If you’re looking to add some durability and style to your home with a garage floor coating, you might be wondering—should you tackle the job yourself, or is hiring a professional the smarter choice? The truth is that professionals are going to get you a garage floor so much better than a DIY kit can offer that it’s not even a competition. We love getting our hands dirty too, so we understand the draw. But there are simply too many issues with DIY kits that we can’t rightly recommend them for any garage floor. Here’s a brief rundown to assist in the preparation of installing epoxy floors.
Installing Epoxy Floors: The Tucson Climate
Tucson is hot, dry, and the summer sun can be pretty unforgiving. Concrete floors in this environment face extreme temperatures, and that’s where DIY epoxy floor kits start to show their limitations. With the brutal heat and severe temperature changes, the concrete will naturally expand and contract. That requires a special type of durability that DIY kits fail to achieve.
On top of that, there’s moisture from under the concrete that rises up and wreaks havoc on epoxy flooring. You might think that it’s too dry here for that to be a real issue, but it happens all the time and we’ve done many epoxy floor replacements because of it. Moisture is actually the number one killer of epoxy floors, and only a professional company who stands behind their work will cover moisture-related issues in their warranty (pro-tip: That’s also a good way to find a quality garage floor epoxy company vs. one that’s trying to scam you).
Installing Epoxy Floors: Why Surface Preparation Matters
Concrete preparation is where you smooth the concrete out just the right amount — not too smooth and not too rough — so the concrete coating binds to the floor properly. It’s an essential step, and professionals don’t just suggest a “light etch” as some of the DIY kits have literally written in their instructions. Etching like that simply won’t make for a good enough bond, and it will result in your floor cracking and peeling in no time.
Pros will grind the concrete surface using industrial tools (propane grinders are a favorite), ensuring it’s properly prepped for an epoxy and polyaspartic floor coating. Without this essential prep work, DIY coatings are prone to cracking, peeling, and bubbling as the floor shifts with temperature changes.
Installing Epoxy Floors: Product Quality – More Than Just Shine
DIY kits are enticing because they’re easy to find and promise a shiny finish. However, the materials in these kits are typically lower-quality, leading to a thin coating that fades, yellows, or gets damaged under UV rays—something that Tucson’s sun delivers in spades.
Professionals use high-quality epoxy and polyaspartic coatings that don’t just look good when freshly applied; they remain durable and retain their color over time. Polyaspartic coatings are particularly great for Tucson because they provide strong UV resistance, preventing yellowing and damage from the constant sunshine.
The Cost of a Failed DIY Project
Trying to save a bit of money on a DIY project might end up costing you more in the long run. If your coating fails, you’ll need to scrape it off and start over—possibly paying a pro to fix the mess. Hiring a professional from the start guarantees a durable, attractive garage floor coating that enhances your home.
Make the Smart Choice for Your Tucson Garage
Want a garage floor that can handle Tucson’s heat and stay beautiful? Consider our team to install a quality epoxy and polyaspartic floor coating in your home. Enjoy a space that looks great for years to come, not a DIY project that fell apart and gave you more headaches than anything else.
