Frequently Asked Questions

National guides are a good starting point. HomeGuide lists installed epoxy at $4 to $10 per square foot, and HomeAdvisor puts the average epoxy floor project at about $2,526, with most between $1,650 and $3,494. Old coatings, crack repair and the finish you choose change the total, so we give a written price after seeing the floor.

Home improvement stores in and around Dearborn stock do-it-yourself kits. When we searched epoxy flooring in Dearborn, shopping results showed kits from about $185 to $699. A kit can work on a clean, sound slab, but most rely on acid etching, which does not remove old paint, oil or salt-weakened concrete. That prep step is where professional installs differ most.

Standard epoxy is a solid color coat, often with flakes broadcast into it. Metallic epoxy has metallic pigment mixed into the resin, which is poured and moved by hand to create a marbled, three-dimensional look. Metallic floors are smoother and more decorative, so they suit basements and dealerships more than salty garages. This Old House lists metallic floors at about $5 to $12 per square foot.

Wood swells and shrinks with humidity, and a rigid resin coating over it tends to crack. We coat concrete only. If part of your basement or garage has a wood subfloor, we will tell you which areas we can coat and which need a different floor.

Usually yes, once the slab has dried and any damaged concrete is repaired. We take a moisture reading before quoting, and if the slab is still giving off too much moisture we either use a moisture-tolerant primer or recommend waiting. A coating makes cleanup easier after a backup, but it does not keep water out of the house.

HomeGuide puts water-based epoxy at about 3 to 5 years before it needs a fresh coat, and 100% solids epoxy at about 10 to 20 years. Polyaspartic systems are listed at 10 to 20 years or more for homes. How the slab was prepared and how much salt and traffic the floor sees matter as much as the product.

HomeGuide lists about $1,600 to $5,800 for epoxy on a two-car garage and $2,000 to $6,900 for polyaspartic. Removing old paint, repairing salt damage and choosing a full flake finish all affect where your floor falls. We give you the price in writing after seeing it.

Most garage paints and thin kit coatings sit on top of concrete that was only washed or acid etched. Hot tires soften the film and pull it off where they turn and stop. Grinding opens the surface so a thicker coating can bond into it.

A full flake floor has a slight texture that gives more grip than smooth paint. If you want more, we can add an anti-slip grit to the topcoat. Any floor gets slick with snow and slush on it, so a squeegee and a mat by the door still help.

HomeGuide says polyaspartic floors can usually take vehicles in 24 to 48 hours, while epoxy can take 2 to 7 days before driving on it. Cold weather slows curing. We give you a specific time for your floor.

Yes, once the slab has dried and the water source is under control. We test moisture before quoting and tell you if the floor needs more time. Coating a wet slab is the most common reason basement floors blister.

No. A coating seals the surface of the slab, but water from a floor drain backup or a wall crack will still come in. It does make the cleanup easier, since the floor can be squeegeed and disinfected.

It works well where water is a risk, because there is nothing to tear out after a backup. Some owners add area rugs for warmth in living areas. Metallic and flake finishes give a basement a finished look without carpet.

HomeGuide lists basement epoxy at about $1,200 to $20,000 for floors of 300 to 2,000 square feet, or $4 to $10 per square foot. Glue removal, crack repair and moisture primers add to the total. We give a written price after testing the slab.

Polyaspartic cures much faster (1 to 2 days for a full cure, per HomeGuide, against up to a week for epoxy), can be applied in a wider temperature range, and resists UV yellowing. Epoxy goes on thicker per coat and costs a bit less. Many floors use both: epoxy underneath and polyaspartic on top.

It handles much colder conditions than epoxy. HomeGuide lists a range of -30 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. We still check the slab temperature and the product's own label limits before we start.

The coating can often be applied in one day. Prep on a damaged or previously painted floor can add time, and you still need to wait for the cure before parking. HomeGuide puts that at 24 to 48 hours for vehicles.

HomeGuide lists 10 to 20 years or more for residential floors that are installed and maintained properly. Grinding and repair before coating have the biggest effect on that number.

HomeAdvisor lists commercial and industrial 100% solids coatings at about $12 or more per square foot, and notes that commercial-grade coatings add 20% to 30% over standard systems. Old coatings, oil contamination and night or weekend work affect the total.

Usually, with enough prep. We degrease and grind contaminated areas until the concrete is clean enough to bond. Heavily soaked spots may need to be cut out and patched. We check this at the estimate.

Often not completely. We can coat in sections and work evenings or weekends. Fast-cure products can bring each section back into use sooner.

Yes, with the right thickness and prep. We coat around lift baseplates and can repair anchor areas. If a lift has to be moved or reanchored, that is planned with your equipment installer.

Yes. An unrepaired crack often shows through the coating or splits it as the slab moves. We fill and grind cracks flush before the base coat goes down.

Wide cracks (HomeGuide flags anything over about a quarter inch), cracks with one side higher than the other, cracks that leak water or keep growing, and cracks paired with sticking doors or wall cracks are warning signs. We point those out and suggest a structural opinion before any coating.

Yes. Scaled and pitted concrete is ground to sound material, then filled or skimmed so it is flat again. A coating over the repair keeps new brine from getting back into the concrete.

HomeAdvisor lists crack and chip patching at about $25 to $250. HomeGuide puts crack filling at $0.50 to $3 per linear foot. Larger surface repairs and resurfacing cost more, and we price them after seeing the floor.

This Old House puts metallic epoxy floors at about $5 to $12 per square foot. Heavy prep, skim coats and multiple pigment colors move the total. We give a written price after seeing the slab.

They are smooth and glossy, so they can be slippery when wet. We add an anti-slip additive to the topcoat in areas that may get wet, such as entries, garages or near a basement drain.

We bring sample boards and photos, but each metallic floor forms its own pattern as it is worked. You choose the colors and the general style, and the exact pattern comes out during the pour.

It works in heated garages, display garages and workshops. For a garage that takes salty cars every winter day, a flake floor usually holds up and hides dirt better.