Updates in Epoxy Floors

There seems to be another new garage floor epoxy contractor every time we turn around.  It's hard to tell the new ones from the old ones.  Who does what prep work?  Do they grind it?  What about shot blasting it?   What material do they use?  Will it last?  Will the company still be in business 5 or 10 years from now?  How good is their warranty and do they actually stand behind it?   

I think the first bit of advise is to make sure the contractor will use a large planetary orbital grinder.  The larger machine will keep the grinding path level across the floor.  A smaller machine would allow the operator to sit in one place easier and making the floor unlevel.  

The next step is the shot blast the floor.  Most concrete coatings contractors will grind, but that is where the stop.  If they talk about using a chemical etching process, you should dismiss them immediately.  Some will only shot blast.  We like to use the grinder first to help level the floor as much as possible, followed by a shot blaster that will remove the dust caused by the grinder.  This dust actually fills the pores of the concrete that you're trying to get the coating to penetrate into.  The shot blaster is a great tool to de-dust the floor.  The second important thing the shot blaster does is that it  profiles the concrete.  It makes it rough on a microscopic level so the coatings have something to adhere to.  Most coatings manufacturers' warranties will require that the floor be shot blasted, yet very few contractors do it.  

Make sure your epoxy flooring contractor is using a commercial grade product, not Sherwin Williams or Rustoleum, which we often consider consumer grade.  Most painting companies will acid-etch the floor for prep and then paint it using Sherwin Williams or Rustoleum.  This is not the proper method for a long lasting floor.  

Make sure they put down a primer or moisture vapor barrier coat with no flake in it.  The flake will penetrate the first coat and reduce the thickness to the slab, potentially, even likely, compromising the coating.  It is always best to put down a prime coat of uniform thickness and let it dry before moving on to the next step.  Companies that flake into the first coat, guaranteeing a 1 day install, are often there to get in and get out without regard to the quality of the floor.  

If you're in Indiana and looking for a great epoxy flooring company, we highly recommend Indiana Epoxy Floors,  Indy Garage Floors, Fishers Garage Floors, Terre Haute Garage Floors or Bloomington Garage Floors.  They use products from Slide-Lok, EZ Concrete, or MarbleWrap epoxy.  They both grind and shot blast the floor prior to coating.  They stand behind their installations and are willing to fix things as they pop up.