A garage floor coating can transform your space, making it more durable and visually appealing. You’re taking a bare, concrete surface and, with the magic of epoxy and polyaspartic coatings, you have a tough, beautiful floor that will last for years and years and elevate the value of your property.
The first type of person who is typically interested in epoxy flooring is going to be those inclined toward home improvement. And a lot of those types also really love to do whatever they can themselves — many of us love to get our hands dirty. The whole reason we’re in this industry is because we love the craft, the process of transforming a space with our hands and seeing a garage go from a dark, cobweb-laden space to a new front door of the home that residents can be proud of.
We understand the appeal of doing it yourself, especially considering the upfront cost, but in this case, we would recommend against it. Epoxy flooring is a little less like patching drywall or hanging a new light fixture; it’s more like plumbing or roofing. You can technically do it yourself, but it’s a complex process and DIY kits are lacking in many ways.
DIY epoxy floor kits often fall short in several key areas that can compromise both the look and longevity of your floor. Here’s why working with professionals on garage floor coatings is usually the better option for durable, high-quality results.
Garage Floor Coating: Surface Preparation is Critical
Professional installers use propane grinders to create the ideal concrete surface profile for the primer coat, a moisture-mitigating epoxy, to bond to. Propane grinders are more efficient, powerful, safer, and generate a better surface for epoxy and polyaspartic coatings to be installed upon.
In contrast, DIY kits usually come with a mild etching solution that fails to penetrate deeply, leaving behind a surface that’s often too smooth. This lack of proper prep leads to common issues like peeling and delamination within months of application, as the epoxy struggles to adhere to the unprepared concrete.
Garage Floor Coating: Limitations in Product Quality
DIY kits are typically water-based, lower in solids, and contain fewer additives that contribute to durability. These kits often lack the chemical resistance, UV stability, and overall toughness found in high-grade epoxy, polyurea, or polyaspartic coatings used by professionals. For example:
- Chemical Resistance: Professional-grade residential epoxy and polyaspartic floors withstand harsh automotive fluids, oils, and solvents, whereas DIY kits may show stains or even begin to break down when exposed to chemicals.
- UV Stability: Low-grade epoxy from DIY kits is prone to yellowing over time, especially if exposed to sunlight (we use a 100%-solids, moisture-mitigating epoxy as our base coat only). Our 100%-solids polyaspartic and polyurea clear top coats maintain their original color and clarity by providing extreme UV resistance.
- Durability and Thickness: Professional installations often involve several layers of high-solids epoxy or polyaspartic coatings, which offer better impact resistance and a thicker finish. DIY coatings are generally thin, more prone to scratches, and less forgiving under heavy use.
- Longevity: Because of all these factors, the longevity of the DIY kits’ floors suffer severely. We’ve seen and replaced floor coatings a couple years or even months after installation. Epoxy and polyaspartic floors, when installed correctly, should be in the 20-year range, not the 1-2 year range.
Application Techniques and Experience
Applying epoxy requires skill and experience to ensure a flawless, bubble-free finish that evenly adheres. DIY kits lack advanced features like self-leveling compounds that prevent bubbling and ensure smoothness. Professionals understand optimal timing for application, curing times, and environmental factors like humidity and temperature control. These nuances, often overlooked in DIY applications, can make a big difference in the final appearance and durability of the floor.
Finishing Options
Professionals provide various finishing options, including full-flake, metallic, solid epoxy, and mica flake finishes, which add texture, slip resistance, and visual appeal. DIY kits typically offer limited colors and finishes that don’t achieve the high-end, custom look possible with professional-grade products.
Warranty and Long-Term Results
Many professional garage floor epoxy coatings come with warranties that protect against defects, peeling, or wear, a benefit that DIY products lack. Without a warranty, any issues or repair costs fall on the DIYer, which can become costly. Investing in professional installation provides peace of mind that the job is done correctly and is backed by a warranty if any issues arise.
Ultimately, while DIY epoxy kits may seem like an attractive option for a quick upgrade, they often lead to frustration and the need for costly reapplications. Working with professionals ensures a durable, high-quality finish that looks better, lasts longer, and requires less maintenance over time.
Moisture damage is the number one reason why epoxy floor coatings fail. 1-day installation services and DIY kits aren’t going to cover moisture-related issues in their warranties, but we will.
Avoiding Costly DIY Mistakes
A DIY installation gone wrong can end up costing more in the long term. Issues like peeling and bubbling may require a complete removal and reapplication of the coating. While our dealers do offer epoxy floor replacements, we’d rather home and business owners get it right the first time. Professionals often provide warranties, offering peace of mind that your investment is protected.
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