Choosing a quality garage floor epoxy kit is not always easy. It must provide for a very durable coating, be DIY friendly, and still look great years later after applying it. To the inexperienced consumer, it can be difficult to navigate through all the sales hype and product declarations without getting somewhat confused.
There are quite a few people that want the good looks and benefits of epoxy but may lack the budget, time, or confidence for applying a multi-coat system. A commercial quality, single coat epoxy, is what most people need in these circumstances and that is why we like the garage floor epoxy kits by EpoxyMaster.
Why EpoxyMaster?
Photos courtesy of EpoxyMaster
Unlike the inexpensive water based epoxy paint kits that you can find at your local home improvement centers, EpoxyMaster is a 100% solids, two component epoxy resin that provides up to 5 times the thickness over these kits. That’s 10 mils compared to 2 mils on average for most water based products. This additional thickness helps to fill-in the small hairline cracks and voids that other epoxy products will not.
The additional thickness is not the only advantage however. You also get a floor coating that is much more resistant to impacts, chemicals, abrasions, stains, and the dreaded hot tire pickup. Due to the 100% solids formulation, EpoxyMaster has zero VOC’s to worry about and will not produce a strong chemical odor during or after application.
It’s about more than just the epoxy
EpoxyMaster is not the only company to produce a quality 100% solids epoxy in a garage flooring kit. In fact, there are many companies that provide good product with the same benefits as those we just stated above. However, EpoxyMaster is one of the few companies that provide these kits at competitive pricing with a much wider range of color selection, clear coat options, supplies for application, and customer service that is available 7 days a week.
One of the benefits that we like about choosing EpoxyMaster is that all of their products are made to order in their factory. That means you don’t have to worry about getting product that was sitting in the back of a warehouse somewhere for the last 6 months. This helps to avoid having to scrape the bottom of the Part-A colored resin in hopes of getting all the settled pigment mixed properly for color uniformity.
When it comes to color selections, many epoxy companies will charge you an additional fee of $20 or more for colors other than the standard grays and tans. EpoxyMaster has only 4 optional colors of the 20 that they have available which require an additional fee.
One of the most important reasons that we like EpoxyMaster, however, is for their customer service. They are available 7 days a week to answer any questions that you may have about their product, but more importantly, they are available to answer questions about instructions and application as well.
We are quite familiar with the questions that come up for the first time installer and many times these questions arise after the instructions have been read and when you are ready to apply the product. And since most people who purchase garage floor epoxy will be doing the majority of their work on the weekend, customer service is invaluable when it’s available at one o’clock on a Sunday afternoon.
EpoxyMaster Reviews
Finding reviews for commercial quality epoxy products can be difficult. The reason for this is that most are sold by individual companies online instead of national store chains or huge online retailers like Amazon. One reason for this is that most of these companies want some control in determining that the product is used correctly. As a result, there isn’t an aggressive review process like what you can find from national home improvement chains and online retailers.
In fact, reviews for epoxy flooring kits can be tough for many companies and sometimes even brutal. This is especially true for the inexpensive water based epoxy kits that are sold by national chains. Many times these companies do not deserve these poor reviews because a large percentage of unhappy customers have a bad experience due to their own inexperience with epoxy, poor product application, or high expectations for a low quality product.
It was difficult to find such reviews for EpoxyMaster, especially when consumers are always much more willing to take the time to give a bad review than a good one. In fact, it was quite the opposite. At one time EpoxyMaster was sold by Costco and they received dozens of four and five star reviews about their product.
Again, part of the reason for this is that the customer service did not end at Costco. EpoxyMaster made sure that customers could call them up to receive help or guidance with their product. This alone is a testament to what you can expect from their DIY epoxy kits. You can click here to see the reviews.
Summing it up
As you can see, there are some compelling reasons to check out EpoxyMaster when shopping for a quality epoxy garage floor kit. They also have high performance epoxy and polyurethane clear coats available as well as other garage floor sealing products.
Are they the only company to offer a good single coat product? No – but if you are looking for a commercial quality single coat epoxy for your garage floor, then you need to add EpoxyMaster to your list of prospects. You can click here to visit their site or give them a call to get all your questions answered.
Can you ship international or are the products available internationally?
Best Regatds
Hello William. We don’t sell product. We suggest that you contact EpoxyMaster directly to find out about shipping overseas.
Can I use this product on locker room floors? Will the moisture be a problem?
Yes you can Lindsie. After the concrete is properly prepped, it has to be completely dry before the epoxy is applied. It’s also important to use an anti-slip additive since epoxy can be slippery when wet if you don’t use one. Once the epoxy has cured, the concrete will be completely sealed and water on the surface will not affect it.
I decided to go with their product. So far, I’m please with how the floor turned out. I spent about 15 hours mechanically etching my 40 year old garage floor, but when I was done, it was pure white.
Definitely recommend having at least one additional person to help spread. Working the epoxy into the corners, wall joints, furnace and water heater is quite time consuming. Additionally I suggest mixing in batches, depending on the size of your floor and how many helpers you have.
Good to hear Mark. You are correct, it can make a big difference having a helper. EpoxyMaster makes a good product and it should last many years for you.
How easy is this for a single female to do? It’s a new home!!!!
Hello Lisa. We don’t believe that being female has anything to do with how easy it may be to apply these coatings. If you are fairly confident in your DIY skills then it can be done. Prepping the concrete can easily be done by one person. What can make it more difficult, however, is if you are a one person operation when it comes time to applying the coating. Having someone who can help cut-in the edges and toss flakes while the epoxy is being applied can make a big difference in determining how hard it may be.
Hi Shea,
Can you advise the best way to prep the concrete floor? Mine is an year old floor with not much stains and it is a two car garage.
Thanks much for your advise!
Thanks
Sridhar
Hello Sridhar. Profiling the concrete via mechanical means, usually grinding, is always going to be the best method. It’s not the only approved method however. Acid etching is approved my EpoxyMaster as an acceptable method for their product and works very well in most cases.
Hi Shea,
I purchased a new home that has a 30×60′ pole shed with a dirt floor on the property. I will eventually be pouring a heated slab and installing a 10k lb two post vehicle hoist for some weekend work (floor jack and large engine hoist on rollers will be used) and I have a few questions:
1) would Epoxymaster be a good product for this kind of application?
2) is there any advantage to installing epoxy on new concrete (is the etching still needed?, how soon after the new slab should epoxy be installed?, etc)?
3) with 1800′ to cover, can this product be installed in sections and not have any visible seams?
Hello Travis. EpoxyMaster is an excellent product for this application and should stand up well. We would recommend a good high performance polyurethane clear coat to go with it. There is no advantage in terms of application to new concrete. You still need to acid etch or grind in order to get the proper profile. In fact, it’s even more important to properly prep new concrete since the finishing process effectively helps to close off open pores to the concrete. New concrete needs a minimum of 30 days to cure (based on a 4″ thick slab) before applying an epoxy coating. If you have contraction joints (saw cut or troweled) you can use these as a natural border to divide up the epoxy in sections when applying it. If you don’t have these joints, then it will need to be applied in continuous batches that keep a wet edge. If not, the epoxy will show overlap roller marks when applying wet to dry. This is not that difficult if you have a helper who can be mixing up and pouring out the new batch onto the floor just as you are finishing rolling out the current batch.
For a home that is a new build, would you recommend prepping the floor chemically or mechanically?
Hello Cedric. Mechanical prep is always best when applying a high solids epoxy. New concrete tends to have excess laitance on the surface that acid etching does not remove very well. However, we do know that EpoxyMaster generally does not have any problems with acid etching when done correctly. It’s the method used by the majority of their customers.
I am about to pull the trigger and order the epoxy kit but curious if the epoxy armour top coat is really needed or not? I am putting this in a garage that would experience a ton of abuse, however I am looking to maximize floor life.
If you want to maximize floor life Colin, particularly if the floor is going to get a lot of abuse,then we recommend applying a good top coat. Give EpoxyMaster a call and talk to them about it. They have good customer service.
Can a hire for help, start to end?
How long is the process and how much does it cost for both material and labor, for a 2 car garage?
Hello Aarthi. If you want to hire someone to do the work, then it should be from a professional floor coating contractor or garage flooring company. They supply all materials and labor. Costs typically range between $3.50 – $6.00 a square foot depending on the type of floor coating system you choose. We have an article on how to choose a floor coating contractor here.
Wondering how long an application lasts?
I will have a garage that gets an everyday vehicle in and out with a slight turn to park. A Michigan garage that gets weather changes and salt from winter roads.
I like the looks and idea of protecting the cement but I’m not looking for a project that needs recoating/sealing on a regular basis.
Thanks
Tim
Hello Tim. Properly applied, an epoxy coating such as EpoxyMaster’s should last ten years or more in that environment. We suggest giving them a call and tell them your goals. EpoxyMaster is based in Michigan so they are very familiar with what you have to encounter with your winter weather.
Where can I purchase EpoxyMaster’s.
Thank you
You can find them here, Bob.
Should I use an epoxy primer with this kit?
Hi Woofstar. Though it’s not an actual requirement, we always recommend an epoxy primer when working with 100% solids epoxy. It helps to eliminate any possible application issues that may appear when using 100% solids. This article explains in more detail why. Whether you use one or not, the EpoxyMaster kits are an excellent product.
I have a one car garage built in 1952 and somewhere along the line asphalt tile was put down on the floor. Since then there are now missing tiles (some of it from me trying to remove them). The question is, can I apply an oil base primer over the asphalt tile with some sand added for product adhesion and then use epoxy master over that? I recently found out that the tile may contain asbestos and would like to just simply cover the material rather than attempt any further removal. my concern is if the spaces with no tile would telegraph through the coating. The tile an about an 1/8th of an inch high off the floor so we’re not talking much to fill in.
Hello Jeff. Oil based primers are not compatible with epoxy. You would need to use an actual epoxy primer. However, that would require sanding of the tiles which you do not want to do. An epoxy slurry could be applied over the tiles, but it would be expensive and should be done by professionals. Your best options would be to have a licensed company for asbestos removal rid your garage of the tiles and then apply a coating or just cover them up with interlocking floor tiles or garage floor mats.
How about an epoxy primer then? Could that be in turn mixed with some sand for added adhesion for the epoxy? Floor mats are not a solution here.
Hi Jeff. Adding sand to an epoxy primer will not help it adhere to the tiles. The tiles need to be sanded first (which you don’t want to do with asbestos) in order to create the proper profile for the epoxy primer to mechanically bond to it. The epoxy primer then provides a very strong chemical bond for the epoxy color coat when applied within the 24 hour recoat window. If the proper prep is not done, the primer will not adhere properly which renders the entire coating susceptible to peeling. As was stated earlier, there are special epoxy and polyurethane slurries that that commercial market has adopted for safely covering up asbestos tiles, but this process requires professional installation. Unfortunately, asbestos tiles create a host of problems with none being an easy solution.