Short answer: Our industrial-grade coating system is 900% to 2100% thicker than most DIY garage floor kits sold at big-box stores.
DIY epoxy kits can look appealing because of their low price. But when you look at how they’re built and how they perform long-term, they are not in the same category as a professional coating system. The difference isn’t small — it’s massive.
The two numbers that matter most
When comparing a DIY kit to a professional floor coating, there are two key factors to understand:
Dry Film Thickness (DFT)
This is how much coating is actually left on the floor after it cures.
Solids by volume
This tells you how much of what you apply stays on the floor versus how much evaporates or flashes off during curing.
Bottom line: Most DIY kits are designed to go on as a thin coating, while our professional polyaspartic system is a high-build system designed, installed, and inspected to meet professional performance standards.
Quick comparison
- 1-part “epoxy” floor paints: about 1–2 mils dry (very thin)
- Water-based 2-part epoxy kits: about 3–3.5 mils dry
- Some “high-solids” DIY kits: may list high solids, but are usually applied as a single, thin coat
- Our professional system: about 95% solids and ~29 mils dry total installed build
Mil reference:
1 mil = 0.001 inches
29 mils ≈ 0.029 inches of cured coating
What homeowners actually get with DIY kits
1) 1-Part epoxy floor coatings
These are popular because they’re easy to use and inexpensive. They are also thin by design.
- Typically around 30–35% solids by volume
- A large portion of what you roll on does not stay on the floor
Plain English: much of the product evaporates, leaving behind a very thin protective layer.
2) Water-based 2-part epoxy garage floor kits
These are often marketed as a step up from paint.
- Around 50–53% solids by volume
- Usually applied at 1.5–3.5 mils dry thickness
They can look good at first, but they are still considered thin-film coatings compared to professional systems.
3) “High-solids” DIY kits
Some DIY products advertise very high solids. That part can be true.
However, solids alone do not equal performance.
Why:
Long-term durability also depends on:
- Proper surface preparation
- Installation method
- Final thickness
- Protective top layers
Most DIY kits are still designed to be applied as a single coat, without the multi-step build used in professional systems.
How our professional polyaspartic system is different
1) Thickness and protection
DIY kits usually leave 1–3.5 mils of coating behind.
Our system is built to deliver ~29 mils of cured coating — making it 900% to 2100% thicker than a typical DIY application.
That thickness matters because it provides:
- A larger wear layer
- Better impact resistance
- Stronger protection from hot tires, chemicals, and moisture
2) Consistency and quality control
DIY results vary because success depends on:
- Concrete condition and moisture
- Prep quality
- Mixing accuracy
- How evenly the coating is applied
- Temperature and curing conditions
Professional installation removes most of that guesswork. Our system is installed to a standard, not best effort.
3) Our honest stance on DIY
We don’t say DIY kits are useless.
DIY kits can be a short-term cosmetic upgrade.
Our system is designed as long-term protection and infrastructure for your concrete.
Bottom Line
DIY kits are paint-level solutions.
Professional coatings are structural protection.
If you want a floor that truly lasts, DIY kits cannot compete with a high-build, industrial-grade coating system.