If you are considering a floor coating, you may be wondering about if you can DIY your floor coating or if you should hire a professional for the job. There are many stores and businesses that sell DIY floor coating kits, and they do tend to be cheaper than having a professional come out to install it. On the surface level, DIYing your floor coating seems like the more cost-effective and simple option. However, there are always pros and cons to DIY projects versus having them professionally done. 

Here’s what you need to know about DIY versus professional floor coatings so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not you should DIY your floor coating.

Cost

What lures most people to consider doing a DIY flooring kit is the cost. There’s no question about it; DIY kits are much cheaper than a professional job. However, just because buying a kit to DIY your floor coating may be cheaper initially does not mean that the job itself is easy or that you can get the results you want. 

When you consider whether or not you should DIY your floor coating, cost isn’t the only factor to consider. You need to take into account the scale of the project and your skill level as well, otherwise you may end up needing to hire a professional anyway to fix a job poorly done, which will end up costing you more in the long run. 

Complexity

The fact of the matter is that installing a floor coating is no easy task. If you are going to DIY your floor coating, you need to be prepared for the complexity of the project. It’s not as easy as simply rolling the mixture onto your flooring. 

In order to successfully apply a floor coating, you have to prepare your floor first. This can end up being an extensive process, which greatly affects the appearance and longevity of your floor coating. When you prepare your concrete yourself, you’ll need to use a lot of elbow grease in order to sand or acid etch your concrete, to properly prepare it by removing the substances on it, open the pores, and smooth it out so that the flooring will soak into and lock onto your floor.

You can try to prepare it in a way similar to how professionals do it by renting a grinder, but unless you are willing to shell out the money to rent a professional grade diamond grinder or shot-blasting, your flooring won’t adhere to your concrete as well as if you had a professional come out to do the job with their high grade tools and experience. 

Safety

When considering whether you want to DIY your floor coating, you need to be prepared to take the necessary safety precautions. You need to have Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), you need to have a respirator to trap out vapors, you need to have the right equipment to protect yourself from acid, and you need to protect yourself from the dust from preparing the concrete. Just any protective equipment won’t cut it; you need high quality stuff to avoid sickness and injury. 

Speed

When you DIY your floor coating, you need to be prepared for just how long the project will take. You need to account for the process of preparing the floor, applying the flooring, and then waiting days before you can use your flooring again. When you have a professional come out to do the job, they already have all the equipment, and have the experience and quality of products so that you can use your floor again within one or two days. 

Durability

While DIY kits seem like a good idea in theory, if you apply your flooring yourself, you need to be prepared to reapply it, sometimes as often as annually, because without professional quality products and services, it simply won’t last as long. Professionally installed floor coatings can last well over 20 years, with proper care, making them much more cost-effective in the long run. 

Appearance

If you DIY your floor coating, you’ll have to come to terms with the fact that your options for your colors will be limited to whatever the store has and that it won’t be as smooth as a professional job. You’ll likely have to deal with issues like bubbling and marks when you DIY your floor coating, while professionals ensure your flooring looks perfect. Professional floor coating companies also provide a wide range of options for you to choose from, greatly extending your possibilities for how your floor coating can look.

Should You DIY Your Floor Coating Or Hire A Professional?

If you want to DIY your floor coating, it’s certainly possible. You can do it yourself, so long as you are prepared for the time investment, obtaining the right gear and protective equipment, and are ready to replace it frequently. Professionals like our team here at Solid Custom Floor Coatings will apply your floor coating quickly and efficiently, making sure it will last for years to come.

Ultimately, it’s up to you to weigh the pros and cons of doing your floor coating yourself. If you have any questions about installing floor coating or would like to hire a professional, please contact us at Solid Custom Floor Coatings today!