Epoxy garage floors and basement coatings are hugely popular for good reason—they’re tough, chemical-resistant, easy to clean, and dramatically boost home value. But the company you choose can make or break the result.

Think of it like ordering a burger. Here’s why you should skip the fast-food franchise route.

The Fast-Food Franchise Epoxy Experience

Franchised epoxy flooring companies operate like national burger chains. You get a standardized product, consistent branding, and often lower upfront prices. The crew arrives in matching uniforms, follows a corporate manual, and knocks out the job quickly.

But just like a McDonald’s burger, things can go wrong:

• They might “forget the pickles” — skipping critical surface prep steps or using generic materials.
• The special sauce could be watered down — cheaper resins that fail faster under hot tires, chemicals, or moisture.
• Inconsistent quality — high crew turnover means your installer might be relatively inexperienced.

Franchises prioritize volume and corporate margins. Your epoxy garage floor is just another ticket in the queue. Corporate warranties sound impressive, but local follow-up can be frustrating.

The Gordon Ramsay Independent Epoxy Installer Experience

Now imagine a burger made by Gordon Ramsay: perfectly seasoned, cooked exactly to your specs, with every detail checked personally because his reputation is on the line.

That’s the single-owner independent epoxy flooring approach:

• Hands-on owner involvement — The person whose name is on the business oversees or performs the work.
• Custom attention — They tailor flake blends, metallic finishes, non-slip textures, or color choices to your exact needs.
• Premium materials — No bulk corporate suppliers. Experienced pros choose proven, high-performance epoxy systems tested on hundreds of real floors.
• True accountability — They stand behind their work long-term because their business thrives on local referrals, reviews, and repeat customers—not national ads.

Independent installers often deliver superior craftsmanship for epoxy garage floors, basement flooring, and commercial coatings because their livelihood depends on your complete satisfaction.

Franchise vs Independent Epoxy Flooring: Head-to-Head Comparison

Why Most Homeowners Regret Choosing Franchise Epoxy Flooring

A failed epoxy floor installation isn’t just ugly—it peels, chips, or traps moisture, leading to costly repairs. Independent pros minimize these risks through superior prep, application, and follow-through.

Local single-owner companies also tend to offer more competitive pricing without royalty overhead, better scheduling flexibility, and stronger community ties.

Don’t Gamble with Fast-Food Style Epoxy Flooring Companies

Your garage, basement, workshop, or commercial space deserves better than a drive-thru job. When investing in epoxy garage floor coating or full epoxy flooring installation, choose quality over convenience.

Pro Tip: Ask any contractor these questions:

• Who will actually be doing the work?
• What specific epoxy system and topcoat do you recommend for my space?
• Can I see recent local jobs and speak to past clients?
• How do you handle surface preparation?

Ready for a Gourmet Epoxy Floor?

Skip the franchise fast-food experience. Hire a passionate independent epoxy flooring contractor who treats every project like a signature dish.

Your future self—and your tires, tools, and property value—will thank you.

Have questions about epoxy vs polyaspartic, costs, colors, or durability? Drop a comment below or contact a trusted local independent installer today.

The post Epoxy Garage Floor: Franchise vs Independent Installer – Why Quality Matters appeared first on Big Top Concrete Resurfacing.

If you’re a homeowner or business owner in Central Florida looking to upgrade your concrete floors, you’ve probably narrowed it down to two popular options: epoxy flooring and polished concrete. Both transform dull, cracked slabs into beautiful, durable surfaces—but they’re not the same.

At Big Top Concrete Resurfacing, we’ve been installing both since 2012 across Orlando, Winter Park, Clermont, Winter Garden, Kissimmee, and surrounding areas. Here’s an honest comparison to help you choose the right solution for your garage, patio, pool deck, or commercial space.

1. What Are They?

• Epoxy Flooring: A thick, resin-based coating applied over prepared concrete. It creates a seamless, glossy, and highly customizable surface. Popular options include solid colors, metallic finishes, and decorative flakes.
• Polished Concrete: The existing concrete slab is ground, polished, and sealed with densifiers and stains. It highlights the natural beauty of the stone aggregate for a modern, high-end look.

Both are far superior to plain concrete or cheap garage floor paint, but the best choice depends on your needs, budget, and how you use the space.

2. Pros & Cons Comparison (Tailored for Florida)

Florida Tip: In our humid, rainy climate, epoxy excels at protecting against moisture and spills in garages. Polished concrete shines (literally) on interiors, lanais, pole barns where breathability and heat reflection matter.

3. Real-World Examples from Our Central Florida Projects

• Garage Transformations: Many Clermont and Winter Garden homeowners choose epoxy with flakes for a showroom look that hides tire marks and oil stains.
• Patio & Pool Decks: Stained and polished concrete in Windermere and Eustis creates slip-resistant, beautiful outdoor living spaces that stand up to afternoon thunderstorms.
• Commercial: We recently transformed an old epoxy floor in a Yalaha facility into a stunning polished surface for a new wedding venue—durable, reflective, and breathtaking.

Our clients consistently tell us the results exceeded expectations. As one Winter Park homeowner said: “Anthony and his crew turned our plain slab into something gorgeous—they’re true artists.”

4. Which One Should You Choose?

• Choose Epoxy if you want maximum customization, chemical protection, and a bold, modern look for high-use areas like garages.
• Choose Polished Concrete for low-maintenance elegance, natural beauty, and better value in living or outdoor spaces.
• Many clients combine both: epoxy in the garage + polished/stained concrete on patios.

At Big Top, we’ll give you an honest recommendation based on your specific situation—no pressure sales.

Ready to Transform Your Floors?

Don’t settle for cracked, dusty concrete that brings down your property value. Big Top Concrete Resurfacing offers free estimates, 2-day installs, and a 5-year warranty on most projects.

Serving Orlando, Winter Park, Clermont, Kissimmee, Eustis, Groveland, Winter Garden, and all of Central Florida.

Call (888) 870-5030 or schedule your free estimate online today.

The post Epoxy Flooring vs. Polished Concrete for Central Florida Homes & Garages: Which One Should You Choose in 2026? appeared first on Big Top Concrete Resurfacing.

The Challenge: A Worn-Out Industrial Floor

The floor in question—located in a quite rural facility in the heart of Florida’s agricultural community—was long overdue for an upgrade. It was covered with a thin, 1/8-inch epoxy coating that had reached the end of its lifespan. And the space was being converted to a charming wedding venue. In a heavy-traffic environment like a blueberry plant or processing facility, floors take a constant beating from equipment, moisture, and daily operations. The old epoxy had become dull, scratched, and was no longer providing the level of protection or aesthetics required for the new venue.

The Solution: Diamond Polishing and Restoration

Big Top Concrete Resurfacing, LLC tackled this challenge head-on. The key steps in this intensive concrete restoration project included:

1. Epoxy Removal: The existing 1/8″ epoxy flooring had to be mechanically removed to get back to the underlying concrete substrate. This step is crucial for ensuring a clean, stable base for the polishing process.
2. Diamond Grinding and Polishing: Using specialized equipment and diamond abrasives, the team ground and polished the bare concrete. This process not only smooths the surface but also densifies and hardens the concrete itself. They meticulously worked through successive grits to achieve the desired level of shine and smoothness.
3. Reflective, Durable Finish: The final result is a polished concrete floor that is not only visually stunning with a high degree of reflectivity but is also incredibly durable and easy to maintain—a massive advantage in an industrial setting.

The Benefits of Polished Concrete for Commercial Spaces

For facilities like the Yalaha Wedding Venue, choosing polished concrete over another coating offers significant long-term advantages:

• Longevity: Polished concrete is incredibly resilient. It doesn’t chip or peel like thin coatings, making it ideal for heavy-traffic areas and commercial use.
• Aesthetics: The mirror-like finish brightens the space, improving light reflection and potentially reducing utility costs.
• Low Maintenance: These floors are seamless and non-porous, resisting stains and making spills easy to clean.
• Cost-Effectiveness: While the initial process is thorough, the long life and reduced maintenance make it a highly cost-effective flooring solution over time.

Central Florida’s Concrete Experts

Big Top Concrete Resurfacing, LLC continues to prove why they are the leading experts in concrete resurfacing and concrete polishing throughout Central Florida. This successful project in Yalaha, FL is another testament to their skill in transforming even the toughest commercial floors into lasting works of art.

If your industrial or commercial facility needs a floor that can stand up to the rigors of production while looking spectacular, contact the professionals at Big Top Concrete Resurfacing, LLC.

Would you like to see examples of other commercial concrete polishing projects Big Top Concrete Resurfacing has completed? Click Here!

The post ✨ From Old Epoxy to Stunning Shine: Big Top Concrete Resurfacing Transforms Yalaha Blueberry Plant Floor to Repurpose as a Wedding Venue. appeared first on Big Top Concrete Resurfacing.

If you’ve come across an advertisement for an epoxy floor priced at just $2 per square foot, it might sound like an unbeatable deal. After all, who wouldn’t want a sleek, durable, and professional-looking floor at such a low cost? However, as the saying goes, “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.” In the case of epoxy flooring, a $2 per square foot offer is not only unrealistic but could also be a red flag for a potential scam that leaves you with a subpar floor—and a much bigger bill down the road. Let’s break down why this “deal” is likely too cheap to trust and how it could cost you more in the future.

The True Cost of a Professional Epoxy Floor

Epoxy flooring is a popular choice for garages, basements, and commercial spaces due to its durability, aesthetic appeal, and low maintenance. However, achieving a high-quality epoxy floor requires professional-grade materials, skilled labor, and proper surface preparation. Here’s a reality check: the cost of professional-grade epoxy materials alone typically exceeds $2 per square foot.

High-quality epoxy resin, hardeners, and topcoats from reputable manufacturers can range from $2 to $5 per square foot, depending on the product and application thickness. This doesn’t even account for additional materials like primers, sealers, or additives for slip resistance or UV protection. Add to that the cost of labor, surface preparation (such as grinding or shot blasting), and cleanup, and a professionally installed epoxy floor typically starts at $5 to $10 per square foot or more, depending on the project’s complexity and location.

So, how can a company offer an epoxy floor for just $2 per square foot? The answer lies in cutting corners—big ones.

The Hidden Dangers of a $2 Per Square Foot Epoxy Floor

When you see an epoxy floor advertised at such a low price, it’s a strong indicator that the contractor is compromising on quality, materials, or both. Here are some common ways these “budget” providers skimp, and why it could lead to costly problems:

1. Low-Quality Materials: To hit that $2 price point, contractors may use cheap, watered-down epoxy or non-epoxy coatings that lack durability. These inferior products are prone to peeling, cracking, or yellowing within months, leaving you with a floor that looks worse than when you started.

2. Inadequate Surface Preparation: Proper surface preparation is critical for epoxy adhesion. Professional installers use diamond grinders or shot blasters to ensure the concrete is clean and porous, but this process is time-consuming and expensive. A $2 per square foot deal likely skips or rushes this step, leading to poor adhesion and a floor that fails prematurely.

3. Thin Coatings: A high-quality epoxy floor typically involves multiple layers, including a primer, base coat, and topcoat, applied at specific thicknesses for durability. Bargain contractors often apply a single, thin layer to cut costs, resulting in a floor that wears out quickly and offers little protection.

4. Unskilled Labor: Professional epoxy installation requires trained technicians who understand the nuances of mixing, applying, and curing epoxy. Low-cost providers may rely on inexperienced workers, leading to uneven finishes, bubbles, or improper curing.

5. Hidden Fees: Some contractors advertise a low per-square-foot rate to lure customers, only to tack on additional charges for preparation, cleanup, or “upgraded” materials. By the time you receive the final bill, the cost may not be as “affordable” as advertised.

The Long-Term Cost of a Cheap Epoxy Floor

Choosing a $2 per square foot epoxy floor might save you money upfront, but the consequences of a poorly installed floor can be far more expensive. Here’s what you could face:

– **Premature Failure**: A low-quality epoxy floor may start peeling, cracking, or fading within a year, requiring costly repairs or a complete redo. Removing a failed epoxy coating is labor-intensive and can cost $3 to $5 per square foot alone, not including the cost of reinstalling a new floor.

– **Aesthetic and Functional Issues**: A poorly applied epoxy floor can look uneven, discolored, or patchy, diminishing the value and appearance of your space. In high-traffic areas, it may also fail to provide the durability and slip resistance you expect.

– **Lost Time and Inconvenience**: Redoing a failed epoxy floor means downtime for your home or business, not to mention the hassle of dealing with contractors again.

In contrast, investing in a professional epoxy floor installation from the start ensures a long-lasting, high-quality result that can withstand years of wear and tear, saving you money and stress in the long run.

How to Spot a Legitimate Epoxy Floor Contractor

To avoid falling for a $2 per square foot scam, take these steps when choosing an epoxy flooring contractor:

– Research Material Costs: Understand that professional-grade epoxy materials alone cost more than $2 per square foot. Ask contractors about the specific products they use and verify their quality with a quick online search.

– Ask About Surface Preparation: A reputable contractor will explain their surface preparation process in detail, including grinding or shot blasting to ensure proper adhesion.

– Request References and Photos: Look for a contractor with a proven track record. Ask for references and photos of past projects to confirm their work quality.

– Get a Detailed Quote: A trustworthy contractor will provide a transparent breakdown of costs, including materials, labor, and any additional fees. Be wary of vague or overly cheap estimates.

– Check Reviews and Credentials: Look for online reviews on platforms like Google or Yelp, and verify that the contractor is licensed, insured, and certified by reputable epoxy manufacturers.

Invest in Quality for Long-Term Value

While a $2 per square foot epoxy floor might seem like a steal, it’s often a shortcut to disappointment. By cutting corners on materials, preparation, or labor, these “deals” set you up for a floor that fails quickly, costing you more to repair or replace. Instead, invest in a professional epoxy flooring installation from a reputable contractor. It may cost more upfront, but the durability, beauty, and peace of mind of a high-quality floor are worth every penny.

Don’t let a too-good-to-be-true deal turn into an expensive mistake. Choose quality, choose expertise, and enjoy an epoxy floor that lasts for years to come.

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Epoxy flooring systems offer several advantages for pharmaceutical manufacturers, ensuring compliance with safety, hygiene, and durability standards. Let’s explore the key benefits:

1. Durability and Resistance:
   • Epoxy floors are exceptionally durable, capable of withstanding heavy equipment, high foot traffic, and impact.
   • They resist chemicals, abrasion, and fire, making them ideal for pharmaceutical processing areas¹.
   • Seamless epoxy surfaces prevent bacterial growth and are easy to clean, maintaining a sterile environment.
2. Hygiene and Cleanliness:
   • Epoxy flooring is non-porous, preventing the absorption of contaminants.
   • Their seamless design eliminates grout lines where bacteria can hide, ensuring a hygienic environment.
   • Regular cleaning with chemical solutions and high-pressure sprays keeps the floors bacteria-free².
3. Safety and Comfort:
   • Epoxy flooring provides a safe working environment for staff.
   • Its slip-resistant properties reduce the risk of accidents.
   • Resilient epoxy formulations offer comfort underfoot, supporting employees during long shifts.
4. Energy Efficiency:
   • High-gloss epoxy options reflect light, reducing the need for indoor lighting.
   • This energy-saving feature can positively impact your electric bill².
5. Environmental Friendliness:
   • Epoxy flooring is non-toxic and environmentally friendly.
   • Its longevity minimizes the need for frequent replacements, reducing waste.

In summary, epoxy flooring is an excellent choice for pharmaceutical facilities, combining durability, hygiene, safety, and environmental consciousness. Consider epoxy to enhance your pharmacy’s operational efficiency and maintain a clean, sterile environment³.

Watch the transformation that epoxy flooring brings to this floor below:

In this video, Big Top Concrete Resurfacing, LLC meticulously converts a worn-out skate park surface into a seamless epoxy flake floor. The transformation process encompasses extensive grinding for surface preparation, meticulous repair of control joints and fissures, followed by the application of a robust three-coat epoxy flake system. This renovation was undertaken to meet the specific needs of a pharmacy’s warehouse, requiring a flooring solution that is effortless to maintain, simplifies cleaning, and adheres to FDA regulations for the storage of active pharmaceutical ingredients.

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Epoxy flooring has gained popularity in recent years due to its durability, aesthetic appeal, and low maintenance requirements. However, before applying epoxy to a concrete surface, proper preparation is essential to ensure a long-lasting and flawless finish. In this blog post, we will explore the necessary prep work for epoxy flooring, including the Concrete Surface Profile (CSP) and the equipment required.

The first step in preparing the concrete surface for epoxy flooring is evaluating the Concrete Surface Profile necessary for the particular coating. The CSP is a measurement that determines the texture and roughness of the concrete surface. It is crucial because the level of CSP will determine the adhesion and bond strength between the epoxy and the concrete. The information here is what you need to know as a consumer so you can make an informed decision.

Classifications of Surface Profile

The Concrete Surface Profile is classified into different levels:

1. CSP-1: This level is the smoothest, achieved by grinding the concrete surface. It is suitable for thin epoxy coatings and decorative applications, but not recommended for high-performance epoxy systems.

2. CSP-2: This level is achieved by Mechanical grinding 16 grit or less, acid etching (although not recommended for many reasons) or shot blasting the concrete surface. It provides a moderate roughness and is suitable for most epoxy coatings.

3. CSP-3: This level is achieved by heavy shot blasting or scarifying the concrete surface. It provides a rough texture and is suitable for high-performance epoxy coatings, such as in industrial and commercial settings.

Equipment Needed to Properly Prepare the Substrate

Once the Concrete Surface Profile has been determined, the next step is to gather the necessary equipment for the prep work. Here are some essential tools and equipment:

1. Floor Grinder: A floor grinder with diamond grinding tooling is used to achieve the desired CSP level. It helps remove any existing coatings, adhesives, or imperfections on the concrete surface.

2. Shot Blaster: A shot blaster uses small steel shots to blast the concrete surface, creating a rough texture suitable for epoxy adhesion. It is an effective method for achieving higher CSP levels.

3. Scarifier: A scarifier is a machine that uses rotating cutters or blades to remove the top layer of the concrete surface. It is useful for heavy-duty surface preparation, especially in cases where the concrete has extensive damage or coatings.

4. Dust Collection System: When performing prep work, it is important to have a dust collection system in place to minimize the release of harmful dust particles. This ensures a clean and safe working environment.

5. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Preparing a concrete surface for epoxy flooring involves working with various tools and chemicals. It is crucial to wear appropriate PPE, including safety goggles, gloves, and respiratory protection, to protect yourself from potential hazards.

In addition to the equipment mentioned above, it is also important to have cleaning supplies, such as degreasers and concrete cleaners, to remove any contaminants from the surface before applying epoxy.

Summary

In conclusion, the necessary prep work for epoxy flooring involves evaluating the Concrete Surface Profile (CSP) and using the appropriate equipment to achieve the desired level of roughness. Whether it’s grinding, shot blasting, or scarifying, the goal is to create a clean and properly textured surface for optimal epoxy adhesion. By investing time and effort into the prep work, you can ensure a durable and visually appealing epoxy flooring that will stand the test of time.

Visit our website and see if we are the right company for your epoxy flooring needs!

The post Concrete Surface Profile and Epoxy Flooring What You Need to Know appeared first on Big Top Concrete Resurfacing.

There are many elements that go into creating a logo then implementing it on a floor. We do not create the logos, we just make them look natural in your floor. Our preferred method of concrete  logo installation is to etch it in. That way it is a classy permanent part of the overall look of the floor. Some installers use stickers, but they tend to look cheap and fabricated and really require no skill to install. We installed this logo for our friends at the VFW after another company completely botched the floor..

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All too often homeowners are under the assumption that a coat of cement with some polymer added is going to solve the problems of the cracked deteriorating surface. But truth be told in order for a cementitious coating to be applied to say a driveway, that driveway needs to be in pretty good shape. Resurfacing is not the magic answer that people think or that majority of decorative concrete contractors sell it as. Speaking of magic watch how these contractors pull off the greatest disappearing act after you start having issues!

Let’s talk cracks. You may have heard about epoxies with amazing compressive strengths even greater than that of concrete. Well that does little to nothing for a driveway crack. We don’t need compressive strength, we need flexural strength. And even if they have high flexibility, guess what, when a 4000 pound car rolls over them, they will flex and flex beyond their potential. If that isn’t bad enough, now the beautifully designed coating you had now has a crack. But wait there’s more! That crack may be a hairline but give it time. It will begin to peel at the crack creating and even uglier mess then had you not coated the driveway.

There are few companies who are willing to discuss this with potential clients as it is no good for their wallets. Or they simply lack the creativity to offer other solutions that will be beautiful and sustainable. The downside is not every community will allow for these alternatives. If you live in an HOA you know the militant mindset they have. No room for beauty, they want conformity! The image below is an example us using a creative approach to resurface a concrete slab.

As you can see this slab has cracks, like most slabs here in Central Florida. To resurface this using an overlay would be a mess in less than a year. This slab had lots of pits and pinholes everywhere. To rectify it we skim coated it entirely, then ground it all off. Therefore the only topping is limited to just the voids and there is nothing to peel off. We then carved the leaves to make it looks like the cracks were vines. Without going into too much detail about how we did the whole project you can see that this technique is a viable option to replacing the entire slab. The cost difference is considerable as well.

When searching for a decorative concrete or concrete resurfacing contractor look for those who present options and tell you the good, the bad, and everything in between.

The post To Resurface Concrete or Replace appeared first on Big Top Concrete Resurfacing.

Can you, as a consumer, prep concrete for a coating on your own? Well, if you go to the big box stores and look at some of the concrete paints, or their versions of “epoxy,” then you may see that their data sheets tell you that it’s possible. Let’s remember one thing though, and that is they want to sell you a product. If you put it down and a week later it peels off, they will not send a contractor out to assess and fix the problem, they may give you a refund, albeit more than likely not. So now you have spent money, taken your weekend and for what, nothing it seems. Yes, in some light duty areas and I mean light duty you may get away with their recommended concrete prep. I can tell you that we have redone many a DIY floor in our decade of business.

Equipment is Necessary to do it right

Think about a concrete coating contractors equipment set up. This is of course if they are professional and established and have your best interest at heart. When they unload to do your job, they will pull of their trailer or box truck about $25,000 worth of equipment meant to properly prepare your concrete. This equipment doesn’t fit in the trunk of a car so no you can’t run to a rental place and pick it up. More than likely they will use a planetary grinder, and if they are really professional a shot blaster as well. The grinder has diamond tooling on it, for standard garages about nine diamonds. This tooling is designed to scratch the surface removing loose or weak points of the concrete matrix and create a surface profile or CSP for the coating to grab hold of.

Now we can get really technical and confusing and go into the various coatings and their different CSP requirements, but we’ll save that for another blog. The purpose of this blog is to help you understand that though it may be possible to install a concrete coating on your own, you are far better off looking to a professional to do so. We charge by the situation. If we are coming into an uncontaminated slab, meaning no previous coating, then the price will be less than if we have to remove a mistake. Removal takes longer than prep and it is worked into your bid.

I will leave you with this one piece of advice that will save you a lot of hassle. If you have a contractor show up for an estimate, ask them how they intend to prep your floor. If they tell you they will acid etch it, then do yourself a huge favor and show them the door.

Feel free to contact me through this website if you would like more information.

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Let’s talk products. Concrete stains come in a variety of different solutions. I classify them in three categories:

• non-reactive concrete stains
• reactive concrete stains
• solid color concrete stains

Non-reactive concrete stains

Non-reactive concrete stains can be water based or solvent based such as used in concrete dyes. Water based tend to be easier to work with and more forgiving and usually can be sprayed from a pump sprayer. But this is not always the case it really depends on the manufacturer. Many water based stains are mineral based and are mixed with tap water to the desired dilution. There are some however that require reverse osmosis or distilled water to cut. Dyes are mixed with solvents such as acetone. They tend do dry very rapidly and cannot be sprayed out of a traditional pump sprayer. A drip from a dye if not addressed immediately will be permanent. It is important to read the manufacturers recommendations for installation.

Reactive concrete stains

A reactive stain is called such because it reacts with the concrete itself giving it various hues and tones. The color choices for reactive stains are limited to about eight. Most will yield colors tones with similar hues due to the chemical reactions they create. The advantage of a reactive stain is that it really is the only 100% UV stable stain on the market. The complexity in using them makes them a less popular item.

Solid color stains

In my personal opinion I do not consider this to be a stain at all. The characteristics are more like a paint than a stain. However the preparation to install needs to be the same as with reactive concrete stains and no-reactive concrete stains. The ease of install makes this a popular choice for DIYers and painters. It’s not the favorite among decorative concrete specialists in that there really is no creativity in this application unless you are doing a patter or something similar. Also when it’s installed by a concrete specialist it will actually be a solid color sealer. Meaning the stain or color, is the sealer.

Methods for installing concrete stain

Now the fun part, how do you install these products? Well first and formost prep is 90% of success or failure. Which is why, of course, we always recommend having them installed by professionals. Not to say it can’t be done by a DIYer. Even if you have the artistic ability chances are you won’t have the equipment needed.

For a basic application of a solid color sealer or solid color stain is a dip and roll method. This is of course after the proper method of prep has been completed. Generally it requires two coats and the first one would be rolled east to west while the second is north to south. Easy right? Where is the sun located when you’re doing this? Is is drying out the material too fast? Is the concrete outgassing causing bubbles? Yikes!

Water-based stains can typically be sprayed from a pump sprayer or bug sprayer. It’s important to apply randomly to not have a tell-tail visible pattern or lines. Don’t put too much down or puddle the product unless it’s a certain look you are going for. Watch the wind or airflow as it can move color where you don’t want it. Remember some require to be put down with an airless sprayer so the product can atomize correctly. That’s a whole other ballgame when working with that type of equipment.

Reactive concrete stain should not be attempted by a DYIer. There is a certain amount of danger to this product. Remember it is acid based. Acid can burn or even blind you! These products are sprayed from sprayers that are tolerant of acid. Yes, it could be sprayed form a traditional pump sprayer, but the seals may not hold up and start leaking which would ruin a project. Acid based stains must be neutralized once the reaction has finished. Depending on the manufacturer this could be from 4 to 24 hours. If all the residue is not cleaned up and it is sealed the sealer will peel off eventually.

If you would like more information about concrete staining, feel free to contact us.

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