20 Jul What kinds of epoxy are best for commercial applications?
Commercial Epoxy vs. DIY Epoxy Kits
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COMMERCIAL EPOXY FLOORING AND THE TYPICAL RESIDENTIAL GARAGE DIY EPOXY KIT?
Thickness
The DIY kits you can find in home improvement stores are not 100% solids, meaning they have more solvent added to them than in commercial epoxy. Some DIY kits are even made up with water-based coatings. This makes these coatings easier to install, but at the compromise of thickness. The solvent or water evaporates during the curing process leaving a thinner mil and lesser durable coating.
Preparation
The only approved preparation method is mechanical abrading of the surface with grinders and shotblasters. The DIY kits may recommend muriatic acid etching of the concrete floor, but note that it is a marketing strategy to make it seem easier for the do-it-yourselfers! Resin coating manufactures do not stand by their coatings when that type of preparation method is used, and we recommend against it. Mechanical prep is much better for concrete floors as it allows for a stronger adhesion to the epoxy and results in a more durable and long-lasting floor.
Durability
If the right kind of prep is installed, a DIY customer can likely get performance that is adequate for their needs. For DIY installs that are done correctly, the garage may require recoating every two years to address any areas that chip or wear away.
Warranty
Warranties vary with DIY garage epoxy kits. Often, there are too many variable with self-install kits to offer an adequate warranty. At SwedeBro, we have a 1-year warranty. If there are ever going to be problems related to installation or product issues, they will make themselves known soon after installation.