Your Guide to a New Epoxy Floor
So you’re considering a new epoxy floor for your home. There are a few things to consider when choosing the best floor for your home.
You’ll want to know about free quotes, the quality of the existing concrete, the installation process, where to install epoxy, and how to find a good concrete contractor.
Continue reading to find out everything you need to know about your new epoxy floor.
Where Can You Install Epoxy?
Now that you know you want an epoxy floor, you’ll need to know where it can be installed. Epoxy is a highly versatile floor that can be applied to a myriad of rooms in a house.
Here are a few popular choices:
Basements
The basement is an excellent location for epoxy. It’s waterproof, making it ideal for basements as they’re prone to moisture. A beautiful epoxy floor can really bring a basement to life.
Garages
There aren’t many floors that can compete with epoxy when it comes to a garage. These floor coatings are resistant to all varieties of car chemicals, including gas, oil, and grease. Not to mention, they’ll make your garage the most attractive on the block.
Kitchens
Thanks to the seamless design of epoxy flooring, cleaning the kitchen has never been easier! These highly sanitary floors are USDA approved, making them an exceptional pick for spaces where cleanliness is a must.
Living Rooms
If you want a floor that’s going to make a statement for your living room, epoxy is the choice for you. With a wide variety of colors and patterns to choose from, you can find a match for any design scheme!
How to Find a Good Concrete Contractor
The first thing that you’re going to need to begin your project is a dependable concrete contractor. The question is; how do you find a good one?
Do some research on local concrete contractors in your area and check their reputations. It’s easy to see reviews and determine how good the contractor’s reputation is.
Once you’ve found a reputable company, verify that they insure their work. You don’t want to be left with expensive repairs because an uninsured contractor had an accident on your property.
Lastly, check their experience and compare prices with other contractors in the area. Decades of experience isn’t required, but it can’t hurt. It’s also worth checking if the contractor offers free quotes. This can help you prepare your budget accurately without surprises.
What is the Quality of Your Existing Concrete?
Easily one of the most important factors to consider is the state of your current concrete. If it’s damaged, you can expect to have additional costs to repair it prior to the installation.
If your concrete isn’t repaired before the install, it can inhibit the adhesion of the epoxy to your concrete. Damage on your concrete will also transfer to the epoxy, causing you to have to replace much sooner than necessary.
The Installation Process
Installing an epoxy floor is accomplished through a few different steps.
Inspection
First, your concrete will be inspected to determine the extent of the damage. Your contractor will check every part of your concrete to be sure that there is nothing that will hinder the application of the epoxy.
Cleaning
The floor will be thoroughly cleaned in preparation for the repairs to ensure that all the damage is visible and can be repaired.
Repairs
Once clean, the contractor will proceed with the repairs. All cracks, big or small, will be filled with an injectable epoxy filler. This will fix the crack while preventing it from spreading as well. Any chips, holes, or pits will need to be filled with a concrete patch to ensure the epoxy has a smooth surface to adhere to.
Resurfacing
After repairs are complete, the resurfacing can begin. Your contractor will use a floor grinder with a diamond wheel to grind the concrete’s surface down. This is done to ensure the proper bonding of the concrete to the epoxy. Epoxy needs a rough surface or it will not adhere.
Cleaning (Again)
Resurfacing will leave a lot of dust and debris on the concrete that will need to be cleaned off prior to the epoxy application.
Installation
The epoxy will be mixed and applied one coat at a time to your clean concrete. Once the desired coats have been applied, it will be left to cure. The resin reaches 95% of its full cure within 24 hours and 100% of its cure within 72 hours.
Finishing Up
Epoxy is an excellent investment, but also a semi-permanent one as well. Consider all of the factors that we’ve listed above before having your new epoxy floor installed. Now, you should have everything you need to get started on your dream floor!
