Epoxy Flooring Info
Request informationEpoxy flooring for garages and commercial spaces
Epoxy is a coating, not a floor covering. It bonds to the concrete you already have and cures into a hard surface that stands up to oil, road salt, forklift traffic and the occasional dropped wrench. Put down correctly, it turns bare concrete into a floor that cleans up with a mop and holds up for years.
At Floors Galore we now offer epoxy coatings for homeowners and businesses. From our location in Jacksonville, NC we serve Sneads Ferry, Hampstead, Surf City, Richlands, New Bern, and Wilmington.
Garage floor coatings
A garage slab takes more abuse than any floor inside the house. Hot tires, motor oil, brake fluid and lawn chemicals all end up on it, and near the coast you can add sand and salt tracked in on every trip. Bare concrete soaks those up, stains, and eventually starts to dust. An epoxy system seals the surface so spills wipe off instead of soaking in.
Most garage floors we install use a flake system. We lay down a base coat of epoxy, broadcast colored vinyl flakes into it while it is still wet, and seal everything under a clear topcoat. The flakes hide small flaws in the slab and give the floor some texture, which helps when it is wet.
We usually finish with a polyaspartic topcoat because it holds its color in sunlight. Standard epoxy tends to yellow where light comes through an open garage door. If you would rather have a solid color, we offer that as well.
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Commercial and industrial epoxy flooring
Businesses choose epoxy for many of the same reasons homeowners do. It handles forklift and pallet jack traffic, resists most chemicals and cleaners, and has no grout lines where dirt and bacteria collect. We install it in:
- Warehouses and distribution space
- Auto repair shops and dealership service bays
- Manufacturing and fabrication shops
- Commercial kitchens and food prep areas
- Showrooms, retail floors and lobbies
- Restrooms, locker rooms and back-of-house hallways
The right system depends on how the floor gets used. A service bay needs chemical resistance. A kitchen needs grip when the floor is wet, and usually a cove base that carries the coating a few inches up the wall so the room can be hosed down. A showroom is mostly about looks. We walk the space, ask how it is used day to day, and recommend a system and thickness to match.
Most businesses cannot close for a week while a floor goes in. We can work in sections, over weekends, or after hours so you stay open. Cure times depend on the product, and you will get a realistic schedule from us before work starts.
How an epoxy floor is installed
- Inspection and moisture testing. Concrete holds water, and moisture vapor coming up through the slab is one of the most common reasons coatings fail. We test before recommending a system.
- Surface prep. The slab is diamond ground to open the surface and remove old sealers, paint and contaminants. This step decides how well the coating bonds.
- Repairs. Cracks, pits and chipped areas are filled and ground flush so they do not show through the finish.
- Coating. Base coat, then flakes or color, then the topcoat. Commercial floors may get extra thickness or a slip-resistant aggregate in the top layer.
- Cure. Most floors can take foot traffic within a day. Cars and heavy equipment wait longer. We will tell you the exact window for your system.
Caring for an epoxy floor
Upkeep is simple. Sweep or dust mop to keep grit off the surface, then clean with a mild, pH-neutral cleaner. Avoid soap-based cleaners, which leave a film that gets slick. Wipe up oil and chemical spills when they happen. Put pads under jack stands, kickstands and heavy equipment to prevent gouges.
A garage floor with a good topcoat can go many years without needing anything. A busy commercial floor may need a fresh topcoat every few years, which is a much smaller job than recoating the whole floor.
Request an estimate
Tell us about your project and we will reach out to set up a time to look at the floor. Most epoxy estimates need a site visit so we can check the condition of the concrete and take measurements.
Request informationEpoxy flooring FAQ
How long does an epoxy floor last?
A professionally installed garage floor with a polyaspartic topcoat commonly lasts 10 years or more. Commercial floors vary with traffic. A warehouse aisle with forklifts running all day wears faster than a showroom, and the usual fix is a new topcoat every few years rather than a full replacement.
How much does an epoxy floor cost?
It depends on the size of the space, the condition of the concrete and the system you choose. Slab repairs and moisture problems are the biggest variables, which is why we look at the floor before quoting. After a site visit you get a written price for your specific floor.
How soon can I use the floor?
Foot traffic is usually fine within 24 hours. Cars, forklifts and heavy equipment need more time, often several days for standard epoxy. Fast-cure systems can shorten that. We will give you the exact timing for your floor before we start.
Is epoxy slippery?
A smooth, glossy coating can be slick when wet. Flake floors have built-in texture, and we can add a slip-resistant aggregate to the topcoat for kitchens, entries, wash bays or anywhere the floor gets wet often.
What is the difference between epoxy and polyaspartic?
Epoxy builds thickness and bonds well to concrete, so it is usually the base layer. Polyaspartic is often used as the topcoat. It cures faster, resists UV yellowing, and holds up well to abrasion. Many of the floors we install use both.
My garage floor has cracks and oil stains. Can it still be coated?
Usually, yes. Cracks and chips are filled and ground flush during prep. Oil stains are cleaned and ground out. Concrete that has absorbed oil for years may need extra treatment so the coating bonds, and we will tell you if that applies to your floor.
Can you coat over paint or an old coating?
In most cases the old coating has to come off first. New epoxy is only as strong as whatever it is stuck to, and a failing coat underneath will take the new one with it. Grinding removes it as part of normal prep.
Does humidity affect epoxy?
It can. High humidity and temperature swings affect how coatings cure, and moisture in the slab can cause bubbling or peeling later. We test the concrete, watch the weather, and schedule around it. That matters on the coast, where many garages are open to humid air most of the year.
Can epoxy go in a commercial kitchen?
Yes. Kitchens typically get a slip-resistant texture and an integral cove base so floors and lower walls can be washed down. If your local health department has specific flooring requirements, let us know and we will spec the system to meet them.
Will installing a floor shut down my business?
Not necessarily. We can phase the work so one area is coated while the rest stays open, or schedule it after hours and over weekends. We will plan the sequence with you before the job starts.
What do I need to do before the crew arrives?
For a garage, clear everything off the floor, including items on low shelves near the slab, and park cars outside. For a commercial space, we will go over what needs to be moved and when during the scheduling call.
