08/21/2024
Hey Everybody!
I wanted to drop some information I hope someone will find useful.
If you are considering hiring an epoxy contractor to coat your garage or patio, please read this.
Quick Background: My name is Sean and I'm the owner of Sun Valley Epoxy. I've worked on 300+ floors throughout my career. Coming from a restaurant background, customer service is a huge priority for me and unfortunately a lot of homeowners get taken advantage of by shady epoxy companies. I want to provide some information to hopefully help homeowners' make an informed decision when it comes to choosing a contractor whether your a homeowner or a General Contractor looking to add on a sub.
Things to consider when choosing an epoxy contractor:
1. Ensure they are licensed with the ROC. This is mainly for homeowners...for some reason I've had many GC's tell me they don't care if their subs are licensed which I found strange...There are a lot of unlicensed contractors in Phoenix, especially in the epoxy flooring industry. There are low barriers to entry, and honestly the work isn't hard when you know what you're doing so there are a lot of people flooding the market. If they have a ROC license, make sure to look it up on the ROC website. If you go with an unlicensed contractor you have very little recourse if something goes wrong. Don't get screwed over!
2. Not all epoxy is the same. Ensure the contractor is using either a high-solids, Polyurethane or Polyaspartic resin. "Solid content" refers to how much of the material stays on the floor after evaporation. 85% solids means 15% of what gets put on the floor is solvent and will evaporate, leaving the remaining 85% of actual resin. Epoxy bought from big-box retailers is often as low as 30-40% solids, meaning it is extremely "watered-down" for easier DIY application... which is why it's so expensive to go with a professional.
- Does that mean 100% solids is the best option? Not necessarily. I get spam calls from Chinese Epoxy Manufactures every week offering 100% solid polyaspartic. This material is often full of plasticizers and other fillers. Make sure the contractor is using material from a reputable manufacturer.
3. The concrete preparation is arguably the most important step of installing an epoxy floor. If the concrete is not prepped correctly, the resin won't have a strong mechanical bond and will be prone to delamination and hot tire pickup. The proper way to prep concrete is with the use of a diamond grinder. Acid etching is a cheaper but far inferior option. If the acid is not fully neutralized it will cause problems in the future. Make sure the contractor grinds down to the concrete substrate, ensuring the front lip of the garage is ground as well as this is a high-impact point from the tires.
Hope someone finds this information useful! If you're going to spend thousands of dollars on a new floor, make sure it's done correct the first time!
I'm happy to answer any questions you guys might have. Comment or DM!
Sun Valley Epoxy
www.SunvalleyEpoxy.net
602-456-0344
ROC #349084
