The Best Epoxy Garage Floor Installers of 2023
While a concrete floor might do the trick, some folks opt to level up their garage floor game with an epoxy garage floor. Epoxy floor coatings consist of a resin material mixed and poured over a concrete substrate, and they serve to both protect and stylize the concrete. Once the material cures, the floor will resist stains and damage—as long as it was installed correctly. And for that, it’s important to hire one of the best epoxy garage floor installers.
Knowing which epoxy floor installer to choose might seem like a challenge. This guide on epoxy floor contractors should help, as it highlights some of the most important considerations and some top-rated companies.
- BEST OVERALL: PremierGarage
- BEST WARRANTY: Garage Kings
- MOST UNIQUE FINISHES: GarageFloorCoating.com
- ALSO CONSIDER: Mr. Handyman
What to Consider When Choosing One of the Best Epoxy Garage Floor Installers
There is more to choosing a contractor for this project than simply googling “epoxy companies near me.” The following are some of the most important considerations to remember while shopping for a company to handle an epoxy garage floor.
Service Area and Scheduling
Most companies only work within certain service areas, and homeowners will want to make sure the companies they are considering can service their garages. For instance, a company may only work within 25 miles of its shop to reduce wear and tear on vehicles and to save money on gas and employee labor. Other companies may have larger radiuses they’re willing to travel, such as 50 or 75 miles.
Also, before an epoxy garage floor installer gives a homeowner a quote, they’ll likely want to see the garage, which requires scheduling. Many companies allow customers to schedule a time that works for them online, while others may require a phone call to set up an appointment.
Types of Material Available
Many contractors and customers use “epoxy” as a catchall term. But there are essentially two types of garage epoxy flooring materials that are used: polyurea and epoxy. Polyurea is more durable, longer lasting, and more stain-resistant than epoxy. Polyaspartic is a newer form of polyurea that doesn’t dry out as fast, making it easier to install. Polyaspartic is also more UV-resistant. Epoxy’s strengths are that it’s more affordable and requires less prep work. Both materials are wildly customizable, so style and design are less of a factor between the two.
Homeowners will want to do their research and decide which product is best for their needs. Then, they can contact epoxy flooring companies and inquire about their products, which may range from simple epoxy garage floor paint to heavy-duty garage floor finishes. This research could narrow down the number of potential companies to hire, making the hiring process more straightforward.
Estimate Process
A representative from the epoxy flooring company will need to check out the garage before providing an estimate. During this process, they’ll take measurements, check for any damaged flooring that might need fixing, and discuss options with the homeowner. They’ll then provide a price to the homeowner, and this price includes labor and materials.
However, homeowners may want to get several estimates before deciding on a company. With a few quotes in hand, they’ll be able to compare prices to ensure they’re getting the best deal and that the companies are offering a fair price. They may even be able to leverage quotes against each other to get lower rates.
Warranty
Homeowners will want to consider each company’s warranty policy before hiring. Garages are hard-wearing places. Car tires, oil spills, DIY projects, and other activities can cause damage in those spaces, and if something should damage the flooring easily or there’s an issue with craftsmanship, a warranty should be in place to take care of it.
Customers will want to note that there are likely two types of warranties: those for the product (the manufacturer’s warranty) and those for the labor. The warranties will vary based on the product, installer, and even the number of coats of epoxy applied.
Additional Services
Finally, customers can consider whether a company offers other services beyond an epoxy coating for concrete floors—these services could be of value. For example, some companies might specialize in garages as a whole, installing cabinets, workbenches, and other useful fixtures. Other companies might offer the same epoxy floor covering for a basement or patio, allowing homeowners to tie in their garage design with their different spaces.
These additional services may not be the determining factor in whether to choose a particular company. However, they may allow the homeowner to get as much bang for their buck if they were planning these other projects anyway. The company may offer discounted pricing on these additional services if they’re already on-site.
Our Top Picks
With that understanding of what to look for in an epoxy garage floor installer, it’s time to start shopping. Knowing that this process can be complex, we put together the following list of top-rated garage floor companies.
Photo: premiergarage.com
Why It Made the Cut: With one of the broadest service areas in the industry, eco-friendly product offerings, and comprehensive garage design services, PremierGarage is a top choice.
As one might guess from the name, PremierGarage specializes in garage interiors, offering everything from epoxy flooring to cabinets, work spaces, and storage. Its epoxy garage floors have a lot of appeal, considering that they’re free from high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and harsh chemicals.
PremierGarage services 38 states, ensuring that many folks can find a contractor to handle their project. The company offers a variety of flooring styles, including decorative finishes, stone effects, metallic looks, and basic solid colors. Folks who want their garage floor to match their garage color palette might find these options appealing.
While warranty information is unclear, the floors resist chipping, peeling, fading, and staining and can stand up to heat, extreme cold, and wet conditions. These floors also clean up quickly and easily, making them an excellent fit for garage spaces.
Specs
- Service area: 38 states
- Types of material available: Epoxy decorative textures, stone effect, metallic, solids
- Warranty: Not specified
- Additional services: Garage cabinet, work space, and storage installation
Pros
- Wide variety of natural-look materials
- Eco-friendly VOC-free formula
- Relatively wide 38-state service area
- Garage cabinet, work space, and storage installation also available
Cons
Photo: garagekings.com
Why It Made the Cut: Garage Kings offers durable, multicoat flooring options for garages, basements, and patios, and its warranties are straightforward.
Anyone considering an epoxy garage floor will want to consider Garage Kings for the job. This garage flooring company services 17 states and offers durable products for garage spaces as well as patios and basements.
Garage Kings does have a somewhat limited range of finish options (around 12 finishes). However, the floor visualizer tool allows users to see how these floor finishes will look in their space, removing some guesswork from choosing a garage floor. Shoppers can choose from multiple coat layers, and the more coats they opt for, the longer the warranty (lifetime warranty coverage for six coats, a 21-year warranty for four coats, and a 10-year warranty for three coats.)
Specs
- Service area: 17 states
- Types of material available: 6-coat, 4-coat, or 3-coat polyaspartic
- Warranty: Lifetime warranty for 6 coats; 21-year warranty for 4 coats; 10-year warranty for 3 coats
- Additional services: Basement floor and patio coating
Pros
- Transparent, detailed warranty information
- 6-, 4-, and 3-coat flooring systems
- Convenient and innovative floor visualizer tool
Cons
- Somewhat limited range of finish options
Photo: garagefloorcoating.com
Why It Made the Cut: GarageFloorCoating.com offers a wide variety of unique flooring finishes, giving homeowners their choice of styling for their garage spaces.
Folks looking for plenty of options when it comes to their garage floor choices will want to consider GarageFloorCoating.com. This company offers a wide range of unique flooring finishes, including aggregate, stone, metallic, and other looks in both epoxy and polyurea varieties. The company also provides additional services, including exterior epoxy coatings and staining and sealing concrete surfaces.
GarageFloorCoating.com has been around since the 1990s and has years of experience installing epoxy floors. While warranty coverage will vary by contractor, the floors are durable and long lasting. They’re also low in VOCs, eco-friendly, and low maintenance, and they resist solvents and abrasions.
Specs
- Service area: 18 states
- Types of material available: Epoxy, polyaspartic, polyurea; chip system, mica system, or metallic finishes
- Warranty: Varies by contractor
- Additional services: Exterior epoxy coating; sealing and staining
Pros
- Wide variety of unique flooring finishes
- Epoxy, polyurea, and polyaspartic flooring available
Cons
- Warranty terms vary by contractor
Photo: mrhandyman.com
Why It Made the Cut: Mr. Handyman has franchises in 33 states and Washington, D.C., and can tackle garage flooring and other general handyman services.
It doesn’t always take a garage flooring–specific company to take the boring old concrete floor up a notch. Mr. Handyman is a franchise that specializes in general handyman work, including epoxy garage floors, garage door openers, organization and storage, and light fixture installation and repair.
Mr. Handyman has over 200 locations throughout the U.S. and Canada, so finding a company to cover the area in question shouldn’t be difficult. Also, booking is available online through the Neighborly app (Neighborly is Mr. Handyman’s parent company). While information on materials and warranties is relatively limited, the average Mr. Handyman technician has over 10 years of experience and should be able to help homeowners find their ideal solution.
Specs
- Service area: 33 states and Washington, D.C.
- Types of material available: Not specified
- Warranty: 1-year warranty on labor; material warranty not specified
- Additional services: General handyman services
Pros
- Each professional is knowledgeable with an average of 10 years’ experience
- Over 200 locations throughout the U.S. and Canada
- Booking available via Neighborly app
Cons
- Relatively limited information on materials
- Relatively limited information on warranty
Our Verdict
Thanks to its widespread service area and range of services provided, PremierGarage grabbed the top spot. However, Garage Kings may be the best option for folks who’d like a clearer picture of their warranty.
How We Chose the Best Epoxy Garage Floor Installers
A lot rides on a garage floor, and we wanted to ensure that whichever companies we suggested would make the cut. We drew upon our experience with DIY projects, garage spaces, and hiring contractors to come up with the most important considerations to remember first.
After we knew what to look for, we performed extensive research to round up some of the top companies in the industry. We then compared them, checking that each company offered enough value to get our nod. Those that passed the test were given awards based on their strengths.
Before You Hire One of the Best Epoxy Garage Floor Installers
There are a few things to consider before hiring an epoxy garage floor installer. First, hiring unlicensed or uninsured contractors is illegal in some areas, so it’s important to ask the contractor for proof of both documents. Also, customers may want to ask for references from past clients or read online reviews.
It’s also important to understand that epoxy isn’t always the most eco-friendly option. Epoxy is often derived from petroleum products, and improperly disposed materials can be hazardous if they get into rivers or streams. Customers can ask the garage floor installer which options they would suggest if the plan is to pursue a more environmentally friendly option. Companies may offer some alternative garage floor options that a homeowner hasn’t considered.
Cost of Hiring One of the Best Epoxy Garage Floor Installers
The cost of installing an epoxy garage floor ranges between $1,400 and $3,000 and depends on a few factors, the first being the size of the garage. The floor of a 1-car garage will cost significantly less to coat than the floor of a 3-car garage.
Also, the price will likely go up if the floor needs a lot of repair or prep work. Cracks in a concrete floor may cause the epoxy to bubble or peel. The product warranty may be void if any damage to the floor isn’t repaired before the epoxy is poured. And while it’s important to compare quotes and try to get a deal, skimping on repairs or prep work to save money is a recipe for disaster.
The Advantages of Hiring One of the Best Epoxy Garage Floor Installers
Installing an epoxy garage floor might seem like a relatively easy task, but it actually takes a pro’s touch. Knowing how to spread the aggregate so it looks even and polishing the floor to the perfect finish requires expertise.
Prep work is actually more important than the application itself. The best epoxy garage floor installers know how to make repairs, prepare the concrete surface for adhesion, and ensure that there isn’t any grease or oil that could prevent the product from adhering.
While homeowners may be able to install their own epoxy garage floor, the warranty that comes with the
product might be an issue. Manufacturer warranties on such products can be tricky, and many companies require that their products are professionally installed.
- Professionals know how to spread aggregate and polish the floor so it looks its best.
- The best epoxy garage floor installers know how to prepare the floor for a perfect installation.
- Many DIY kits have complicated warranties, and professionals typically warranty their work.
FAQs
That’s quite a bit of information about the best epoxy garage floor installers, but customers may still have some lingering questions. The following are some of the most common questions about these flooring types and the contractors that install them.
Q. Is it worth putting epoxy on a garage floor?
Epoxy floors are an investment, but spending a few thousand dollars on a floor with a lifetime warranty may be a good investment. Plus, epoxy floors may increase the value of the property.
Q. When should I not epoxy my garage floor?
If your floor is in rough shape, shifts in cold weather, or leaks, it may not be a good candidate for an epoxy floor. The flooring could tear or delaminate over time.
Q. How many days does it take to epoxy a garage floor?
An epoxy floor installation requires around 8 hours but is spread out over 2 or 3 days, depending on the number of coats and drying time.
Q. How long does epoxy on the garage floor last?
Experts believe epoxy floors can last between 20 and 30 years in the right conditions. This means a stable substrate with little moisture and spills cleaned up right away.
Q. How do I prep my garage for epoxy flooring?
Prep your garage floor by first removing everything in the garage. Then, clean the floor with a broom and shop vac, and then mop with detergent. Be sure to focus on any stains. Most folks then choose to etch their flooring with an acid product, but some may consider grinding their floors to open the pores of the concrete enough for the epoxy to flow in. After etching or grinding, rewash the floors and install the epoxy.
Q. Do epoxy garage floors crack?
Yes, epoxy garage floors can crack. If the foundation shifts or heaves, the epoxy may tear or crack.
Sources: Epoxy Colorado