One of the primary questions I get from potential customers when I visit them for a free estimate on their epoxy garage floor job is whether or not they can do it themselves. They want to know where they can get epoxy garage floor materials and if it is possible to do the job on their own. If they are anything like me, they want to make sure they are not overpaying for something they could do on their own.
The truth is, an epoxy garage floor is something you might be able to do on your own. If you've read the previous posts on here, I've laid out the basic process for installing an epoxy garage floor and even pointed out some of the pitfalls that may be encountered along the way. There are do-it-yourself epoxy floor products that can be bought at your local Lowe's, Home Depot, or Ace Hardware Store. They range in price from $150-$250 per batch, depending on the quality of the product you want.
So why do you even need an epoxy floor professional, you might be asking. Well, there are actually several reasons. First, I get my epoxy garage floor products much cheaper than you could ever get them, not because I have some sweetheart deal with an epoxy distributor, but because I buy enough product to get wholesale prices. That means I can get the same product you can for significantly cheaper.
Doesn't matter though, because I charge for labor and then for some profit on top of that, eating up whatever wholesale savings I receive, right? That is right. But on top of that, I have years and years of experience installing epoxy floor products, in garages, sheds, warehouses, and anywhere else you might find an epoxy garage floor. This means I've had easy, straightforward jobs and I've had messy, difficult jobs. And I have had to deal with all of the problems that come up, not you, the home or business owner. That in and of itself is worth the prices we charge at Holland Construction.
In the end, this is a job you can do yourself. And I encourage you to give it a shot. Many people are mechanically inclined enough to do-it-yourself epoxy garage floor. But think about the time and effort that you will lose trying to do it yourself. Is saving a couple hundred bucks worth losing a weekend and potentially having to call us in anyway? If it is, we are okay with that. We have installed almost as many epoxy floors after someone tried to and messed up as we have from scratch.
So, remember, for all your Wichita, Kansas area epoxy garage floor, painting, and contracting needs, please give Holland Construction a call. We won't let you down.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
Garage Floor Treatments | 10 Things You Need to Know
Let me begin by pointing out this list, although very informative and full of useful information, is not static. What I mean is, for each garage floor that paint of epoxy, the conditions of that specific garage floor, the needs of the specific owner, and the cost of materials at the time are going to dictate the end result (and price). So take this information with a grain of salt, and always consult an epoxy garage floor specialist to make sure your epoxy garage floor paint product is applied correctly the first time. Without further adieu, here are ten things you need to know about epoxy floors.
1. Materials (without the cost of labor added in) can cost anywhere from $.40 per square foot to $3.50 per square foot. When budgeting your project costs, this should help guide you (the more high-end you want, the more it will cost).
2. Using colored quartz chips or vinyl flakes can make your garage floor look really great (kind of like granite or marble - see these epoxy garage floor pictures for an idea), but put the cost of the work toward the higher end of the materials cost ($2.00-$3.50 per square foot).
3. It is possible to do an epoxy garage floor yourself. But, if you consider it, you will need at least one person to help. And, if you mess up or it doesn't turn out right or you want to make sure it's done right (and have someone to blame if it doesn't) call Holland Construction. We've done many many epoxy garage floors and guarantee our work.
4. Surface preparation is the key to having a great final product. Take the time to adequately assess the surface of your garage floor before applying any epoxy products (another key reason to hire experienced help).
5. A general rule of thumb regarding floor preparation is this: if you pour water on the concrete and it soaks in evenly and quickly, you are probably ready to apply product.
6. Grease and oil stained areas on your garage floor are going to be very hard to treat. They will need to be degreased with hot water and a pressure washer several times before they are suitable for product (depending on the level of saturation). A good flooring professional will also seal the concrete before applying product to prevent any oil and grease trapped in the concrete below the garage floor to seep up and wreak havoc on your new garage floor.
7. Water migration can also be a big problems for epoxy garage floors. Water migration occurs when water actually seeps up through the ground and onto the surface of your garage floor. It isn't necessarily a bad thing for your garage, but it can be a potential deal killer for epoxy garage paint. To check for water migration, tape down a plastic cover over an area of your garage floor and leave it there for a couple of days. When you remove the cover, if you have water, that is not good.
8. Budget adequately for your floor. Think about how big your garage floor is and what you are willing to spend to make it look fabulous (and the effect it will have on the value of your home - you know the old adage, you have to spend money to make money). Epoxy garage flooring can significantly impact not only the value of your home, but how fast it sells. Keep that in mind when deciding if garage floor resurfacing is right for you.
9. Decide if you want to one coat epoxy floor system or a two coat epoxy floor system. Two coats are required to use the flakes, and two coats is much more durable than a one coat system. But it also costs more.
10. Finally, almost all epoxy floors will lose a little of their shine if exposed to significant, long-lasting sunlight. Keep this in mind for your project and adjust accordingly. For example, a white floor will yellow a little. If you are going to expose your floor to a lot of sunlight, choose a color that will still look good once affected by the sun. Or, for a little more money, there is a UV treatment that can be applied that helps to fight the effect of the sun.
There you have it, ten things you need to know about epoxy garage floors. And if you couldn't tell, many of them involve decisions that could use the help of an experienced professional. If you need help, please give us a call today.
1. Materials (without the cost of labor added in) can cost anywhere from $.40 per square foot to $3.50 per square foot. When budgeting your project costs, this should help guide you (the more high-end you want, the more it will cost).
2. Using colored quartz chips or vinyl flakes can make your garage floor look really great (kind of like granite or marble - see these epoxy garage floor pictures for an idea), but put the cost of the work toward the higher end of the materials cost ($2.00-$3.50 per square foot).
3. It is possible to do an epoxy garage floor yourself. But, if you consider it, you will need at least one person to help. And, if you mess up or it doesn't turn out right or you want to make sure it's done right (and have someone to blame if it doesn't) call Holland Construction. We've done many many epoxy garage floors and guarantee our work.
4. Surface preparation is the key to having a great final product. Take the time to adequately assess the surface of your garage floor before applying any epoxy products (another key reason to hire experienced help).
5. A general rule of thumb regarding floor preparation is this: if you pour water on the concrete and it soaks in evenly and quickly, you are probably ready to apply product.
6. Grease and oil stained areas on your garage floor are going to be very hard to treat. They will need to be degreased with hot water and a pressure washer several times before they are suitable for product (depending on the level of saturation). A good flooring professional will also seal the concrete before applying product to prevent any oil and grease trapped in the concrete below the garage floor to seep up and wreak havoc on your new garage floor.
7. Water migration can also be a big problems for epoxy garage floors. Water migration occurs when water actually seeps up through the ground and onto the surface of your garage floor. It isn't necessarily a bad thing for your garage, but it can be a potential deal killer for epoxy garage paint. To check for water migration, tape down a plastic cover over an area of your garage floor and leave it there for a couple of days. When you remove the cover, if you have water, that is not good.
8. Budget adequately for your floor. Think about how big your garage floor is and what you are willing to spend to make it look fabulous (and the effect it will have on the value of your home - you know the old adage, you have to spend money to make money). Epoxy garage flooring can significantly impact not only the value of your home, but how fast it sells. Keep that in mind when deciding if garage floor resurfacing is right for you.
9. Decide if you want to one coat epoxy floor system or a two coat epoxy floor system. Two coats are required to use the flakes, and two coats is much more durable than a one coat system. But it also costs more.
10. Finally, almost all epoxy floors will lose a little of their shine if exposed to significant, long-lasting sunlight. Keep this in mind for your project and adjust accordingly. For example, a white floor will yellow a little. If you are going to expose your floor to a lot of sunlight, choose a color that will still look good once affected by the sun. Or, for a little more money, there is a UV treatment that can be applied that helps to fight the effect of the sun.
There you have it, ten things you need to know about epoxy garage floors. And if you couldn't tell, many of them involve decisions that could use the help of an experienced professional. If you need help, please give us a call today.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Epoxy Garage Floors | The "Saddle" Project
Business has really been good lately for Holland Construction Company, your Wichita area epoxy garage floor professional. We did the Mercedes project, a pretty nice little garage floor and shed that really transformed the space. Today I wanted to show you the "Saddle" project.
This project was pretty typical of the residential work we do (we also do commercial epoxy floors - call us for more information). The homeowner lived in Wichita, Kansas and wanted their garage floor transformed into a clean, great looking epoxy garage floor - so we helped them out.
Unlike the last project discussed, this one did not need much preparation before laying on the product. It was new construction, so there was no concrete sealer that needed to be removed. Additionally, the garage was well insulated, making drying the epoxy much easier (it usually needs to be above 50 degrees for the epoxy to dry in a reasonable amount of time - otherwise an accelerator has to be applied). This project, other than not needing the the preparation work, went pretty much like the last job. And like before, the end result was excellent, and Holland Construction had another satisfied company.
I included an after picture on this one because the before pictures didn't turn out (I'm an epoxy garage floor painter not a photographer!). I'll try to do better in the future. And remember, if you are in the Wichita area call Holland Construction for all your painting needs.
This project was pretty typical of the residential work we do (we also do commercial epoxy floors - call us for more information). The homeowner lived in Wichita, Kansas and wanted their garage floor transformed into a clean, great looking epoxy garage floor - so we helped them out.
Unlike the last project discussed, this one did not need much preparation before laying on the product. It was new construction, so there was no concrete sealer that needed to be removed. Additionally, the garage was well insulated, making drying the epoxy much easier (it usually needs to be above 50 degrees for the epoxy to dry in a reasonable amount of time - otherwise an accelerator has to be applied). This project, other than not needing the the preparation work, went pretty much like the last job. And like before, the end result was excellent, and Holland Construction had another satisfied company.I included an after picture on this one because the before pictures didn't turn out (I'm an epoxy garage floor painter not a photographer!). I'll try to do better in the future. And remember, if you are in the Wichita area call Holland Construction for all your painting needs.
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