Epoxy Flooring Cost

How Much Does Epoxy Flooring Cost?

DIY Installation: $50-$600+

Professionally Installed Epoxy Floor: $750-$6,000

Epoxy flooring is a paint or coating system that is typically made up of two separate materials. When mixed together, the resulting substance quickly hardens into a durable semi-gloss or high-gloss flooring surface (although epoxy may fade or yellow when exposed to direct sunlight). Epoxy can be used on wood, cement, concrete or metal surfaces or as an undercoat beneath other flooring -- but it is most often used on concrete floors in commercial or residential garages. Before it dries, epoxy can be sprinkled with paint flakes or other chips to create designs or to simulate granite or other textures, and/or colored sand or similar abrasives to make the surface less slippery.

Typical costs:

There are three categories of flooring epoxies: 100% solid epoxy coatings are the most expensive, and are typically used by professionals on commercial floors, while solvent-based and water-based epoxies both contain about 40%-60% epoxy. Water-based epoxy paints are thinner and easier to apply but less durable than solvent-based epoxy coatings, which are thicker, cover more imperfections in the concrete floor, require workers to use respirators when applying, and typically cost more than water-based systems. Costs for just the epoxy can start at about $30-$50 a gallon for water-based epoxy paint, and can be $45-$150 or more a gallon for solvent-based or 100% solid epoxy coatings. A thick coating may require more gallons to cover the same square footage as a thin paint.
A professionally installed epoxy floor typically costs $3-$12 a square foot, or $750-$3,000 for a one-car garage (about 250 square feet) and $1,200-$6,000 for a two-car garage (about 400-500 square feet), depending on the type of epoxy used and number of coats applied, and the application method (roller, squeegee, sprayer or trowel).
A do-it-yourself epoxy floor kit can cost $50-$600 or more, depending on the type of epoxy, the square footage the kit will cover, the number of coats required and the number of tools and other materials included in the kit. A solvent-resistant brush, a roller or squeegee, goggles, rubber gloves, a plastic water pail or other items may be required, costing up to $200. The application process typically requires two workers. ThisOldHouse.com provides written instructions[1] for applying an epoxy paint kit with a roller and brush, estimating this easy to moderate project takes nine hours spread over three days and costs about $120 to $160 per car bay, or $240-$360 for a typical two-car garage.

Related articles: Concrete Removal, Concrete Repair, Concrete Resurfacing, Handyman

What should be included:

The installer should always test for moisture in the concrete before installation (epoxy can't be used if moisture is present).
Epoxy flooring systems can require one to seven coats to apply. A typical application might include a base coat, one or two epoxy coats, a broadcast coat of colored sand and/or flakes (for decoration and/or to create a less-slippery surface) and a top coat. The first step is to patch, level or fill any areas that need repair. Then the concrete is cleaned and prepped so it will bond correctly with the epoxy. Some DIY methods include a mild acid solution to etch the surface of the concrete, but most professionals use a grinder or shotblaster (with tiny steel balls) machine to remove any previous coatings and open up the concrete surface.
Next the parts of the epoxy paint or coating are mixed together and spread according to the manufacturer's directions. Epoxy typically needs to be applied quickly, and installers often wear shoe cleats (similar to golf shoes) to be able to walk on the wet epoxy. Before the epoxy is too dry (15-30 minutes) the desired amounts of colored flakes or anti-slip substances like sand are sprinkled on top in a process called broadcasting. Manufacturer Palma Inc. provides a video demonstrating application procedures for a trowel-applied epoxy[2] . A ThisOldHouse.com video demonstrates the application or an epoxy system using a squeegee and brush[3] . And a car enthusiast posts a video showing the installation process with a roller[4] .

Shopping for epoxy flooring:

ConcreteNetwork.com videos explain the different design options[5] , when to use an epoxy floor coating[6] and the possible drawbacks[7] to an epoxy floor. Get recommendations for epoxy floor installers from family, friends, or the staff at local home improvement or hardware stores. Or search for local contractors through ConcreteNetwork.com[8] .
Request and call references from previous customers; check that the company is properly insured, bonded and licensed.
DIY epoxy floor kits are available from paint stores; stores like Home Depot[9] , Ace Hardware[10] or Sears[11] ; and through online retailers like Amazon[12] .

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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments

2 Car Garage

Amount: $1,700.00

Posted by: Chad Dunn in Hendersonville, TN.	Posted: November 8th, 2019 09:11PM
Installer: Epoxy Flooring Hendersonville	Type of Epoxy: Norklad M-100
Size of Floor: 30x32

Looks FANTASTIC! The guys done a fabulous job and did it in one day! Highly recommend! 615-739-2146