Industrial Epoxy Coating: Six Questions You Should ask ...

Industrial Epoxy Coating: Six Questions You Should ask When Looking for an Epoxy Coating Contractor

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Finding an Industrial Epoxy Coating contractor is likely something you don’t do every day. Obviously you want to get the best vendor possible for your budget, but how do you know whether they are an efficient, professional company at a great value, or a guy selling coating services out of his basement? Having had 40 years combined experience in the industrial epoxy coating industry, we decided to put together this list of 6 essential questions to ask when you are selecting an industrial epoxy coating contractor.

 

Question # 1: How long have you been in the Industrial Epoxy Coating business?

This is an obvious question, however you can save a lot of stress in the long run by asking it. If they just started doing industrial epoxy coating in the last year, you may not want to risk your concrete floor to inexperience. A great way to double-check their facts is to run a “whois” report on their domain (www.whois.net)- this will tell you how long their website has been running. Also, make sure to inquire about the experience level of their team. At the end of the day the company owner could have 10 years experience in industrial epoxy coating, however if their team has only been doing it for a month, your project will suffer.

Question #2: Do you have a website with examples of other industrial epoxy coating projects you have done?

Although certainly not the only thing to look for, a website is an important credibility builder. If they are a company that is doing large industrial epoxy jobs on a regular basis, then they should be able to afford hosting a website. More importantly, they should be savvy enough entrepreneurs to have taken a picture of their completed projects.

Question #3: Do they have their own crews, or do they sub-contract epoxy coating projects out?

This is probably going to be the most common issue you encounter, especially when considering larger industrial epoxy coating companies. It is very common for epoxy contractors to basically farm-out their business to smaller, local epoxy crews. Ultimately, you have to determine if you are comfortable with this, or if you are talking to a company that is just a bit too big. Just be aware that when epoxy jobs are farmed out like this, (1) you are paying more because you are essentially paying a middle-man and (2) you have no idea of the experience level of the crew to which this business was given.

Question #4: Do you own or rent your own industrial epoxy coating equipment?

This question is generally the least common one asked, yet can give you great insight into the potential contractor. Companies that have been in business a long time, are planning on staying in business a long time, and do great work, can generally afford their own equipment. If you are talking to a contractor that rents their equipment, then you are either talking to a brand new company or to one that is seriously in debt. Either way, a company that rents all their equipment should be a huge red flag for you.

Question #5: How much equipment do you own?

Ok, we might be splitting hair a bit on this one, but sometimes a good follow-up to question #4 is how much? There are two compelling reasons to ask this question.

• 1. The first is this makes a good question to flush-out a residential contractor that “can do industrial too.” If they only own a little bit of equipment, then they may do primarily residential projects, which are very different than industrial projects. If you are looking to spend the kind of budget it takes to get industrial epoxy coating, then you want a contractor who has lots of industrial experience – not residential experience.
• 2. The second reason is you may be talking to a vendor who is trying to mask the flags we mentioned in Question 4 – just remember, owning one piece of equipment should be as much of a red flag and owning none at all.

Question #6: Do you have Industrial References I can call?

If they have been in business for a number of years, and have done countless industrial epoxy coating projects, then they should have a boatload of references that you should be able to call. Here are some things to make sure to ask for when getting references:

• 1. A name of a decision-maker for each reference, phone number and email address
• 2. A picture of the project
• 3. Large companies as references

Also, as a small tip for getting references for any company- always ask for more. Typically the first set of references you are given are friends of the vendor. To get a true taste of the work that they do, ask for a round #2 of clients to call.

Just remember, when you are looking for the right industrial epoxy coating contractor, it’s always better to take a little extra time and ask a lot of questions before you sign the dotted line.

 

We hope you have found our blog on selecting an industrial epoxy coating contractor useful. If you would be interested in having us provide a bid for your next industrial epoxy coating project, we would be more than happy to do so. Please feel free to give us a call or fill out a form for more information on our industrial epoxy coating.

Is this really a 1-day project?

Yes! In most cases we complete your entire residential garage floor — from prep to top coat — between 8 am and 6 pm on your scheduled work day. You can walk on the floor in a few hours, and drive on it the next day.

While traditional epoxy floor coatings can take your garage out of commission for several days, our technologically advanced coatings cure much faster.

What is a moisture test, and why do I need one?

All concrete retains some water, and a moisture test measures the amount. Any reputable coatings company should perform a moisture test on your concrete before finalizing your proposal, because too much moisture will prevent the coating system from adhering properly.

If your concrete reads more than 5.5% moisture content, it’s critical to apply a moisture barrier before coating.

Fortunately very few projects in your area require a moisture barrier. If required, a moisture barrier increases cost and adds an extra day to the project.

My floor has cracks — will they show through the coating?

Our surface preparation process begins with grinding, filling and sealing any significant cracks in your floor.

The color chips in our standard 3-layer coating system do a fantastic job of hiding imperfections, so you’ll never know they were there.

What about expansion or contraction joints?

These are common in concrete slabs, and won’t be a problem at all. We have a few options depending on your situation.

When we meet for your initial consultation or moisture test, we’ll have a look and help you decide on the best solution.

My garage has a tire stop or a step-up. Will that be coated?

Yep, this is part of your concrete slab, and we’ll coat the vertical surface to match the rest of your floor.

Should I coat my concrete stairs and cove base?

We can coat almost anything made of concrete, thanks to our superior quick-curing products. However, we sometimes recommend going with a high-quality masonry paint for your concrete stairs and cove base to achieve a more uniform look.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website food-grade high-speed coating line.

How does the initial consultation work?

Our technician needs to have a look at your floor, either by video-chat or in person. Video-chat works great for most consultations if you use your phone and show us your project space.

We’ll estimate your project space, assess the condition of your concrete, and help you determine the best solution for your needs.

Do I need to be home on installation day?

No, just arrange for us to have access to your garage or project space, and you’ll come home to a brand new coated floor at the end of the day. Please be sure everything has been cleared off the floor when we arrive.

What do I need to do to prepare for installation day?

All we need is a clear, bare space. Please remove everything off your garage floor before we arrive. Some of our customers have found it useful to rent a small moving truck for temporary storage of garage items.

Do I need to clear out my garage or project space?

Yes. Our crew starts work immediately upon arrival, so please make sure the entire floor to be coated is clear and accessible.

How can I store my stuff during the project?

Full garage? We get it. The simplest and most economical storage solution for most of our customers is to rent a U-Haul truck for 3 days. Just back it in the driveway, load it, lock it and leave it until the day after the project.

Will you be using my electricity for the project?

Absolutely not! And no other flooring contractor should ask to use your power, either.

Our industrial diamond grinders and HEPA-filtered air scrubbers would overload a standard household circuit. That’s why we bring our own 15 kilowatt generators, which supply all the power we need. They’re noisy like a lawnmower, but we’ll do our best to direct it away from your living space if you’re home.

How do I clean my new floor?

You’ll be amazed at how much cleaner your garage stays with our floor coating system. For general tidying, you’ll find a leaf blower is far more effective at removing dust and dirt than it was with your old concrete floor.

For periodic cleaning, warm vinegar water and a mop is all you need.

Do NOT pressure wash your new floor because this can damage the topcoat!

Do I need to worry about damaging my new floor?

Once the top-coat is fully cured, your floor is impervious to most chemicals, oils, etc. The one exception is strong acids (e.g. battery acid), which will eventually eat through almost anything, including a chemical floor coating.

In the event you have a battery leak, please be sure to clean it up with water and vinegar right away.

As with any flooring surface, avoid sliding anything sharp and heavy across your floor, as this can scratch the surface.

Is a coated floor slippery to walk on?

Not under normal, dry conditions. However, any surface can become slippery when wet due to hydroplaning or ice accumulation.

The chip layer in our standard 3-layer coating system adds texture to your floor to discourage hydroplaning, and we include an anti-slip grit to your topcoat to help keep your feet on the ground where they belong.

The company is the world’s best single-coating line supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.