Before you hire a 'professional'

[Garage Flooring]

Everyone has their first professional project. As a business owner I highly respect those who go out and start a business, especially one as technical as coatings.

Last night I got a call from a 'professional' installer who was asking me how to mix his epoxy. . When we get into a situation like that we always like to start at the beginning. The 'contractor' is in Florida and I am in Colorado. He was not going to be on the jobsite until 8:-- am his time, 6 am my time. So I asked him to give me a call at 6:00 am my time.

After sending him recoat times, TDS, basic product installation and generic install information, we started going over the mixing of the material. After covering that he asked me how to best break down his 750 Sq. Ft kit for 600 Square Feet. I asked him the measurements and he said 22x20

You can see where this is going. I will spare you the details, but the customer does not even have the right kits or clear coats for the project he is doing. He is completely winging it.

I know Shea has a great article on hiring a professional contractor. Hopefully he can post a link. I am sure (or hope) his customer got a great price on this floor, but I can tell you she likely is not getting what she paid for.

Coatings are complicated and hiring a professional is often a good choice. But PLEASE make sure your professional is actually a professional and get some references first!

[End rant]

Justin Krauss
Garage Flooring

 

[abuamiri]

Crazy. Not sure how much research that homeowner did to wind up with an installer like that. I’m seeing a lot of handy men in my area who list floor coatings as one of their specialities. Guy in my neighborhood went with a guy who charged him the “great rate” of $3k to do two 400sq/ft garage bays, which was $2k lower than a professional floor place had quoted him. Turns out the $3k guy used 4 of those Rustoleum Home Depot kits to do the job.


Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Garage Flooring]

Crazy. Not sure how much research that homeowner did to wind up with an installer like that. I’m seeing a lot of handy men in my area who list floor coatings as one of their specialities. Guy in my neighborhood went with a guy who charged him the “great rate” of $3k to do two 400sq/ft garage bays, which was $2k lower than a professional floor place had quoted him. Turns out the $3k guy used 4 of those Rustoleum Home Depot kits to do the job.


Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app

Its an interesting business to say the least

 

[Shea]

Everyone has their first professional project. As a business owner I highly respect those who go out and start a business, especially one as technical as coatings.

Last night I got a call from a 'professional' installer who was asking me how to mix his epoxy. . When we get into a situation like that we always like to start at the beginning. The 'contractor' is in Florida and I am in Colorado. He was not going to be on the jobsite until 8:-- am his time, 6 am my time. So I asked him to give me a call at 6:00 am my time.

After sending him recoat times, TDS, basic product installation and generic install information, we started going over the mixing of the material. After covering that he asked me how to best break down his 750 Sq. Ft kit for 600 Square Feet. I asked him the measurements and he said 22x20

You can see where this is going. I will spare you the details, but the customer does not even have the right kits or clear coats for the project he is doing. He is completely winging it.

I know Shea has a great article on hiring a professional contractor. Hopefully he can post a link. I am sure (or hope) his customer got a great price on this floor, but I can tell you she likely is not getting what she paid for.

Coatings are complicated and hiring a professional is often a good choice. But PLEASE make sure your professional is actually a professional and get some references first!

[End rant]

Justin Krauss
Garage Flooring

Yikes. Great post Justin. We get many emails from readers asking how to fix a floor that was installed by someone they hired. After a couple of questions it becomes obvious the person they hired was a handyman or painter and not a professional company or installer.

Concrete coatings is a specialty business. Unfortunately, there are many contractors and painters who think its the same as painting a wall and the project almost immediately goes south the moment they start.

Here is the link Justin mentioned about hiring a coating contractor. https://allgaragefloors.com/choosing-floor-coating-contractor/

 

[bczygan]

Everyone has their first professional project. As a business owner I highly respect those who go out and start a business, especially one as technical as coatings.

Last night I got a call from a 'professional' installer who was asking me how to mix his epoxy. . When we get into a situation like that we always like to start at the beginning. The 'contractor' is in Florida and I am in Colorado. He was not going to be on the jobsite until 8:-- am his time, 6 am my time. So I asked him to give me a call at 6:00 am my time.

After sending him recoat times, TDS, basic product installation and generic install information, we started going over the mixing of the material. After covering that he asked me how to best break down his 750 Sq. Ft kit for 600 Square Feet. I asked him the measurements and he said 22x20

You can see where this is going. I will spare you the details, but the customer does not even have the right kits or clear coats for the project he is doing. He is completely winging it.

I know Shea has a great article on hiring a professional contractor. Hopefully he can post a link. I am sure (or hope) his customer got a great price on this floor, but I can tell you she likely is not getting what she paid for.

Coatings are complicated and hiring a professional is often a good choice. But PLEASE make sure your professional is actually a professional and get some references first!

[End rant]

Justin Krauss
Garage Flooring

I'll show my ignorance and ask why he had a problem? Seems like he had more than enough product.

Bill

 

[Don1357]

I'll show my ignorance and ask why he had a problem? Seems like he had more than enough product.

Bill

I think somewhere around here:

...but the customer does not even have the right kits or clear coats for the project he is doing. He is completely winging it.

Not to mention that if he is not familiar with the product, he is likely to fudge it up to the point that it may peel off like a sticker.

 

[CombatNinja]

Never underestimate people's willingness to pay someone to do something that they find too hard, too messy, too time-consuming, etc. Oh, and people, above all else, are cheap. Professionals charge professional rates and as soon as a homeowner finds "a guy" to do it for 30% less, they jump all over it.

I'm not a floor coating pro and my wheelhouse tends more toward all things automotive. The old saying about building project cars comes to mind:

Fast, cheap and reliable. Pick two.

 

[Shea]

The old saying about building project cars comes to mind:

Fast, cheap and reliable. Pick two.

lol.. been down that road before!

 

[wags999]

Asking all you professionals. I am getting a quote on a new garage floor. This is what they offer. One Day install sounds great, as you see, Epoxy, full broadcast than 2 polyurea top coats? Can this be great products and installed in one day?

Thanks would appreciate any input.

SUPREME HIGH GLOSS POLYUREA. / BY FAR, this floor is our most popular floor, just a bit more than the Standard Polyaspartic but well worth it. If you were to GOOGLE the word Polyurea you will see it is simply the best of the best. With the Supreme High Gloss Polyurea topcoat you can rest assured your floor is getting the finest high shine top coat you are looking for. This floor has significant Chemical resistance, better scratch and abrasion resistance, and Non Yellowing. There is even more to this floor, when we say HOT TIRE RESISTANT we mean it. This floor will not peel or lift under hot sticky tires. Most liquid materials should simply wipe up with a paper towel. The process for this floor is to Diamond grind, followed by a base coat consisting of a 2 Part Epoxy, followed by a FULL broadcast of chips with many options to choose from. Then we sand and shave to remove all loose chips and sharp edges followed by a light sanding as well. We then apply the first coat of Polyaspartic and when the time is ready we then apply a SECOND coat of Polyurea which gives the floor the thickness, the buildup, the shine and durability you are looking floor. This floor is awesome at 3.99 per sq. ft and you will NOT regret getting it.

 

[rgs455]

I am in the process of finding an installer to do my garage floor. Shea, thank you for the informative and timely article.

 

[PelicanPines]

Ask the installer if they have a login for Garage Journal... and read all their posts... will truly help learn what's in their head. ... .or not in their head.

 

[Shiftless]

Re: Before you hire a 'professional'm

wags asked if all of that installation work could conceivably be done in one day. I’ve never done that work but it doesn’t seem at all likely.

 

[510ebl]

Asking all you professionals. I am getting a quote on a new garage floor. This is what they offer. One Day install sounds great, as you see, Epoxy, full broadcast than 2 polyurea top coats? Can this be great products and installed in one day?

Thanks would appreciate any input.

SUPREME HIGH GLOSS POLYUREA. / BY FAR, this floor is our most ...

Reads like an infomercial. Buyer beware.

 

[Garage Flooring]

Reads like an infomercial. Buyer beware.

Good point

 

[gordz32]

I own 3 paint stores and it never ceases to amaze me how many "PAINTERS" call or come in with questions or comments that are shocking when they're supposed to be pro's. When it comes to Floor coatings, I don't' sell them a thing unless the answer my questions correctly or have an ear for how to do it properly. Frankly its not worth the aggravation on my end when the end up with failures because they cut corners or didn't follow TDS sheets.

 

[Shiftless]

I own 3 paint stores and it never ceases to amaze me how many "PAINTERS" call or come in with questions or comments that are shocking when they're supposed to be pro's. When it comes to Floor coatings, I don't' sell them a thing unless the answer my questions correctly or have an ear for how to do it properly. Frankly its not worth the aggravation on my end when the end up with failures because they cut corners or didn't follow TDS sheets.

Thanks for posting that. Like you, I’ve heard alleged “pros” ask question that illustrated their ignorance and lack of basic understanding of what’s going on in their trade. At least they are asking questions. If they then follow your good advice, that’s OK. But when they don’t ...

 

[Armorpoxy]

Epoxies take overnight to cure so how can they do it in a single day since the base coat is epoxy? They note 'base coat of 2 part epoxy'. Is this a 100% solids or a less expensive/thinner water based epoxy or mid-solids solvent epoxy (those can cure in a few hours, but 100% solids epoxies which is the preferred epoxy for garages takes overnight to cure and apply topcoat).

We would recommend reviewing data sheets of what they are using, how many gallons per coat, etc. Lots of professional installers do polyaspartic systems in a single day, but generally not epoxies due to cure times.

 

[gsmith22]

Never underestimate people's willingness to pay someone to do something that they find too hard, too messy, too time-consuming, etc. Oh, and people, above all else, are cheap. Professionals charge professional rates and as soon as a homeowner finds "a guy" to do it for 30% less, they jump all over it.

I'm not a floor coating pro and my wheelhouse tends more toward all things automotive. The old saying about building project cars comes to mind:

Fast, cheap and reliable. Pick two.

I have yet to find an actual professional that is cheap. I have also never been disappointed paying an actual professional for professional work

 

[Garage Flooring]

I have yet to find an actual professional that is cheap. I have also never been disappointed paying an actual professional for professional work

Well said

 

[FJ4FUN]

Not to dunk on professional paintings contractors, I know and respect many of them, but I'd rather assist/instruct a complete DIY newbie than try to instruct a painting contractor any day, everyday of the week... The first telltale indication of trouble is when they contact me and say " I'm getting ready to paint my clients floor...."

Old habits are hard to break.

IM(not so)HO

 

[Chuckster in NJ]

Pick Up Truck + Line of BS = PROFESSIONAL CONTRACTOR

It amazes me how much "research" someone will do on a $600 TV and do zero research on a contractor doing a $5000+ home improvement....... Or worse yet, tear their house apart only to take the money and run or do a hack job.

 

[Garage Flooring]

Not to dunk on professional paintings contractors, I know and respect many of them, but I'd rather assist/instruct a complete DIY newbie than try to instruct a painting contractor any day, everyday of the week... The first telltale indication of trouble is when they contact me and say " I'm getting ready to paint my clients floor...."

Old habits are hard to break.

IM(not so)HO

We joke around that a DIYer and make a mistake but to really screw stuff up takes a professional

 

[mkarlin]

Justin,

Thanks for the post, all I can say is I agree!!

But I want to add for everyone else how great your customer service is. During my install I ran into an issue with my concrete being power floated and it taking less densifier and 8510 than expected.

Justin was available and responsive and the floor turned out amazing!!! My father in-law keeps saying how much he liked the floor and how people pay alot of money to have a floor that looks this good.

Thanks again

Mike

 

[Garage Flooring]

justin,

thanks for the post, all i can say is i agree!!

But i want to add for everyone else how great your customer service is. During my install i ran into an issue with my concrete being power floated and it taking less densifier and 8510 than expected.

Justin was available and responsive and the floor turned out amazing!!! My father in-law keeps saying how much he liked the floor and how people pay alot of money to have a floor that looks this good.

Thanks again

mike

thank you :d

 

[Armorpoxy]

To add some color to this string, over the weekend we had a 'professional' installer email us late Sunday claiming his 2,000 sq ft project got all messed up because of us as he claimed he was short on some Part B topcoat hardener. He also was slightly short of flecks so instead of just stopping, and allow us to overnight flecks to him on Monday, he went to a home center to buy more flecks but of course the colors didn't match so now he has a pissed off client with what looks like a patched area!

Of course, he didn't contact us over the weekend for assistance until way after he got his own wrong flecks and ran short of material, notwithstanding our voicemail clearly states to email off hours since we monitor that when we are closed and would have gladly tried to assist him he never gave us the opportunity.

His initial email stated he was going to backcharge us, and sue us for $50,000 due to his problem of being short product. He ranted on and on about how bad we were, about how he was 'turning us in' and lots of other threats, and this was on his INITIAL contact via email!

When we finally got hold of him we discovered that he mixed the topcoat wrong (it's a 2:1 mix, 2 parts A with 1 part B) and the labels clearly state that, and he mixed it 1:1 so he had extra A and was accusing us of not sending enough part B so he couldn't finish the job! Plus now his customer has mis-mixed protective topcoat that will not perform as designed.

When we pointed this out to him that A. he never contacted us for support, and B. he mixed it wrong hence the issue, he started screaming at our Tech guy, using expletives we can't republish here and accused us of 'Not taking responsibility for our product' and promptly hung up on us!

Now this is an extreme case, but we agree, we would rather work with someone that took the time to at least read our instructions and can labels, rather then the 'professional' that 'knows everything'!!