What's the deal with this "Contractor Only" sales crap?

[Luckydevil]

I'm hearing more and more about how certain flooring products are only being sold to contractors. It's not like laying epoxy is friggin rocket science. I just don't see the reasoning behind this. If they want to sell their products it would make sense to sell it to whoever wants to buy it. I feel insulted having that water based stuff pawned off on us as "Homeowner Grade."

Can someone please shed some light on this? :headscrat

[dink]

I'm hearing more and more about how certain flooring products are only being sold to contractors. It's not like laying epoxy is friggin rocket science. I just don't see the reasoning behind this. If they want to sell their products it would make sense to sell it to whoever wants to buy it. I feel insulted having that water based stuff pawned off on us as "Homeowner Grade."

Can someone please shed some light on this? :headscrat


The reason is because they dont want the end users using the contractor grade because its so much better and stronger and last longer...they want us to use the normal stuff so we have to continously go back year after year or every couple years to redo things....unlike contractors were they are spending huge amounts of money for a project...they cant worry about that...they have to worry about other things to keep there business going

[danski0224]

Some of the contractor grade stuff is quite toxic.

The typical homeowner does not have the knowledge or tools to deal with toxic epoxy materials. Then there are clean-up issues.

Other issues have to do with surface preparation. Homeowners do not have the diamond wheel surface grinders to prep the concrete surface. Renting them is probably difficult, as the ones I have seen run on 480v 3 phase power.

Other issues could simply be money and a dealer network.

[DynoDave]

Some of the contractor grade stuff is quite toxic.

The typical homeowner does not have the knowledge or tools to deal with toxic epoxy materials. Then there are clean-up issues.

Other issues have to do with surface preparation. Homeowners do not have the diamond wheel surface grinders to prep the concrete surface. Renting them is probably difficult, as the ones I have seen run on 480v 3 phase power.

Other issues could simply be money and a dealer network.

This would be my guess too. I'm sure there's some liability for the manufacturer if they don't control the sale of these products. The fumes can do some serious brain damage. So I'm sure their insurers encourage them to limit sales of the most potent stuff. :see:

Also, the harder it is to use, the less likely it is that the AVERAGE "at home" user will be able to install it properly. Then you have a bunch of aggrivated home owners with botched paint jobs bad mouthing your product.

Note to those easily offended: I'd don't think the crowd that hangs out here qualifies as AVERAGE "at home" users. And I mean that in a good way! :bounce:

[OH-MAN]

Yeah they want to protect us from ourselves.
Some of the so called contractors running around here total experience is picking up their techs (we used to call them laborers?) at homie depot and operate a cell phone.

[REFLEXX]

To me that "contractor only" stuff is crap.

Take for example the "Kirby" vaccume cleaners that you "can't buy in the stores" only through reps. They're $1,200. you automatically think that it's four times better. Not so.

Consumer reports puts Kirby like 7th on the list after the $150 vacs!

My guess is that it's the same with any contractor that is doing epoxy flooring. IF it's fancier stuff like the concrete polishing, then experience counts and that is what you "contract" for. It's friggin floor painting, not rocket science. Everybody knows the rules. PREP, PREP, and PREP some more.

The toxic stuff might be the wrong choice for a garage. It's probably expensive as hell and just plain overkill. Oh, and let's see if the warranty is like 10 years or just one? IF after five years your floor is shot from welding, scraping and palin use, who's gonna warranty that?


I think all the guys that sell "industrial epoxy" ovet the net are middlemen. But that's OK. If the price is reasonable and it's a good product I'll buy it. I'm still leaning toward www.epoxy-coat.com

my 2.5c (a little rantish, I apologize)

REFLEXX :thumbup:

[Rowdy Rat]

"danski's" explanation is certainly a plausible one... Liability issues and the ability to properly apply the product (some of these products carry a warranty if I'm not mistaken) are probably the reason that they won't sell to individuals.

One other item that may be at issue that wasn't mentioned yet is sales tax. Most contractors that I know have a tax ID number and are tax exempt for purchases made on products used directly in business operations. The company selling the product may not have a provision for collecting sales tax and, therefore, refuse to sell to an end user who they must legally collect tax from.

Regards,

Stan Falenski

[JasonK]

Around here in Kansas, contractor stuff just means more than you need.....

[BECC]

Danski is pretty much right on with dealing with toxic materials. The manufacturers are so scared of law suits that they want to take the extra step and try to insure that there product that can kill someone is only bought by "contractors" so they are less liable.

And OH-MAN you are correct the definition of a "contractor" varies with who you ask. I have years of time, money, education, insurance and licenses tied up being a contractor. But, to a lot of the general public I am no different than the guy that was flippin burgers last week and took a how-to class at Home Depot. :rolleyes2