Frustations with Epoxy Coat

[Stealthpot]

There is no win or lose, just a garage floor that I am regretting right now and in search of a solution. If you cant tell, I am confident that I followed the manufacturer's directions. Everyone's is telling me how I should have used this product. Great, maybe Christine should put that advice in the instructions.

Hope this is a lesson for those considering this product or about to apply it. Is no one here reading that part? Seems more of a witch hunt at this point.

And no, I am not going to go away. I want to share my experience with anyone who will listen.

 

[Stealthpot]

Right wrong or indifferent...
Would you fault her for not helping you now that you have presented your case to this hanging jury we call The Garage Journal Flooring Forum?

You get more with sugar than you do with spice.

I tried sugar, it was worth exactly $30.

 

[Stealthpot]

hmmmm ... let's take a closer look at this ... 13 posts and all of them bitching, complaining and griping about a product that NUMEROUS members here have had EXCELLENT results with. something smells a bit fishy to me. seems someone found the site & then signed up as a member simply to bad-mouth a vendor who is held in high regard here.

Fishy indeed.

Here is my invoice since you are calling me a liar. Christine can chime in with more details if she wants. The email address is the same as my user name and she can compare it to the order number.




Thanks for shopping with us today!
The following are the details of your order.
------------------------------------------------------
Order Number: 4423
Date Ordered: Wednesday 09 March, 2011
Detailed Invoice:
https://protected.accountsupport.co...?main_page=account_history_info&order_id=4423

Products
------------------------------------------------------
6 x Chips - Gray Blend (CF-0152) = $60.00
Flake Size: Standard
2 x Full Kit - Standard Color Flakes (fullkitstandard) = $613.90
Base Coat Color: Gray
UV Additive. Add UV Additive
Flake Chips: Beige Blend/F-1003
Flake Size: Standard
Included: Application Tools/Instructions
6 x 2 Color Mix (2color_mix) = $60.00
Flake Color 1: Burgundy/F-9
Flake Color 2: Terra Cotta/F-60
Flake Size: Standard
------------------------------------------------------
Sub-Total: $733.90
United Parcel Service (Ground): $83.72
Total: $817.62

 

[ducati]

hmmmm ... let's take a closer look at this ... 13 posts and all of them bitching, complaining and griping about a product that NUMEROUS members here have had EXCELLENT results with. something smells a bit fishy to me. seems someone found the site & then signed up as a member simply to bad-mouth a vendor who is held in high regard here.

Fishy indeed.

nice 1st post.

No, I don't think that is the case, their join dates go back to far.

 

[ducati]

There is no win or lose, just a garage floor that I am regretting right now and in search of a solution. If you cant tell, I am confident that I followed the manufacturer's directions. Everyone's is telling me how I should have used this product. Great, maybe Christine should put that advice in the instructions.

Hope this is a lesson for those considering this product or about to apply it. Is no one here reading that part? Seems more of a witch hunt at this point.

And no, I am not going to go away. I want to share my experience with anyone who will listen.

Straight from their website in the Q & A section:

9. How many square feet will a full kit cover?
Up to 500 square feet at 9.7 mils Dry Film Thickness. Up to 240 square feet for 20 mils Dry Film Thickness. Most industrial floors apply at 16-20 mils Dry Film thickness. A normal coat of water based epoxy would coat at 1.5-2 mils Dry Film Thickness. A ½ kit will cover up to 250 square feet at 9.7 mils Dry Film Thickness

Your garage is 930 sq ft so you gave yourself a 7% safety net. Please notice the part in red, "Up to" and this is at a metered 9.7 mil thickness. If you applied it at 10.4 mils you would be short. You do realize how thin .7 mil is don't you? That is .002756" a piece of newspaper is.0025". So with as little of room you left for error, what do you think is more of a probability? You have a few areas a little thicker? You miscalculated your parts A & B when you mixed them? Or Epoxy Coat is out to screw everyone they can by shorting them of one of the parts in a can? I'm sure you will go with the third option.

You came on here asking members what you should do, just about everyone here has told you to just get the 1/2 kit which they are offering you a discount on and finish the floor. So instead of just spending the $80 and having a floor that will last for years, you want to go rent the floor sander (probably $80 there alone) buy one part epoxy (probably another $250-300) and have an inferior floor coating? Not to mention the amount of time you would waste sanding your floor, prepping it again, and then painting the whole floor again. How can that possibly make sense in your head? (insert head beating into a wall smilie here)

 

[Stealthpot]

All good things to remember when choosing a flooring product. Please also keep in mind the manufacturer did not provide this same guidance when you explain that you want to apply their product over a 930sqf area with a amount that will cover up to 1000sqf. All I received was the all clear, and thumbs up!

And I did not come here to ask for advice. If you go back to read my posts, it was to share my experience for others so they will not make the same mistakes in choosing a product or in applying it.

 

[Brianw]

You do realize how thin .7 mil is don't you? That is .002756" a piece of newspaper is.0025".

Stupid question, but I don't know so... How thick, in inches, is a mil? I was under the impression that a 1 mil = .001. So .7 mil would be .0007 or seven tenths of an inch.

 

[Thruxton]

Seven ten-thousandths of an inch.

 

[green.bubbly]

As I read your first post, I was with you. You ordered enough product that if properly applied should have covered your floor. Perhaps the company should have (and perhaps did) told you that you might be cutting it close if you some how applied it a little thicker.

But when you mentioned that you planned on grinding it all down, you lost me as a supporter. That sounded like a two year laying on the floor stomping his feet.


Lesson learned for Stealthpot... coverage is approximate and there are many variables that determine coverage. Attitude will often determine how situations are resolved.

Lesson learned for Epoxy Coat... many of your customers are inexperienced. Your product is difficult to apply at a particular exact thickness. Perhaps a friendly warning that he was cutting it close with only to kits would have been in order.

Maybe some 1/4 kits would be helpful. If I would have known two kits would be cutting it that close, I would hesitate purchasing knowing I would have to get another half kit. that half kit may be over my budget.

 

[Daddy_Rabbit]

And I did not come here to ask for advice.

post of the week.

 

[xrdad]

IMHO

Thanks to Stealthpot, I'm convinced.

EC is exactly the flooring I want.
Pretty much everyone here backed Christine and EC up, which seems to imply that most are very happy with the product and the service.

Also, thanks to Stealthpot, many have posted tips and advice and hazards that I'll be careful of.

Stealthpot, I'm sorry to hear that the project didn't turn out as planned.
I understand the disappointment you experienced..
Being careful to follow the instructions, your expectation was not met. Mistakes were made, communication was an issue and in the end, you still have to fix the floor.
I don't know how many times I've set myself up that way... ex; I'm going to build cabinets for my garage and they will be great! 2 weeks of hard work, $$ spent and after 6 months of using them, I'm trashing the works this summer to do it again because they're just OK... not what I wanted. ARGHHH...

I hope Christine with have some wise advice, that you will get the supplies you need to finish the floor and will post some pictures of the job. I'm interested in seeing the end result and am optimistic that when you get the answers you are looking for, you will have a fabulous EC floor

 

[bluesman2a]

And I did not come here to ask for advice.

That's obvious. You're not following it. If you would shut your whiney-pie-hole for a moment perhaps you could be still and LET THE LADY TRY TO HELP YOU.

Christine,
I just called and they tell me you left for the day. I left my number to reach me when you are available. But to your comments, no, I did not talk to you when asking for application advice or my coverage problem. Must I only speak with you to get decent service? That sounds kinda strange.
<SNIP>
Bottom line. If Epoxy Coat can help me remedy this situation, great! In the meantime, I believe its valuable for members of this forum to know of my poor experience so that they will not make the same mistakes.

I am not currently an Epoxy Coat customer. As others have said, this thread seals my choice. Not every company can be perfect every time. It's how they recover from the mis-steps that counts. Your childish tirade here isn't really helping your case. In fact I would go so far as to say you have manufactured your own "poor experience". In fact, I think this thread has had the exact opposite effect, I count at least three new Epoxy Coat customers just skimming through.

To answer your question: No, you shouldn't only have to speak with Christine to get decent service. However, she is a resource that has given freely of her time and expertise to the members of Garage Journal. This recognizes that many of us will have special situations, and are generally somewhat above the rank-and-file DIYers.

It is obvious that she has some additional latitude when dealing with issues like this that maybe the average Epoxy-Coat-phone-monkey doesn't. She has offered you assistance, an outlet for your issue, and potentially a solution pending discussion with HER personally. Perhaps you should take a breath, step away from the keyboard and just let that conversation happen before you further damage your own chances for an equitable solution.

 

[rugerlady]

Stealthpot is correct, I was out of the office yesterday afternoon. Only wish I was playing hooky. I did get a message that a very upset customer from the GJ called. A phone call will be made.

 

[ssathre]

There is no win or lose, just a garage floor that I am regretting right now and in search of a solution. If you cant tell, I am confident that I followed the manufacturer's directions. Everyone's is telling me how I should have used this product. Great, maybe Christine should put that advice in the instructions.

Hope this is a lesson for those considering this product or about to apply it. Is no one here reading that part? Seems more of a witch hunt at this point.

And no, I am not going to go away. I want to share my experience with anyone who will listen.

You can’t put common sense in instructions.

 

[Thruxton]

This is a thoughtful post, and I quite agree. Support for Epoxy Coat from other GJ members is impressive. I will definitely take this into account when I do my floor this summer.

IMHO

Thanks to Stealthpot, I'm convinced.

EC is exactly the flooring I want.
Pretty much everyone here backed Christine and EC up, which seems to imply that most are very happy with the product and the service.

Also, thanks to Stealthpot, many have posted tips and advice and hazards that I'll be careful of.

Stealthpot, I'm sorry to hear that the project didn't turn out as planned.
I understand the disappointment you experienced..
Being careful to follow the instructions, your expectation was not met. Mistakes were made, communication was an issue and in the end, you still have to fix the floor.
I don't know how many times I've set myself up that way... ex; I'm going to build cabinets for my garage and they will be great! 2 weeks of hard work, $$ spent and after 6 months of using them, I'm trashing the works this summer to do it again because they're just OK... not what I wanted. ARGHHH...

I hope Christine with have some wise advice, that you will get the supplies you need to finish the floor and will post some pictures of the job. I'm interested in seeing the end result and am optimistic that when you get the answers you are looking for, you will have a fabulous EC floor

 

[rugerlady]

Just to update everyone. I did call and leave a message. I will also PM him with my cell phone number so if he does not get his message until after hours he can still contact me. As alot of you know, I do the tech support on the evenings and weekends, alot of you have called my cell phone and know that I am easily accessible.

 

[bluesman2a]

Just to update everyone. I did call and leave a message. I will also PM him with my cell phone number so if he does not get his message until after hours he can still contact me. As alot of you know, I do the tech support on the evenings and weekends, alot of you have called my cell phone and know that I am easily accessible.

I don't think the level of service you and by extension Epoxy-Coat give to GJ members was EVER in question here. Thanks for all the help and support, Christine!

 

[Fueler]

Stealthpot,
Did the thin spot happen to come out near the wall where you will be placing benches or stuff?

 

[Stealthpot]

Stealthpot,
Did the thin spot happen to come out near the wall where you will be placing benches or stuff?

The thin spot is right at the front door.

 

[Stealthpot]

post of the week.

Thanks!

 

[Stealthpot]

But when you mentioned that you planned on grinding it all down, you lost me as a supporter. That sounded like a two year laying on the floor stomping his feet.

My idea was to lightly sand the surface and apply an acrylic over the top. I still have the sealed, epoxy surface underneath. This solution would have been the same cost of buying more epoxy, only it would cover everything and leave no trace of my original problem. Stills seems reasonable to me?

 

[Stealthpot]

I spoke with Christine earlier today. We discussed my issues with the floor and measuring stick method. I think we had a very nice conversation with some suggestions going both ways. Christine agreed to send me 2 touch up kits from the same lot to to re-coat the 10x12 foot patch that is too light. Christine, I do appreciate your willingness to help me out of this bind and am hopeful the flooring will come out looking great.

Thanks to many of you in this thread with a genuine desire to listen, understand the core issue, and offer suggestions.

I also see that a few people gained some valuable knowledge from my experience I'm sure they will use when it comes time for their own flooring project.

 

[Call me the Breeze]

Christine Rocks! Glad it worked out for you!

 

[ZeroSignal]

Thumbs up to Christine.. Hopefully I won't require such assistance when doing my floor this summer

 

[Printer Mike]

So... it's best to throw some away than to come up short...

 

[Stealthpot]

So... it's best to throw some away than to come up short...

My advice is either buy more than you need, or choose a better way to subdivide the epoxy part A&B. Figure out how many sections you will be working with and pre-divide the liquids into that many halves before you even start.

 

[vtx531]

So - What was the problem????? I don't want to make the same mistake when I do mine later this Spring.

 

[Stealthpot]

So - What was the problem????? I don't want to make the same mistake when I do mine later this Spring.

The problem was 1 of 2 things. Either the measuring stick was not accurate in measuring the mixed components across 1000 SQF, or I was given different amounts of the Part A and Part B that caused me to be short at the end. I have my opinions as do everyone else posting in this thread.

Bottom line, to prevent the issue, do not use the measuring stick. Instead, figure out how many sections you will be working with and pre-divide the liquids into that many halves before you even start. Go to the dollar store and buy a bunch of containers to measure everything out for your sections and put them to the side.

 

[54FordPanel]

The problem was 1 of 2 things. Either the measuring stick was not accurate in measuring the mixed components across 1000 SQF, or I was given different amounts of the Part A and Part B that caused me to be short at the end. I have my opinions as do everyone else posting in this thread.

Bottom line, to prevent the issue, do not use the measuring stick. Instead, figure out how many sections you will be working with and pre-divide the liquids into that many halves before you even start. Go to the dollar store and buy a bunch of containers to measure everything out for your sections and put them to the side.

LOL. I should leave this alone but I can't.

I invite everyone who comes on this thread to read the whole thing thru and make up your own mind if "1 of 2 things" could have possibly caused this "problem".

Pay special attention to how the floor was ruined in the first post and had to be sanded down and painted over with cheap acrylic paint, all because they would only offer a measly $30 off another 1/2 kit and he would have to pay shipping!
Now, it's not so ruined and it can be saved. Gee.

Stealthpot, I've come to my own conclusions about your character based on this thread. I'll just say I know your type & I'll stop there.

Christine, you represent your company well and Epoxy-Coat is a good product and I hope that everyone reads this thread thru and decides if Epoxy-Coat & Christine are the type of people they want to do business with.

I'm sure the rip-offs at Epoxy-Coat are burning 1,000s of inaccurate measuring sticks and recalibrating the machines that are responsible to shorting this man his product.

 

[what have i done]

LOL. I should leave this alone but I can't.

I invite everyone who comes on this thread to read the whole thing thru and make up your own mind if "1 of 2 things" could have possibly caused this "problem".

Pay special attention to how the floor was ruined in the first post and had to be sanded down and painted over with cheap acrylic paint, all because they would only offer a measly $30 off another 1/2 kit and he would have to pay shipping!
Now, it's not so ruined and it can be saved. Gee.

.

I see it the same way. But I can also see the op's frustration shelling out some money and thinking it will be enough to do the floor and he came up short. I would hate to plunk down more money, but in the long run it is what I would of done.
When I buy Poly-urthene for wood floors, it says on the can Covers up to 400 sq ft. I know the wood is gonna **** up more of the 1st coat and I will not get 400 sq ft/gallon. But I also know the 2nd and 3rd coat is gonna take less.

I think Christine took one for the team and supplied additional product and that says a lot. From reading other posts on the product and custumer satisfaction I believe it to be a very good product.

Stealthpot once you are all done enjoy the floors and post up some pics. I am glad this all working out in the end for you.

 

[Demon]

Buy another half kit and finish the floor.You'll be glad you did.

 

[Demon]

Buy another half kit and finish the floor.You'll be glad you did.

 

[xrdad]

Stealthpot,

glad you found resolution.
Thanks Christine for helping a fellow GJ member out!
Please post pics Stealthpot!

I think most of us could care less what the 'reason' was. I appreciate your that you posted what YOUR experience was and what YOU think any body using the product should be extra careful of. Likely, it was a mistake ANYBODY could make and some may already have. Without posting for the rest of us, then the issue goes around and around. EC obviously has faith in the product. GJ obviously has faith in EC. Seems like win/win to me? Everybody learns and we MOVE on?!! RIGHT?!!

I'm looking forward to doing EC here. I will definitely seek Christine's help ;-) and will let you know what I learn from it.
It's been a long day... the OP needs to post some pics!!!!

 

[jlansaw]

Glad I caught this thread. I purchased 3 full kits from Lowe's to do my 1500 sq. ft. floor in my new shop, haven't applied it yet. Although my floor is pretty smooth, sounds like I should get a 1/2 kit on standby. A call to Christine for a quick summary of the process before I start the project probably wouldn't hurt either.

 

[Stealthpot]

LOL. I should leave this alone but I can't.

I invite everyone who comes on this thread to read the whole thing thru and make up your own mind if "1 of 2 things" could have possibly caused this "problem".

Pay special attention to how the floor was ruined in the first post and had to be sanded down and painted over with cheap acrylic paint, all because they would only offer a measly $30 off another 1/2 kit and he would have to pay shipping!
Now, it's not so ruined and it can be saved. Gee.

Stealthpot, I've come to my own conclusions about your character based on this thread. I'll just say I know your type & I'll stop there.

Christine, you represent your company well and Epoxy-Coat is a good product and I hope that everyone reads this thread thru and decides if Epoxy-Coat & Christine are the type of people they want to do business with.

I'm sure the rip-offs at Epoxy-Coat are burning 1,000s of inaccurate measuring sticks and recalibrating the machines that are responsible to shorting this man his product.

You are stretching my comments a bit far there dude. So now, who's the drama queen?

 

[max thrust]

I did 600 sq/ft with 2 full kits of EC from Lowes and 1.5 kits of clear. I don't think that I would have wanted to stretch it much farther than what I did, the peace of mind that I had enough material was definitely worth it. That said, my last batch was somewhat short on activator as well...my advise, buy extra buckets and mix each in clean ones. Better yet, divide the material proportionally before you mix. So, if you have 8 equal sized sections, divide each of part A and B into 8 (16) separate buckets then you can do all the mixing in the same big bucket that comes with the kit. It would definitely work out perfectly and el cheapo buckets wouldn't be too much more $$. Just my opinion...you can check out my project here - http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=89673

 

[ksdaoski]

I like how the only possible issues is with EC, who has produced thousands of units. And not a problem with the guy that has done the project once. And probably overcoated...

 

[vtx531]

I did 600 sq/ft with 2 full kits of EC from Lowes and 1.5 kits of clear. I don't think that I would have wanted to stretch it much farther than what I did, the peace of mind that I had enough material was definitely worth it. That said, my last batch was somewhat short on activator as well...my advise, buy extra buckets and mix each in clean ones. Better yet, divide the material proportionally before you mix. So, if you have 8 equal sized sections, divide each of part A and B into 8 (16) separate buckets then you can do all the mixing in the same big bucket that comes with the kit. It would definitely work out perfectly and el cheapo buckets wouldn't be too much more $$. Just my opinion...you can check out my project here - http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=89673

Hey, I read your thread before. It looks awesome but I don't think I could bring myself to buy that much coating.

 

[max thrust]

Hey, I read your thread before. It looks awesome but I don't think I could bring myself to buy that much coating.

If Epoxy-Coat's product was not available at Lowe's, I probably would have bought just a kit and a half...however, I chose to just get two full kits from Lowe's because they don't have the half kits and the online price for a half kit from Epoxy-Coat is actually a few dollars more than a full kit from Lowe's!

 

[Valentino]

New member here but have been lurking for a while. Just finished Epoxy Coating my garage 30 mins ago. Having read this thread earlier in the day I was sure to be VERY careful mixing batches. I taped off my 400 sq ft garage into 4 sections and set out mixing my first batch. All was well until my 4th (last) batch when I came up short on part A like the OP. I'm quite bummed. Seems to me like this means my ratio in the batches may have been wrong and either it's going to take forever to cure, or it's not going to have the durability it should. Hope I'm wrong. I'll call customer service monday.