Why Professional Installation Is Needed for Epoxy Flooring

As YouTube videos become popular for learning how to do things, some homeowners try out their hand at DIY projects around the house. Sometimes, this includes changing a light fixture or refinishing a wood chair. What about epoxy flooring? Is it a good idea to apply your own epoxy for your garage floor?

Reasons You Should Never Try To Apply Your Own Epoxy Flooring

Epoxy is an amazing material for a garage floor, but it needs professional installation if you want to get the benefits. This material is durable and strong when properly applied, but to get that beautiful surface, it’s essential for the concrete underneath to be properly prepared.

Another reason not to attempt installation yourself is that epoxy requires using several strong chemicals/acids to prepare the surface. In an enclosed space such as a garage, you don’t want to breath the vapors. That’s why pros use filters to avoid getting lightheaded.

The Process for Installing an Epoxy Floor

There are several steps that epoxy flooring pros need to follow to get proper adhesion, leveling and strength. They have to scrub the concrete, get grease out, repair cracks and clean the surface. This allows epoxy to penetrate into the concrete.

That’s not all. To get the best installation possible, professionals next apply an etching agent. This is usually sulfuric acid. It eats away chalky concrete dust and creates tiny pits in the floor, giving the epoxy something to grab onto.

The Benefits of Professional Epoxy Flooring

As you can tell, there are a lot of steps before the epoxy itself is mixed, applied and leveled. Even the leveling requires a professional touch so you get a smooth surface.

When things are done right, the epoxy can stand up to chemicals, oil leaks, moisture and dirt without problems. This type of flooring won’t have any cracks to worry about. All of this depends on applying the epoxy professionally.