If the floors in your garage are beginning to look worn down, you may find yourself considering ways to protect the concrete. If paint isn’t enough to restore your floors, you may gravitate toward floor coatings. These expert products are a great way to protect your floors from drop damage, chemical exposure, and everyday friction.
But, while DIY floor coatings may seem like a quick and easy solution, they are far more complex than they appear, leading to a headache for homeowners. If you’re considering attempting a DIY floor coating, keep reading to learn more about how this may hurt your floors and wallet down the line.
Essential Floor Prep
Although you may be tempted to throw a DIY floor coating down when you purchase the product, concrete floors need essential prep to be the right canvas for coatings. While this prep starts with sweeping and mopping, it is far more complex than it seems and difficult to perform without the essential tools and training.
Professional floor coating installers will patch minor cracks and imperfections across your concrete to ensure the coat applies smoothly. Once these imperfections are addressed, they’ll begin etching the concrete surface. Without proper training, etching your concrete can lead to the weakening of the entire slab.
Experts know how to properly apply and neutralize the etching agent, making it essential to rely on their experience when starting this project. By relying on professionals instead of attempting DIY floor coating, you guarantee that the project starts on the right track and the coating has an adequate base to adhere to.
The Application Process
Once the floors have been appropriately prepped for your floor coating product, the problems with DIY floor coating really begin. While everything may seem like it is going according to plan as you begin the installation, this can quickly take a turn. Applying a floor coating takes a great deal of expertise and training.
Without the proper experience and training, you may struggle to install a complete layer of coating before parts of it begin to cure. This uneven cure time can lead to premature peeling, bubbling, and a decrease in durability. Because durability is such an important part of these coatings, this is especially frustrating.
Additionally, if you attempt to add flakes to your floor coating, it can be hard to install them without overusing the product or applying it in a way that doesn’t appear cohesive. This may leave your floor with gaps where you run out of product. On the other hand, professionals have the experience to apply the coating and flakes quickly, ensuring full coverage and durability.
Exposure to Harmful Fumes
One major risk of installing DIY floor coatings that you may not think about is your risk of exposure to harmful fumes. While many floor coating products on the market are low VOC, there is still a risk with inhaling these fumes. Although you may have appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), you still run the risk when installing these yourself.
Instead of attempting to install these products yourself and exposing yourself to harmful chemicals, it is best to rely on professionals. They’ll have professional protective equipment, fans, training, and experience to install these products without risk. If you need new floors but don’t want to put yourself in harm’s way, it is always best to turn to the pros.
Moisture Problems
The final risk you run by attempting to install a DIY floor coating is moisture problems. Moisture can be incredibly detrimental to concrete floors, especially in spaces with a history of flooding. When your floors have dips in them, where water may pool, this can compromise the integrity of your new floor coating.
If water is allowed to collect in one spot on a floor coating, it may seep beneath the coating. This seepage can cause your coating to peel, flake, and bubble prematurely. Additionally, excessive moisture in your concrete floors may lead to efflorescence. This increased damage can be costly and frustrating to repair.
When you work with professionals, they ensure your floor is appropriately sloped to allow adequate drainage if there is water exposure. If you’ve dealt with flooding or pooling in your space before and want to avoid dealing with damage down the road, it is best to contact the professionals for support.
Skip DIY Floor Coatings and Invest in Professional Products Instead
If you’ve ever been tempted to install a DIY floor coating in your home, it is best to avoid these products, as they do more harm than good. Instead of purchasing a DIY coating product, consider relying on professionals for a reliable floor coating installation. With their experience and professional products, you can trust that your floors will look their best.
If you’re looking for a floor coating provider in the Denver, CO, area, turn to our team at Solid Custom Floor Coatings for support. Whether you want an epoxy or Polyaspartic coating, we provide it all, ensuring your space looks exactly how you want. With varying colors and finishes, our floors are perfect for your home.
If you would like to learn more about our professional floor coatings or need help remedying a DIY floor coating, don’t hesitate to contact us for support.
