Do-it-yourself (DIY) epoxy application costs $2–$5* per square foot on average, while professional epoxy application ranges from $3–$12 per square foot, including materials and labor.
Epoxy application tools and accessories | A good set up will cost about $500. Good quality professional epoxy application tools and accessories are another essential part of applying epoxy flooring which will help you deliver high quality work.
DIY epoxy floor kits are not a permanent solution. They can temporarily improve the appearance of concrete flooring. But, to maintain them, they need to be redone every few years. Eventually, the cost of redoing DIY epoxy flooring every year adds up to the cost of a professional concrete coating.
Depending on the additives present in a coating and the levels of foot traffic, drop impact, wear from vehicles in a space and other factors, an epoxy garage floor coating can last between two and ten years with proper maintenance.
If you're looking to give your garage floor or basement floor a makeover, epoxy flooring is a great option. It's durable, easy to clean, and can resist stains and spills. Plus, it can give your space a whole new look. Creating an epoxy floor is a popular do-it-yourself project.
Like I said at the start, it's an expensive hobby and it takes a lot of practice to build up the skills and techniques to create the effects that you want.
DON'T Underestimate How Hard it Will Be
It might be longer if you need to make repairs to the subfloor. The application itself tends to take roughly two days. It can be quite challenging as well. You will need to factor in the temperature, humidity, epoxy cure time, and more.
Even when these heavy objects are being shifted around on the floor continuously, the epoxy floor surface will maintain a very high luster. Epoxy floors are pretty easy to maintain as long as you follow some ground rules.
Usually, it takes around 72 hours to fully cure the epoxy. Whatever the dry time, the resin should be allowed to fully cure before attempting to move or sand it. If the epoxy isn't allowed to rest until fully cured, your project will be prone to surface contamination.
Epoxy is a permanent adhesive. When properly chosen for your application and substrates, and properly cured, it will form a strong, permanent bond. At times though, you may find that you need to recover bonded parts or clean parts to remove excess cured epoxy.
Epoxy coatings are good for some surfaces. But it's not the best choice for your garage floor. Epoxy is prone to yellowing, chipping, and hot-tire pickup which can ruin the look of your garage floor. Concrete is a much better and more durable choice for high-traffic areas like your garage.
After just a short amount of time, epoxy begins to flake, peel and chip, making your garage floor look aged and unattractive. The epoxy coating can't easily be touched up, so you end up with intensive labor and expenses to take care of the problem—only to have it repeat itself every few years.
Even though epoxy flooring is popular for being durable and long-lasting, it will crack if there is a foundation shift in your home because it is not flexible. Similarly, your epoxy flooring may chip if it is applied to weak concrete that contains cracks.
Let's start with our three rules of thumb about coverage: For the first coat onto porous wood, the epoxy coverage rate is 6m2 per kilo. After the first coat, the epoxy coverage rate is 8m2 per kilo.
On average, epoxy flooring costs from $30-35 per square metre including application and materials.
Polyester Resin
This is a popular alternative to epoxy resin and is often used in fiberglass projects. It is easy to work with, dries quickly, and is relatively inexpensive. It is also UV resistant and can withstand high temperatures.
If using 100% solids epoxy, your floor will be cured and walkable in about 12 - 18 hours. You can return to full heavy traffic after about 36 - 72 hours. Most epoxies reach full chemical cure within 7 days of application. When using polyaspartic, the cure times are increased – especially with 100% solids products.
Tip: The epoxy resin must be really dry before sanding. You should therefore allow a waiting period of at least 48 hours before processing. Follow the manufacturer's instructions, as there are resins that take even longer to harden completely.
The effects of water on uncured epoxies and epoxy composites are studied. Experiments show that water causes an increase in the cure rate of epoxy materials at low degrees of cure and a decrease in cure rate and total cure at high degrees of cure.
One of the major disadvantages of epoxy adhesives is their tendency to have a long cure time. Some formulations can cure quickly and be ready for use within minutes or hours. However, most epoxy adhesives typically require several hours or even days to fully cure.
The main effects of overexposure are irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and skin, skin allergies, and asthma. The solvent additives can cause other effects such as headaches, dizziness, and confusion. Lungs: Vapors and spray mists of most epoxy resin system chemicals can irritate your lungs.
Do not use Epoxies when temperatures of the air or the substrate will drop below 50 degrees F. Without first consulting with Epoxy.com Tech service for cold installation. Do not forget to allow extra time for epoxy to cure when working at lower temperatures.
One of the biggest pros of epoxy garage floors is their durability. Epoxy floors are much more resistant to wear and tear than other types of flooring, so they can withstand heavy foot traffic and even vehicle traffic without showing signs of wear.
In general, the tensile strength of epoxy resins can range from 5,000 to 6,000 psi.
Grinding a garage floor before applying an epoxy coating or paint can help to ensure a smooth, durable finish. It's essential to properly prepare the concrete surface before beginning the grinding process. This will make the epoxy coating or paint adhere properly and lasts for years to come.