Epoxy garage floor covering offers a number of advantages to those who use it. Chief among these advantages is a self-leveling floor that has a glossy, sparkling showroom finish. However, before you make the decision to install epoxy garage floor covering in your garage, there are some problems that you should be aware of. This article will discuss three of these problems so that you can know what to look out for if you decide to go this route.

For one, extensive surface preparation is required on the garage floor before installation of epoxy garage floor covering can begin. Any, and I mean any, dirt, grease, oil, or any other surface contaminants, even if it’s just a trace, is enough to keep the epoxy from adhering to the underlying floor. Moisture from the atmosphere can even cause this.

If your garage floor has numerous oil stains, then you shouldn’t even try to install epoxy garage floor covering because the oil that was soaked up by the concrete floor will keep the epoxy from adhering, even if it’s been there for a long time. This surface preparation is very labor intensive and is often the hardest part of installing epoxy floor covering, and is often the reason why so many people opt to have professionals do it for them.

When installing epoxy garage floor covering, it must be done in a well-ventilated area since most epoxies give off fumes while they cure, and these fumes can make you sick if you’re exposed to them for a prolonged period of time. Also, because epoxy is very sticky, you don’t want to get any of it on your skin. For this reason, you have to wear protective clothing such as goggles, gloves, and even a respirator to avoid breathing in the fumes. These precautions are similar to the ones that have to be taken when installing high density foam insulation. This is another reason why some people choose to have the professionals do it.

In addition to those two issues, most epoxies are two-part systems that require very precise mixing of the two components for proper curing. If you don’t follow the directions on the container, or if you make a mistake during the mixing process, then you could have a garage floor that is covered by epoxy resin that won’t cure.

From personal experience, I can attest to the consequences of this. You’ll end up having to buy a thinner or reducer from your local paint store and use it to try and remove the epoxy from the floor before starting all over again. This process is extremely agonizing, and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

These are just three of the problems that may occur when installing epoxy garage floor covering. After reading this article, you may want to hire a professional to install your floor covering or switch to a different type of floor covering. If you’re still willing to go it alone, then at least you now have an idea of what to look out for.