How to Ensure Your Epoxy Contractor Uses Quality Materials

How to Ensure Your Epoxy Contractor Uses Quality Materials

If you’re investing in an epoxy floor, the materials used matter just as much as the installation itself.

I’ve been installing epoxy and resin flooring systems for nearly two decades through Concrete Ideas Inc. in Tampa, Florida, and I’ve seen a lot of floors that failed far earlier than they should have. In most cases, the issue isn’t epoxy itself. The problem is usually cheap materials, poor prep, or inexperienced installers.

If you want to make sure your epoxy contractor is using quality materials, here are a few things you should know.

1. Ask How the Concrete Will Be Prepared

One of the biggest mistakes contractors make has nothing to do with the epoxy itself. It’s the surface preparation.

Concrete needs to be properly profiled so the coating can bond to the slab. That typically means diamond grinding or shot blasting to achieve the correct concrete surface profile.

If a contractor skips proper prep or relies on acid etching, the coating may look fine at first but can start peeling or delaminating later.

A quality contractor will always prepare the slab using professional grinding equipment and HEPA dust extraction to ensure proper adhesion. Learn more about proper surface preparation.

2. Ask About Coverage Rates

Another common problem is contractors stretching materials too thin.

Manufacturers publish recommended coverage rates for a reason. When contractors try to save money by applying epoxy too thin, the floor ends up weaker and more prone to failure.

In commercial environments especially, coatings need to be installed at the correct thickness to withstand traffic, chemicals, and daily wear.

Cheap bids often mean less material is being used.

3. Ask if Moisture Testing Will Be Performed

Moisture in concrete is one of the biggest causes of epoxy failure.

If moisture vapor is moving through the slab, it can cause coatings to bubble, blister, or delaminate.

A professional contractor should always test the slab before installing epoxy. If moisture is present, they may need to install a moisture vapor barrier system first.

Skipping this step might save time initially, but it can lead to major problems later.

4. Ask What Specific Products Will Be Used

Not all epoxy products are created equal.

Some contractors use cheap consumer-grade materials, while professional installers typically use commercial or industrial systems backed by major manufacturers.

At Concrete Ideas, we typically use systems supported by suppliers like Sherwin-Williams and other professional manufacturers because those systems are designed to perform in demanding commercial environments.

Cheap epoxy is cheap for a reason.

Professional materials are formulated to withstand traffic, chemicals, and long-term wear.

5. Ask About Their Experience

Experience matters more than most people realize.

Epoxy flooring is not a beginner trade. It requires an understanding of concrete conditions, moisture behavior, and proper material selection.

Contractors with limited experience often underestimate these variables, which can lead to failures later on.

Ask how long the contractor has been in business and what types of projects they typically handle.

A Real Example From the Field

We recently completed a production warehouse project where the facility had significant moisture issues in the concrete slab.

Instead of applying a basic coating system, we installed a Sherwin-Williams ESD flooring system designed for the environment and conditions present in the building.

Because the correct system was chosen and the slab was properly prepared, the floor performed exactly as intended.

The result?

A durable floor and an extremely happy customer.

Why Many Epoxy Floors Fail

When epoxy floors fail within a few years, it’s rarely because epoxy itself doesn’t work.

More often, the problems come down to:

• Price competition
• Lack of experience
• Poor surface preparation
• Skipping moisture testing
• Using low-quality materials

Unfortunately, many contractors focus on winning the bid rather than installing a system designed to last.

Final Thoughts

If you’re hiring an epoxy flooring contractor, don’t just compare prices.

Ask the right questions.

Understanding how the slab will be prepared, what materials will be used, and how moisture will be handled can make the difference between a floor that lasts 20 years and one that fails in two.

If done correctly, epoxy flooring is one of the most durable and cost-effective flooring systems available.

But like anything else in construction, the details matter.

If you're considering a project, you can also contact Concrete Ideas to discuss your flooring system and site conditions.