I need advice on work being done. 22' x 22' garage floor with old epoxy? blue paint mostly peeled off, one large crack from back wall to garage door, jagged, 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep in worst part. I was quoted 3500.00 for shot blast prep, 4" up wall for baseboard. Sherman Williams ceramic carpet. I thought that was extremely high but was garuateed to last life of concrete. Crack was to be v-cut and filled before covering. Here is my dilema. No shot blast done ("After studing the crack more, I realized that would just make it worse") No acid etch or diamond grinding done. ("Thats not needed with the stuff I'm putting on it. It will physically bond with the concrete") Old paint still on floor when covered up. After final coat put down, crack still visible. I still owe half as half was down payed before work. Besides not paying balance secondary to work not being satisfactory is there any way it could be repaired correctyl at this point. Very unhappy with work done. Any advice greatly appreciated.
Advice needed!
- Thread starter abooboo
- Start date
Edger
Well-known member
Complete ripoff, the reason the old epoxy lifted was lack of preparation. There is no coating that I have ever heard of that physically bonds to the concrete without preparation to make the slab porous, then all epoxies will bond. Crack repair is always superficial anyway, but you were quoted for V cutting and filling so the price should be reduced substantially. Do not pay any more and hope he does not hire an enforcer. Usually, getting other quotes will show him that his was way too high. The only way to rectify it is for him to shotblast off what he put down and then give you what he quoted to do. You are paying for what he quoted, not what was done. When he does it properly you agree to pay in full.
Kevin54
MEMBER EMERITUS
Do you have a written contract saying what they were going to do? If they didn't do what they said was going to be done, then I'd say everything is on your side. Threaten small claims court and for a small fee you can file your case. Take plenty of pictures showing everything that is wrong and have all of your before pics if any.
As for fixing it, I have no idea other than stripping it off and starting over.
As for fixing it, I have no idea other than stripping it off and starting over.
darkk
Well-known member
I think you got boned. That being said, you will probably have to strip out all that was done so far and pay to have it done correctly. I have never seen/heard of a concrete floor repair being done and coating over a poor existing epoxy/paint. I cannot see how the top coat can be guaranteed while the existing coat is not sticking well to begin with. I would stop now and rethink your project. ***** but that's my opinion.
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aalleexx
Well-known member
thegarageguy
Well-known member
Sorry to hear about your problem. To me, just from the pics, it looks like a crappy finish. From the cove work they did for you, that's evidence that they know what they are doing. (on second look, the cove looks awful as well) So it leads me to believe that they **** and tried to cut corners and it's biting them in the ***.
In my neck of the woods, $8 to $10 per sqft is the going rate for a double broadcast quartz floor and coving the same rate per lin ft. You stated you have 22x22, that comes to 484 sqft plus 66 lin ft of coving, that basically translates to approx $6 per sqft plus tax. As a contractor, my material cost is a little over $3 per sqft for that system. Properly installed, it takes 4 to 5 days with 4 to 5 men. This may be why he short cutted the system, in order to make up for the low ball rate.
To be honest, I've had quartz floors finish like that before and its usually from the material setting up to quick or inexperience roller and broadcaster. You see, if the squeegee marks don't get rolled out and or it gets broadcasted before its smoothed out, you get a lumpy floor like what you have. The only fix is to hit it with a diamond grinder to smooth it out a bit, then re broadcast and reseal. In this case, you have evidence that prep was insufficient so no matter how nice the leave it, it will eventually fail.
In my neck of the woods, $8 to $10 per sqft is the going rate for a double broadcast quartz floor and coving the same rate per lin ft. You stated you have 22x22, that comes to 484 sqft plus 66 lin ft of coving, that basically translates to approx $6 per sqft plus tax. As a contractor, my material cost is a little over $3 per sqft for that system. Properly installed, it takes 4 to 5 days with 4 to 5 men. This may be why he short cutted the system, in order to make up for the low ball rate.
To be honest, I've had quartz floors finish like that before and its usually from the material setting up to quick or inexperience roller and broadcaster. You see, if the squeegee marks don't get rolled out and or it gets broadcasted before its smoothed out, you get a lumpy floor like what you have. The only fix is to hit it with a diamond grinder to smooth it out a bit, then re broadcast and reseal. In this case, you have evidence that prep was insufficient so no matter how nice the leave it, it will eventually fail.
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aalleexx
Well-known member
Thanks for the help to all.
ddawg16
Well-known member
Besides the contract....was he a licensed contractor? Here in California, if they don't have a contractors license....you don't have to pay anything....
Now the bad news.....he is going to owe you a lot of money.....I don't see him fixing that...must less giving you your money back.....and it's going to cost you money to strip off what he did.
You would have been ahead if had not even touched it....
Now the bad news.....he is going to owe you a lot of money.....I don't see him fixing that...must less giving you your money back.....and it's going to cost you money to strip off what he did.
You would have been ahead if had not even touched it....
The goods news is ceramic carpet is good stuff and you got a great deal on it (if that is what they actually installed). The bad news is that without proper prep you will have issues sooner or later.
The prep is the most important part of the job. Hopefully the "it will last the life of the concrete" is in writing and he will stand behind his work.
The prep is the most important part of the job. Hopefully the "it will last the life of the concrete" is in writing and he will stand behind his work.
aalleexx
Well-known member
aalleexx
Well-known member
Edger
Well-known member
Re: Advise part 2(forgive the lengthy post}
You cannot do anything other than live with it or start over. If you are unsure about the quality of the preparation (definitely true) then nothing over the top other than tiles will last. If you put a self-level epoxy over it, first it would not stick properly and second when the bottom paint releases the self level will form a big bubble. Refuse to pay the remaining half and live with your economical floor.
You cannot do anything other than live with it or start over. If you are unsure about the quality of the preparation (definitely true) then nothing over the top other than tiles will last. If you put a self-level epoxy over it, first it would not stick properly and second when the bottom paint releases the self level will form a big bubble. Refuse to pay the remaining half and live with your economical floor.
Re: Advise part 2(forgive the lengthy post}
And by tiles, I think Edger means floating tiles like Racedeck.
I have to agree with Edger on the course of action as well. Keep the balance unless they agree to completely remove what is there and do a mechanical prep and remediate the crack before redoing the floor.
If you bring in another flooring contractor it will be more expensive because they need to remove all the epoxy before putting anything else down. Shot blasting won't take up 1/8" worth of epoxy (that is what the product data on General Polymer's website says thickness should be - GP is Sherwin Williams epoxy division). They will have to do an aggressive grind to get back down to concrete.
And if they do have a "wipe on special prep" that works - please send me a sample because that is a product that is worth millions.
And by tiles, I think Edger means floating tiles like Racedeck.
I have to agree with Edger on the course of action as well. Keep the balance unless they agree to completely remove what is there and do a mechanical prep and remediate the crack before redoing the floor.
If you bring in another flooring contractor it will be more expensive because they need to remove all the epoxy before putting anything else down. Shot blasting won't take up 1/8" worth of epoxy (that is what the product data on General Polymer's website says thickness should be - GP is Sherwin Williams epoxy division). They will have to do an aggressive grind to get back down to concrete.
And if they do have a "wipe on special prep" that works - please send me a sample because that is a product that is worth millions.
munkey
Well-known member
Re: Advise part 2(forgive the lengthy post}
I wonder if there's a good way to test the adhesion... if what they did is good enough to stick and gives you a sufficiently strong coating, I agree with taking the 50% discount and calling it done.
The problem to me seems to be that if the coating fails due to improper prep, it might not do so until it is too late for you to seek a proper remedy. (That, and if you don't pay the balance I have a feeling they aren't going to come fix it for you if necessary!)
I wonder if there's a good way to test the adhesion... if what they did is good enough to stick and gives you a sufficiently strong coating, I agree with taking the 50% discount and calling it done.
The problem to me seems to be that if the coating fails due to improper prep, it might not do so until it is too late for you to seek a proper remedy. (That, and if you don't pay the balance I have a feeling they aren't going to come fix it for you if necessary!)
Re: Advise part 2(forgive the lengthy post}
I was told it would be a total of 150ml thick. The salesman is supposed to get with me tomorrow. We haven't talked since the final coat. I am very disappointed because this sounded like it was to be a showcase floor. I see some of the posts of DIY jobs and they are very impressive. My thoughts were a professional would do a lot better job than I could. This hurts big time.
I was told it would be a total of 150ml thick. The salesman is supposed to get with me tomorrow. We haven't talked since the final coat. I am very disappointed because this sounded like it was to be a showcase floor. I see some of the posts of DIY jobs and they are very impressive. My thoughts were a professional would do a lot better job than I could. This hurts big time.
aalleexx
Well-known member
Re: Advice needed! Resolved
Talked with the installers today, feel much better about my situation. Alot of unfounded worries on my part.Might have jumped the gun a little. Made an *** out of myself. Better go to bed.
Talked with the installers today, feel much better about my situation. Alot of unfounded worries on my part.Might have jumped the gun a little. Made an *** out of myself. Better go to bed.
aalleexx
Well-known member
Re: Advise part 2(
Talked with the installers today, feel much better about my situation. Alot of unfounded worries on my part.Might have jumped the gun a little. Made an *** out of myself. Better go to bed.
Talked with the installers today, feel much better about my situation. Alot of unfounded worries on my part.Might have jumped the gun a little. Made an *** out of myself. Better go to bed.
Edger
Well-known member
Re: Advise part 2(
Tell us what happened, at least you are man enough to admit you may have made a mistake, nothing wrong with that, we all have to learn that way, but we would be curious to know what they told you.
Tell us what happened, at least you are man enough to admit you may have made a mistake, nothing wrong with that, we all have to learn that way, but we would be curious to know what they told you.
aalleexx
Well-known member
thegarageguy
Well-known member
So the guy flooded it with epoxy to shut you up...it still doesn't make up for the fact there is insufficient prep as you witnessed. Also, now the floor is smooth and will be a slip hazard. The whole point of the quartz aggregate was for not only non slip but impact resistance, now all that is gone.
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Crizzle
Well-known member
To me that floor looks terrible. I feel that my Epoxyshield professional and clearcoat looks better than that floor....
just my two cents...
just my two cents...
Edger
Well-known member
From the whole story I think you got a very dodgy contractor which can happen to anyone.
You took action through this forum and learned a few things and when you contacted the contractor you got a much better floor.
Well done, I did not think you would get anywhere and I think everyone is in doubt about the contractor's original intentions, it seems they did not communicate with you very well and some of those communications were complete rubbish. Maybe they always intended to finish it this way, but just failed to keep you informed.
All is not lost, I would be surprised if it did not last well and it may still be nicely anti slip because the first coat had some heavy anti slip in it resulting in a smooth anti slip finish in the second coat as far as can be seen from your photos.
You took action through this forum and learned a few things and when you contacted the contractor you got a much better floor.
Well done, I did not think you would get anywhere and I think everyone is in doubt about the contractor's original intentions, it seems they did not communicate with you very well and some of those communications were complete rubbish. Maybe they always intended to finish it this way, but just failed to keep you informed.
All is not lost, I would be surprised if it did not last well and it may still be nicely anti slip because the first coat had some heavy anti slip in it resulting in a smooth anti slip finish in the second coat as far as can be seen from your photos.