxy floor coating will save you time and money in the long run.
Close-up view of a newly painted floor
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