Hard to decide!

[MongoTom]

I'm going to have a vendor coat my floor. One installer is very local, uses the Elite Crete system and would apply 100% solids epoxy (two coats) with a urethane topcoat. Another vendor isn't so local, uses polyaspartic coatings with a 10 yr labor, lifetime materials guarantee. Both appear to have been in business for several years. The polyaspartic coating is within $200 of the epoxy, so cost isn't the issue. The garage will have a four post lift that may move around and will be used for light duty repairs for the most part.

Which do you like best? Thanks!

 

[bacarl]

Hey Tom, greetings from Farmington Hills. Who are these two vendors you're considering? What the heck is polyaspartic coating?

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Mongo, the poly-aspartic saves time for the vendor. Once cured it will be similar if not the same performance as the urethane top coat.

Personally, I like an epoxy primer, 100% solids base coat and polyaspartic or urethane top-coat.

Examine that 10 year guarantee, it will be full of loop-holes.

 

[Garage Flooring]

As a friend of mine used to tell me trust your gut. If you are not sure what your gut is telling you, flip a coin. When it is in the air and you find yourself hoping it lands on ______ you have your answer.

In all seriousness you seem to be choosing between two good options as far as product. A professionally installed epoxy job, just like a DIY job comes down to preparation. Ask both of them about the worst failure they ever had and what they did to correct it. If they have truly been installing epoxy (or any product any of us sell) for a long time.... everyone has issues... See who is honest with you and who did what was right.

 

[rugerlady]

Garage Flooring had a fabulous answer!

 

[MongoTom]

I like that answer, too!

I also tend to lean towards a local vendor. If you can be in their office in 10 minutes, it's more difficult for them to hang up.

 

[volvo]

..
All excellent answers so far. What have all the customers whom you have talked to face to face said while they were showing you their garage floors.

 

[JD in DFW]

Mongo, the poly-aspartic saves time for the vendor. Once cured it will be similar if not the same performance as the urethane top coat.

Not truly accurate .
There is a huge difference with a polyaspartic over a basic urethane top coat, in tensile strength, UV resistance, resistance to many more solvents and other fluids that can be found to drip on garage/shop floors just to name a few. To compare a basic urethane topcoat to a polyaspartic is really off the mark in most cases. The polyaspartic also benefit the homeowner with time savings and gets them back in there garage faster then a epoxy/urethane system.
Legacy, I know you have product to push here on the board...but you might want to be a bit more accurate with your facts and figures.

 

[Garage Flooring]

Garage Flooring had a fabulous answer!

Thanks!

 

[thegarageguy]

You need to call and see of few finished jobs of each contractor. Don't trust ****, especially your gut. See their work and make an informed decision.

Btw, we like the epoxy prime and base coat and think that in a garage environment, the best top coat sealer is a high solids polyaspartic.

 

[Garage-Tech]

I also use an epoxy prime & base coat with the polyaspartic clear...From my personal experience its a major step above the traditional urethanes. It offers faster cure times which help the installer, but this also helps the home owner by returning the garage to duty sooner. Also the polyaspartics are scientifically proven to be harder, and more abrasion resistant than traditional urethane... Now this DOES NOT mean that anyone who uses urethane is giving you a inferior job. It just seems that the polyaspartics are the way of the future.

My opinion of course...

 

[MongoTom]

"Return to service" isn't an issue for us at all. All things being equal (quality installation, etc.) I'm interested in the most resilient, longest lasting finish. I'm not interested in dirt-hiding (and nut and bolt) flakes. Solid color is just fine. We've talked about an oxide in the top coat for appropriate friction.

 

[dcs Inc]

Elite Crete has a high solids poly aspartic for a top coat if interested. The EC installer will guide you correctly. If you need assistance, you can contact me. gene

[email protected]

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Not truly accurate .
There is a huge difference with a polyaspartic over a basic urethane top coat, in tensile strength, UV resistance, resistance to many more solvents and other fluids that can be found to drip on garage/shop floors just to name a few. To compare a basic urethane topcoat to a polyaspartic is really off the mark in most cases. The polyaspartic also benefit the homeowner with time savings and gets them back in there garage faster then a epoxy/urethane system.
Legacy, I know you have product to push here on the board...but you might want to be a bit more accurate with your facts and figures.

JD, in a garage setting? Really?
Chem lab or heavy traffic area for sure, but a garage setting will see little difference in performance.
The guy will be onto the funeral home before he needs attention, if done right and cared for properly.

There s a huge savings in time for a contractor to install 2 to 3 coats of polyaspartic vs. the common tri-coat. 1-2 days for a polyaspartic, 3-4 for the tri-coat.

I have both products for sale, no push.

 

[MongoTom]

Yes, the Elite Crete installer can do polyaspartic for just a little more. This feels like the best path so far.