Hiring a Concrete Contractor vs. Undergoing a DIY Epoxy Flooring Project

We’ve all done it – we once scoured the internet for every professional epoxy flooring contractor in our area. You usually search for someone who offers reliable services are at an affordable price. But now you are also considering whether you should undergo your own DIY project. You have plenty of options and you want to learn which one will benefit you the most moving forward. Here are a few things you need to consider before you make any decisions.

No matter what you decide to do, you’re going to be spending money. However, acquiring the materials yourself for a DIY project will ultimately save you the most money. For example, purchasing all the materials for an epoxy floor coating for a simple two-door garage will cost you an average of $500 or possibly less. Compare that to the minimum $4,000 cost to hire a professional to do the same thing. The cost will ultimately depend on the size and scope of the project and the condition of your existing concrete, so you should always carefully calculate your costs. DIY epoxy flooring will ultimately save you the most money. However, if you make a mistake during the installation, you will then need to replace your overlay, which means that you’ll end up paying money to fix your own mistakes (which won’t happen with a professional contractor).

The most important step in the process is to prepare your floor to receive the epoxy overlay. A professional contractor will possess high-end equipment to ensure that the epoxy bonding agent will properly adhere to your flooring. This includes a diamond grinder or a shot blaster to clean and abrade the floor. If you’re undergoing the project on your own, then you likely don’t possess any sophisticated equipment. If this is the case, then your best option is to perform acid etching on your concrete flooring. The process entails the use of an acid-based solution to clean the concrete material and establish a surface in which epoxy will adhere to it.

Acid etching is certainly a viable way to prepare your floor for the overlay, but it’s not nearly as effective as a shot blaster or grinder. What happens with many DIY projects is the floor will look great for a year or two before it begins to peel, which is likely due to poor adhesion during the installation process. A professional will ensure that your flooring won’t undergo any peeling for at least 20 years.

With DIY projects, your options are somewhat limited when it comes to designing the appearance of your flooring. You will usually need to resort to a single solid color that is plain-looking and featureless. However, your epoxy coating will still cover up any blemishing and physical imperfections. We often recommend that you use vinyl flake epoxy which will distract you from noticing any defects in your floor.

Professionally installed epoxy coatings will not only transform your floor, but a contractor has the skill and experience to provide you with greater design options. This includes a variety of color combinations, textures, and patterns. One of the most popular and more ambitious epoxy flooring options at the moment is metallic epoxy, which creates a distinct and visually striking appearance.

This is where a more noticeable difference comes into play in terms of undergoing a DIY epoxy flooring project versus hiring a professional contractor. As we mentioned earlier, DIY epoxy flooring tends to show signs of disrepair in a few years. Once this happens, you will need to re-do the whole thing. Unfortunately, re-coating your floor is a lot more difficult than applying that very first epoxy overlay. This is because you will need to remove the current coating. Hiring a professional contractor ensures that you can avoid the trouble of having to remove and re-coat your entire flooring system. Scratches can occur with a professional coating, but it will never peel away and any scratches that do occur won’t be noticeable.

The preparation is what makes the biggest difference when it comes to long-term performance. Thorough preparatory work ultimately achieves greater stability and strength. And in terms of quality, nothing compares to professional coatings. A traditional epoxy mixture will be comprised of a 2-to-1 ratio of epoxy resins and hardener. They are both solids, which means that it does not contain any water. Some DIY kits that you purchase at a home improvement store will contain up to 50% of water. If the mixture is made of 100% solids, then it will provide you with greater strength and toughness. They will also bond better to the concrete flooring.

It depends on how confident you are in your abilities and how much money you are willing to spend. DIY projects are very tempting, but will yours last longer than a couple of years before you need to redo everything? DIY kits are cheap for a reason. Think about the long-term value of hiring a professional. Think about the level of protection and dependability they’re going to offer you. Spending thousands of dollars to apply a few coatings of epoxy to your concrete flooring may seem like a great deal of money, but it’s usually the most cost-effective option that you have.

The biggest reason to hire a professional is for the personalized service they will offer you. Most contractors have a strong connection to the community and outstanding interpersonal skills. They will be as communicative as they can to ensure that their services are satisfactory and exceptional. The contractor that is providing you service is also likely a locally-owned company, which means that you have a good chance at interacting with the owner at some point. Receiving personalized attention will ensure that you are going to get the most out of what you invest in a professional epoxy flooring service.

Are you still unsure about what you should do? Call us today and speak with one of our staff members! They can tell you everything you need to know about the pros and cons of DIY projects versus a professional installation service.