Showing posts with label best epoxy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label best epoxy. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

Lehigh Valley Epoxy Coatings

 If you're looking to get an epoxy floor in the Lehigh Valley, one of the companies that you may consider is Lehigh Valley Epoxy Coatings. They specialize in providing high-quality epoxy flooring solutions for residential and commercial properties in the Lehigh Valley area.



Epoxy flooring is a popular choice for homeowners and business owners because it is durable, easy to clean, and looks great. Epoxy is a type of resin that can be applied to concrete floors to create a smooth, durable surface that is resistant to stains, chemicals, and abrasion.

Lehigh Valley Epoxy Coatings offers a variety of epoxy flooring options to fit your needs, including solid color floors, metallic epoxy floors, and flake epoxy floors. They can also create custom designs and logos to give your floor a unique look.

The process of getting an epoxy floor from Lehigh Valley Epoxy Coatings typically starts with a consultation to discuss your needs and preferences. They will then schedule a time to come to your property and prepare the surface of the floor by cleaning and repairing any cracks or damage.

Next, they will apply the epoxy coating, which typically involves multiple layers of epoxy resin and a protective topcoat. The process can take a few days to complete, depending on the size of the space and the complexity of the design.

One of the benefits of working with Lehigh Valley Epoxy Coatings is that they use high-quality materials and techniques to ensure that your floor will last for years to come. They also offer a warranty on their work to give you peace of mind.

Overall, if you're looking to get an epoxy floor in the Lehigh Valley, Lehigh Valley Epoxy Coatings is a company worth considering. With their expertise and commitment to quality, they can help you create a beautiful and durable floor that will enhance the look and functionality of your space.

Thursday, December 29, 2022

 

Epoxy is a popular choice for coating concrete floors because it provides a durable and attractive finish. Here are a few reasons why you should consider using epoxy on your concrete floor:

Epoxy Floor
  • Durability: Epoxy is a very strong and durable material, making it ideal for use on concrete floors. It can withstand heavy foot traffic and is resistant to scratches, stains, and water damage. This makes it a great choice for garage floors, workshop floors, and other high-traffic areas.
  • Aesthetically pleasing: Epoxy coatings come in a wide range of colors and finishes, so you can choose a look that suits your taste and style. Whether you want a sleek and modern look or a more traditional feel, epoxy has you covered.
  • Epoxy can help with some water issues
  • Easy to maintain: Epoxy floors are easy to clean and maintain.
  • Simply sweep or vacuum to remove dirt and debris, and then mop with a mild detergent to keep the surface looking clean and fresh.
  • Chemical resistance: Epoxy is resistant to a wide range of chemicals, making it a great choice for use in industrial or manufacturing environments where spills and splashes are common.
  • Epoxy floors require a
  • as the coatings sometimes can harden very quickly
  • Cost-effective: While the initial cost of installing an epoxy coating may be higher than some other flooring options, the long-term benefits make it a cost-effective choice.
  • Epoxy floors can last for many years with minimal maintenance, so you won’t have to worry about replacing or repairing your floor anytime soon.
Metallic Epoxy Floor

Overall, epoxy is a durable, attractive, and cost-effective choice for coating your concrete floor. It can improve the look and functionality of your space, and is sure to be a worthwhile investment in the long run.

If you are looking for an experienced Northampton & Lehigh County painter then please call (484) 821-7112 or complete our online request form.

Ryan Amato - Amato Painting and Power Washing

Friday, November 12, 2021

Epoxy Floors Fact vs. Fiction

 EPOXY FLOORS: Fact vs. Fiction 


With all the conflicting information out there about the dos and don’ts of flooring installation, it can be difficult to choose the best floor option for your residential, commercial or industrial space.





Perhaps one of the most controversial of the floor choices is epoxy floors. Epoxy coating is becoming a more and more popular choice for not only industrial and commercial properties, but for residential spaces as well.


Epoxy coating is made up of a two-part mixture consisting of resin and a hardening agent.


This mixture is then evenly distributed over well primed concrete, wood, tile or a variety of other surfaces you may find in a residential, commercial or industrial space.


Once the mixture is properly applied, a chemical reaction occurs creating a bond to the floor making it incredibly durable, long-lasting, slip resistant and easy to wipe clean!


Seems too good to be true, right? Let’s analyze some of the rumors swirling around out there about epoxy floors and we’ll let you be the judge.


“Epoxy Floors are only for large industries and wealthy folks. There’s no way I could afford that.”


Okay, we’ll admit, epoxy floors can be pretty intimidating considering their upscale look and incredible durability. But just because they offer these benefits and that sought after WOW factor doesn’t mean they are unattainable.




As we previously noted, epoxy floors are long-lasting which means you won’t be shelling out tons of cash for repairs and maintenance.


When you look at this as a long-term investment you’re actually saving money in the long run; Not to mention increasing the value of the property.


When you do your research you’ll find that epoxy floors are also significantly more cost effective than other floor types.


The problem people will often face is that they decide on a cheaper flooring solution which inevitably requires more maintenance and repairs.


You end up paying more over time. Think of it like shopping at Costco.


It might seem steep to pay $19.99 for paper towels, but it’s a whole lot nicer to not have to go running back to Walmart in a week for more and paying double for even less rolls.





“Who needs epoxy? I’ll just apply paint to the floors. It’ll look the same and cost way less!”


You’d think that were the case, but this is highly inaccurate. Even though both of these products may create a similar look when applied, they are indeed very different from one another.


For starters epoxy is superior in adhesion in comparison to paint. Paint dries, whereas epoxy cures which creates a much harder and durable surface.


Paint simply won’t be able to protect the floor from abrasions, chemicals, bacteria, oil, grease and spills the way epoxy will.


Paint just doesn’t live up to epoxy’s ability to bond to the substrate making it a very costly mistake to apply instead of epoxy. 



“I’ll just save my money and install the epoxy flooring myself! What could go wrong?”



It may be tempting to skip out on the labor costs of epoxy floor installation and just do it yourself with the help of the many DIY YouTube videos out there, but let us stop you right there before you go making a VERY costly mistake.


I know what you’re thinking. How hard can it be? All I need to do is mix up the products listed in the video and apply to my concrete garage floor, right?


Seemingly yes, but there’s far more that goes into it than that. For starters, only the most experienced epoxy floor installation crew understands that each floor is different, each with their own set of detailed challenges.


An experienced epoxy floor crew will meticulously prepare and prime the floor for installation (which can often be rather tedious) making sure the product can be applied properly.


Without proper priming and preparation, you could end up with discolorations, uneven surfaces or little bubbles in the product making for a sloppy, unprofessional finished look.


Professional epoxy floors installers also have access to professional grade products which are much higher quality than the products you’ll get in the DIY kits you have at your local Home Depot.


Low quality product = Low quality floor. High quality product = High quality floor. It’s really pretty simple when you look at it that way. 


“Epoxy floors only make sense in warehouses and industrial facilities. Why would I use this flooring solution in my home?”


Yes, epoxy floors do make a fantastic choice for warehouses, commercial and industrial facilities due to their extreme durability and ability to withstand heavy loads, harsh chemicals and high heat.


But believe it or not, the versatility that epoxy coating provides has made it a very popular choice for many residential surfaces including garage floors, basement floors, outdoor cement patios and walkways and even kitchen countertops!


First of all, let’s be real. A well-done epoxy coating is beautiful to look at. Because of the many colors and patterns you have to choose from you can radically upgrade the look of your residential space.


In addition to the aesthetic appeal, the practicality is tough to beat. Here in the Lehigh Valley many people get stuck dealing with water damage and leaks during heavy down pours.


Our humid summers also make having a dehumidifier a must. With an epoxy floor you can eliminate the head aches that come along with dealing with these types of issues.


Since epoxy coating is water resistant, any water that enters the garage or basement will sit right on top of the floor without seeping in making it a breeze to remove with a shop vac. 


Another huge perk of epoxy floors in the home is the ability to easily wipe them clean.


When epoxy is poured onto a properly prepared surface, you won’t have to deal with any ridges, cracks or seems the way you would with tile or hard wood.


The flat, seamless surface makes them a dream to clean. Their resistance to spills, stains, germs and bacteria make them a very desirable choice for a finished basement where the kids might spend most of their play time.


With regular sweeping and mopping the floors will stay clean and looking beautiful at all times. Perhaps the most significant benefit yet is that these floors typically last up to 10 years! Talk about low maintenance! 


So there you have it folks. We busted several of the myths circulating around about epoxy floors.


A professionally installed epoxy floor truly has the potential to completely transform and revitalize your residential, commercial or industrial space. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions you may still have about epoxy floors.


We’d be happy to discuss your options with you and help you decide if an epoxy floor is the right choice for you!



Thursday, May 20, 2021

Epoxy Countertops Are Durable

 Epoxy countertops are very durable , long-lasting and stylish alternative to traditional granite, quartz, or laminate countertops.

At Ryan Amato Painting we are pleased to announce this new service using Leggari epoxy products

They’re made from two layers: the exterior layer is typically a durable high-gloss polyester that resists chipping and scratching, while the interior layer is epoxy resin that provides a solid surface for food prep and cleaning.

Epoxy countertops are stain-resistant. They are available in a variety of colors and patterns, and they have the added benefit of easily being able to match or complement your existing tile or stone.

The advantages of this type of countertop, though, go beyond good looks! Read on to learn about the advantages of epoxy over other choices in countertops.

Practical Advantages of Epoxy Countertops Epoxy countertops are almost indestructible. Epoxy resin is known for its durability, and epoxy countertops are a great choice for households that do a lot of cooking, cleaning, and scrubbing.

Heat won’t damage the surface or affect its color, and acidic materials like lemon juice won’t damage the countertop.

The surface is resistant to scratches, heat, chemicals, and abrasion as well. Epoxy countertops are a kitchen workhorse.

If you enjoy cooking and want something that will last a long time, epoxy countertops could be a great option for you because of their level of durability.

Epoxy Countertops Are Durable
Epoxy Countertops Are Durable

Epoxy countertops can be customized. Homeowners who like to personalize their home décor can choose from a wide array of colors and patterns.

Epoxy countertops are durable, long lasting and easily maintained

They can also choose whether they want the top or bottom layer more textured or shiny.

Epoxy is a great alternative to traditional stone and other material counter­tops when you’re looking for durability, resistance to scratches and stains, and a natural look.

Epoxy countertops are worth it if you want something that will last. All of the cleaning, cooking, and food prep tasks on your kitchen table can be done with ease knowing that you have such a durable surface.

Thursday, April 22, 2021

One of a kind metallic epoxy floor

 

Metallic Epoxy Floor

Ryan Amato Painting completed a custom metallic epoxy floor for a client this week. After seeing our floor on our Instagram page Randy reached out to us and wanted a truly unique and one of a kind floor for their new living space.

After meeting with many other epoxy floor contractors and also considering doing the floor themselves they knew when speaking to us they wanted that deep 3d look only our floors can achieve.

There are a few reasons other contractors are not achieving this look but the most important one is their floors are being put down too thin, with epoxy the thickness and quality of materials is of the utmost importance for the look and longevity of your epoxy floor.

After preparing the floor, patching and holes and cracks, we primed the floor and then also applied a base coat of epoxy before adding any metallic epoxy.

Once we added the metallic colors (two ) we also added a unique application to infuse a third color giving the floor a deep, cloud like look.

They asked us to go crazy and do whatever we wanted to create a truly unique look and as you can see we delivered a floor they can show off for many, many years to come.

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Price Alone Does Not Make A Great Epoxy Floor

Why Simply Getting A Price Is Wrong 

When getting information and pricing for your epoxy floor project we sometimes simply have people tell us " I have a two car garage"How much will my floor be?

While we wish it was this easy and many companies will simply throw pricing around this is not a professional or accurate way to give a proposal for your epoxy floor.

There are many factors such as what's currently on the floor? How much patching will you need on your garage floor? Thue products and look you want? 

This is not your typical paint job , anyway even if everyone used the same products, same application the prices would never be the same. Your forgetting about level of service, a real warranty for your epoxy floor. Are they local?

You have to answer many questions and much more than how much will the floor be.

Please listen to our weekly show where we went deep into this topic



Saturday, June 20, 2020

So you would like an epoxy floor

Getting an epoxy floor is not an easy task, finding the right painter, epoxy company is hard to say the least. Doing it yourself is possible but not probable using professional products.

So what does a homeowner do? Watch our video above for more information on getting an epoxy floor for your garage or business.

If you are looking for an experienced Northampton & Lehigh County painter then please call (484) 821-7112


Monday, June 8, 2020

So You Want An Epoxy Floor For Your Garage

So You Want An Epoxy Floor For Your Garage

You walk out to your garage each morning, stepping on oil, a dirty floor and concrete that is cracked and decide you would like a shiny new epoxy floor installed but have no idea where to start.

Maybe you had a friend or family member had theirs done or you have seen them on YouTube or Facebook and now you want one too.
But how much are they, how long will it last and where do you start?


Where To Begin

Finding a reputable contractor you can trust is your first step, this is not a project for your typical painting contractor so that should not be your first step. A reputable epoxy installer or a painting company who has a dedicated epoxy department is the way to go. Epoxy can be very tricky, no two applications are the same, epoxy is very finiscky with the surrounding temperartures, moisture in the air and also surface temperatures. Only an experienced epoxy installer will know what to do and make adjustments along the way.

Even a slight difference in the normal dew point can drastically change cure times, dry times and recoat times of a floor. Not knowing these and what to do can be disaterous for your garage floor. What could go wrong? The sheen could be blotchy, the color could be off, the epoxy could eventually fail and peel off not to mention the cosmetic issues you can have.

Finding Your Contractor

Finding your contractor won't be an easy one, there are not that many fully trained and experienced companies out there or some only do commercial epoxy floors. Steer clear of a painting company who says sure we also do floors, if they are a painting company they should have a totally seperate crew who only does floors to be assured they are trained on new applications, products and the issues that come along with them to fully get the results you want. 

The Right Products

Everyone will look to Google as their go to source of information and see buzz words such as high solid, polyaspartic and more but remember even though a company is using those "type" of products there are many inferior formulations from one epoxy manufacturer to the next. You could be using all the "right" products but they could be cheap brands giving you a much lower quality epoxy floor.

From thinner applications due to poor training of the crews or thinner coating due to low quality products you won;t know this until its too late and you are recoating your garage floor way to soon.
Stick to a professional epoxy floor company that can manage all of this for you.

The Application Process

Most professional epoxy installers will be grinding your floor, this does not mean it needs to be done each and every time but to achieve the proper surface for your concrete and the new epoxy it is usually determined it needs to be diamond grinded. The company should have a full seperate hepa vacuum attached to the grinder sucking up all that nasty concrete dust leaving your home and their workers safe.

Proper set up of the area should be noted, keeping all other areas clean that are not being done is professional and important, it is not easy to get cured epoxy off surfaces it should not be on.

After cleaning all the grease off of the floor with specialized products, the company will most likely be grinding and cleaning once more. After cleaning there are a couple routes a company may go.
If it is determined you don;t have a vapor barrier a liquid (primer) vapor barrier may be used.

If you do have one already they may go direct to the concrete with the epoxy, remember each and every step costs money so any added coat or step will be additional costs to your final bill.

After the epoxy is put down now is the time to add flakes or anti slip additives, this can be a very unique and custom installation process and you may get a different look for whoever is installing (throwing) the decorative flakes. You want one installer applying your flakes to make sure it is uniform.

The Clear Coat


Another term you will hear so much is polyaspartic, this is a type of coating that is not vulnarable to the uv light like epoxy is, is hard and a terrific top coat.
However it is difficult to apply, the life once mixed is very short and it is not inexpensive.
This is what I would choose for my house though.

You do have some other options, but they will effect the longevity of the coating, the amount of time you have before having to coat it again.

Depending on the use of your floor will also determine what type of clear coat you will be using.

Expectations

At the end of the day the proper expectations are needed, if you have concrete that is moving or water pressure coming up from underneath your floor you could have some issues, this would not be a failure of the coating itself. If you drop something very heavy it could chip the coating no matter what you have down on the concrete. Remember the floors are extremly tough but nothing is bulletproof.

Proper Maintenance

Properly maintaining your epoxy floor and coating is important but not hard at all.
We would love for you to use just a simple combination of dawn and soem warm water, this is all you should need to fully clean anything off of your floor if you get it right away. Do not allow solvents to sit on your floor and wipe those up right away just to prevent any discoloration.
It's that easy, do this and you should have years to come of your new epoxy floor.


Monday, November 18, 2019

Metallic Epoxy Samples

Metallic Epoxy

If you have not heard of metallic epoxy you will soon in our area.
In other parts of the country metallic epoxy is used inside people's homes, in kitchens, on the entire first floor, in garages, stores and more.

It offers a very unique and custom element to any area and brings the wow factor to the space it is used in. WIth any epoxy however you have to know what you're doing and be able to follow very specific details when applying this product.

With metallic epoxy it is very creative and artistic so it does not mean any person can do it, you have to make adjustments on the fly, no two floors or applications will ever be the same for this reason and we prefer to have one person working on the floor at least in the final creative portion otherwise you will end up with two different techniques, this also can be fine too as it is custom.

It is hard to match certain looks on sample pieces unless the person doing the sample also does the application. Many things go into the final look, the base coat, the lighting of the room and the reflection of those lights can also change the look not to mention the metallic pigments will also change, the way your application looks the first day is not what it will look like the next.

Here you can see we had an old table lying around so why not coat it with metallic epoxy?
 We used Armorpoxy of New Jersey high solid epoxy clear along with metallic pigments., at first you can see we disbursed the epoxy with alcohol but then decided to go over it, we added blue highlights with epoxy and white using a spray can and then hand created the final look. You can contact us for any epoxy project you have in mind, we would love to take a look at it



Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Epoxy Concrete Floor Failures

Epoxy Floor Failures

You need or want an epoxy floor for your business or home and you start to search around, look online and have a few estimates.
What you find is the information you receive may be all over the place but one thing that is more important than the type of epoxy used or who does your epoxy project is the preparation needs to be done and done well and specifically how the epoxy being used mandates.


Read the specifications

With every paint or epoxy, you buy or consider using you should have access to the datasheets an inside those data sheets it will specify the application and preparation methods needed and may even note the CSP (concrete surface profile) level needed.

I would bet some companies you have had out may have never heard of CSP profiles but they are so important to know and must be met so you have a manufactures warranty on your floor.

CSP

Concrete Surface Profile (CSP) is the measure of the average distance from the peaks of the surface to the valleys as seen through a cross-sectional view of the concrete surface. The standards are rated 1-9 with 1 being the smoothest and 9 being the roughest.

The CSP is important to consider when trying to achieve proper bonding of concrete overlays and coatings. Generally, when using a thick overlay, the CSP needs to be higher. When using a coating that is slim, a smoother CSP of 2 to 4 is correct. When using thicker self-leveling and polymer overlays, the appropriate CSP will range from 4 to 6. (ref )

Every person who is coating your floor should know what csp profile is needed and have the csp samples to match up before applying any coating.

Acid Etch or Grind?

When it comes to preparing concrete for a garage floor coating, the best method is to grind the garage floor. One of the reasons for this is that the profile of the surface can be controlled to provide the desired outcome. It provides a rougher and more porous surface that is considered ideal. It will also remove excess laitance that acid etching doesn’t always remove. Link
Remember, acid etching will not remove dirt and oil from your concrete floor. It still needs to be cleaned first. Etching works by reacting with the free lime in concrete. If the concrete is coated in oil or grime, the acid will not be very effective.

The results

So what happens if you do not prepare your floor?
This is an actual site we were asked to come out and diagnose the issue of the previous companies coating, it was pretty easy to tell the floor was installed over an unprepared sealed concrete floor. In this or most any environment, the flor would never work and of course, you get failure.
Not only did they pay the first contractor, now they had to pay us to remove that coating, grind the floor and install another coating, so double or triple the original price

Do it right first

Please do the project correctly the first time and save yourself a lot of headaches and money down the road, we have seen it time and time again.
Check out out my video on this subject and hopefully, we can save you some issues




Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Ryan Amato Painting Completes Another Epoxy Floor

We recently had the pleasure of working for a great client Valentino. He was referred to us by another client we did work for two years ago.
Ryan visited Valentino’s home after he scheduled an estimate, upon arriving it was clear the need to have the garage floor done was because he was having a large family gathering and the floor just had not been maintained over the years.
This was an easy floor to solve except for one thing, he needed it done within a week of us doing the estimate, that presents a few issues such as scheduling, other projects already scheduled and sourcing the materials.
Everything fell right into place however, it turned out we had an open day before starting two other floors and we were able to fo this floor in one day, it all worked out great. As he was looking for a quick cosmetic coating and with the requests we come back out in the Spring and do a fully epoxy flaked floor, the perfect floor was not his wish this time around.
We still diamond grinded the floor and then applied two full coats of a water-based epoxy to the garage floor, he was so happy he did a video review for us.

Tuesday, October 8, 2019

Epoxy Flooring Solutions

Epoxy Flooring Solutions

When you think of an epoxy floor normally you picture a warehouse or maybe those box store kits you see at the stores but epoxy floors can and are used throughout homes and many places in the business setting.
Don't lock yourself in a box, you can be so creative with where you use an epoxy floor, you can embed a logo or design into any floor using the right products to truly make the floor an extension of your personality or brand your company. How awesome would it look when people walk into your business lobby and your logo is sitting on the floor with a nice shiny clear coat over it. 

Stand Out From The Competition

When your clients arrive at your business this may in some cases be the first impression they get about you and your business, a peeling floor or vinyl tiled floor is not the best impression.

Make a splash and show them what your company is all about, a metallic floor may be an option to make a grand entrance whether in your business or home. We can help with samles and design ideas for any floor. Trust me there is a solution for almost any application or surface.

Epoxy is for safety too

Epoxy floors offer protection of not only the surface but also anyone walking on it, by adding flakes or another aggregate (sand, silica) we can make any floor anti-slip which is important as epoxy floors can be slippery when wet or when they have grease or other contaminants on them, by simply adding something to the epoxy or broadcasting into the coating this can be taken care of right away which is perfect to protect your clients or family from slipping.

Price is an issue?

Is price an issue with a floor? It may seem that way but when you break down the costs it is actually a very competitive option for a floor. To have an easily cleaned, anti-slip coating with unlimited options in design it is very comparative in price to vinyl, wood or almost any other type of floor installed and much more protective and durable and in a food manufacturing facility it is a must.

Schedule your Epoxy Floor Estimate Here



Wednesday, October 2, 2019

Ryan Amato painting completes epoxy floor in Bethlehem

Ryan Amato Painting completes floor in Bethlehem, Pa

We recently completed this awesome floor for an even better client, it was a thrill to be able to help Ryan and his family out with their floor.

It was always a dream of his to have a nice functional floor that looks great too.
We started by cleaning the floor and applying a hard surface primer to be assured of adhesion.

Without preparing a floor correctly you can have some major issues. Once it was clean and rimed, we added WB 250 base coat and then an intermediate coat with a heavy partial broadcast of flakes

Once that was done we returned the next day, removed the extra flakes and added a clear top coat to help protect it all.

If you need an epoxy floor done for your home, facility or business lease call 484-821-7112 or email bidrequests@ryanamatopaintingllc.com.
www.ryanamatopainting.com

Here is a video of this entire process.

Friday, September 13, 2019

How much is an epoxy garage floor?

So you want an epoxy floor?

An epoxy floor for your garage or business can dramatically change the look of your space plus adding protection and safety through anti-slip additives. But how much will this really cost?


There are many factors that will go into your pricing and for simplicity sake, we will assume your hiring s professional company that does floors every day, not a painting company or jack of all trades who does them once in a while. There is a difference.

What is the current condition of the floor?

What is currently on their floor? Another coating? Sealer , paint etc, if there is a coating on the floor most likely it till need to be removed, adding costs

What is the condition of the floor? Do you have cracks? Divots, or spalling concrete?
That will in most cases need to be patched adding costs

What look do you want? A basic solid floor, a partial or full flaked floor? Metallic? Quartz? These all come with different price lines.




What will the floor be used for? A normal garage with a few cars? A working garage? A home shop? Each of these uses many require different products.

What is the turn around time you desire? When do you want to be back on the floor? A full cure is needed before you drive back on the floor, different products can shorten this time depending on use, but it adds cost.




Materials:


Materials are a huge part of the cost for epoxy floors: Material costs can vary between .75 cents a sq ft up to and over $10 a sq ft or more for specialty floors such as anti-static floors, metallics, etc. All adding cost

It is imperative you understand a good installed epoxy floor is not inexpensive but using the professional products you will get a long-lasting industrial grade floor.

You will have some companions come in saying they are using epoxy but when you dive into the datasheets you may see your actually getting a much thinner coating then what we offer, this is where they can lower costs and still tell you your receiving an epoxy floor, remember not all epoxy coatings are the same, they all will leave different levels of thickness when applied and appl have different uses. You need to ask how thick of a coating you will receive, you may receive some pricing that seems high at first but is actually more affordable than the cheaper price you received because you're getting a thicker coating. Thicker means better and long-lasting in epoxy terms (mills)

KNOW WHAT PRODUCTS ARE BEING USED




So how much does it cost? These are recent examples, your floor may be different

Atypical residential 2 car garage between 400-450 sq ft using a partial flake, with normal prep, quick easy grind, one coat high solid epoxy with flake and a clear topcoat many cost between $5-9 a sq ft

To remove a coating add another $1-3 a sq ft
T0 add a full flake prepare to Spears another $1-3 a sq ft
Add a second clear coat $2-3 sq ft
To use a metallic coating custom design prepare to spend between $8-$12 a sq ft

There is really no clear cut answer as there are so many options and the different materials and application techniques done

Saturday, August 17, 2019

How to properly prepare your concrete for epoxy

Proper preparation of your concrete for an epoxy coating

Properly preparing your concrete floor for epoxy is serious business, without doing this step absolutely perfect you may have coating failures such as peeling, hot tire pickup or a ruined floor.

This step is not one for the average house painter, it takes a lot of training, knowing and using the products on many projects. Sometimes you have to make quick changes on a job site to deal with surface conditions, access or the unexpected. Without having come across these before there isn't much that can help you.

Typically a diamond grinding or acid etching is needed. These are two totally different processes and each has their up and downsides.

Grinding a surface can be dusty even with the best of equipment, leading to dangerous silica thrown into the air as well as much more cleanup.
Acid etching can simply be dangerous from the fumes and the burns that can occur.
the goal of each is the same, rough up the surface for the coating to adhere to it better.

In recent years even special primers may be used in lieu of these two preparatory processes. Special primers for hard to bond surfaces can and have been used successfully, they are not inexpensive but in comparison to the other ways,they are similar in cost.

We have seen too many times homeowners and contractors take the chance by not prepping the surface due to either cost or laziness and it always ends the same, we come in and see sheets of epoxy that can be just pulled off of the floor.

Taking the time to properly prepare your floor will actually cost less in the future because you will be eliminating the repeated prep or removal of the failed coatings because once it starts to fail it needs to be removed before applying another system on it in many cases.

Once you take the time to do this concrete work and prep you can be assured your epoxy has the correct surface to be applied to and will last for years to come.

Wednesday, June 19, 2019

Amato Completed Garage Epoxy Floor

Epoxy Floor Installation

Amato Painting was able to work on this three-car garage recently in Hellertown, Pa
The client called us as they were moving to the area and wanted a trustworthy estimate and contractor to take care of this project as they would not be home during the install. 

We estimated it through pictures and measurements first to determine the budget and once that was approved we arrived onsite to meet the homeowner to make sure we were a good fit for each other. Right away we knew this would be a great project, with expectations from the client set, knowing we could meet them we scheduled the project.

In this instance, the homeowner gave us access to the home and we arrived to diamond grind the floor, after correcting some power issues with the grinder we cleaned and prepared the floor and applied two coats of an epoxy coating.

We broadcasted epoxy flakes into the second coat, came back the next day and cleaned up and applied a clear coat on top of all of it, this will help to protect the flakes, the floor and give the floor longevity.

We used Seal Crete Hp products on this floor and it took two of us to apply it, when mixing epoxy you only have a certain amount of time to get it onto the floor so it is important to have a very clear plan when applying it and everyone knows their job.

Proper mixing of the epoxy is another key area, we follow all of the manufacturer's specifications, paying very clear attention to the mixing and time they want the product mixed.

Once we were complete we made sure everything was clean and there were no signs of us being there. The homeowner was able to move in on time and very happy we were able to get the floor complete on time.