Your Epoxy Flooring Installation Guide

Epoxy flooring has become increasingly popular over the past couple of years due to their personalization, easy maintenance schedule, and of course the strength and durability they offer. Installing epoxy floors is a job for a professional to ensure that it is done correctly, but what goes into bringing these beautiful floors to life? Below we will look into what goes into installing epoxy flooring and why it is important to have it installed by a professional contractor.

Surface preparation is the most important step in installing an epoxy flooring system. Once you have spoken with a contractor and chose your design and location for the epoxy it is time to get the surface ready for the epoxy installation. This step is important because without proper preparation the epoxy can bond correctly and won’t last as long as intended. First, the surface is cleaned thoroughly by sweeping and mopping (depending on location). The area needs to be completely clean of dirt, dust, and debris before moving on to the next step.

While some may consider this part of the floor preparation, it is a crucial part of the epoxy flooring installation. Once the area is clean, a diamond blade is used to grind the floors down to a rough surface. At this point, any imperfections in the concrete will be fixed such as cracks, chipping, and holes before another pass with the grinder is done. This grinding creates a rigid surface that will make sure the epoxy properly bonds to the surface creating the strong flooring that has become so popular.

Now that the flooring is prepped, a primer is added to the floor while the solution is mixed and prepared for installation. This step can vary depending on the type of epoxy flooring you choose whether it is standard, metallic, or decorative flake epoxy. When mixing standard epoxy or metallic epoxy this step is where the pigment or metallic pigment is added to the mixture before being applied to the flooring. After the primer has dried and the mixture is prepared, it is time to apply the first coat of epoxy. Epoxy can be applied in many different ways with the most popular being with rollers and squeegees. This ensures an even coating and prevents any type of pooling on the surface. Once the first coat is applied, for decorative flake epoxy floors, the acrylic flakes area is added. Multiple coats can be added depending on personal preference and how thick you would like the flooring to be.

The final step after the epoxy has been installed and allowed to dry is the sealing and curing process. Not all professionals install a sealer for epoxy as it is optional, but it does give added protection so that your flooring will last for longer. Having this clear urethane protective coat ensures the surface is smooth and protected while also making it even easier to clean. After the sealant has dried the flooring is allowed to cure. The curing process takes anywhere from 48-72 hours. It is recommended for garages that cars aren’t parked on the epoxy until after the 72-hour mark.

Epoxy flooring can be a tricky material to master and if one step is done out of place it can affect the entire flooring. Professionals have all the tools needed for an incredible epoxy flooring system and are experienced in what can go wrong so they can catch mistakes before they happen. Because of the knowledge and experience professionals possess, they can save you money on your flooring installation by doing it the right way the first time. Professional contractors can offer many different colors and designs that home improvement stores lack to give you the ultimate personalization. Each professional is trained in proper installation and maintenance techniques so they can teach you the proper maintenance of your flooring as well to make it last!