Got a quote for polyspartic (sp?)...

[67pete300]

$6 per sq ft installed. I'm sure it would look great, but just too much $$, even at a measly 400sf. I'm just flip flopping everywhere on what to do with the floor. I was ready to pull the trigger on Motofloor tiles (no prep, just snap together!), wife steered me back towards epoxy. I'm hesistant with all the prep work. Guess I'll go figure out if/how I can rent a grinder. And get a Wolverine quote. And look at the Costco epoxy. Too much information, what's a guy to do?

 

[bmacz06]

I was in the same boat. The more I read the more confusing it seemed to get. There is no clear answer but I decided to go with Epoxy-Coat. The cost was $.66 per sq. ft. and it looks great.

 

[67pete300]

Did you grind or etch? One of my biggest hangups is messing with the muriatic acid. Not so much cause I'm scared of it, but I'm having a hard time considering flushing whatever remains out into my driveway and yard.

 

[flyersfanjd]

Scroll to the end of this article for thoughts on safely disposing of muriatic acid

 

[fuzzymoto]

I hit mine with Baking soda before rinsing....just be sure to get a few BIG boxes.

 

[bmacz06]

Did you grind or etch? One of my biggest hangups is messing with the muriatic acid. Not so much cause I'm scared of it, but I'm having a hard time considering flushing whatever remains out into my driveway and yard.

I was fortunate to have new concrete. I etched with acid. I would not be overly concerned about it. By the time you rinse the floor several times the acid would be very deluted. I flushed it into the yard and driveway without a problem.

 

[Jaguar Fan]

Did you grind or etch? One of my biggest hangups is messing with the muriatic acid. Not so much cause I'm scared of it, but I'm having a hard time considering flushing whatever remains out into my driveway and yard.

I was concerned at first... but what you flush out is no longer muriatic acid. The acid has chemically combined with components of the concrete slab. Once that happens, it isn't acid anymore. It won't hurt your driveway or yard.

If you want to be really careful, after 15 mins of acid etching, sprinkle some baking soda on the slab... this will neutralize (chemically combine with) any residual acid if there is any.

water down the driveway and yard a bit before washing out the garage.

Use a power washer if you can -- and rinse, rinse, rinse. Then wait a week or more to let it dry (in the Las Vegas desert, at 8% humidity, I didn't need to wait that long).

 

[thundercow]

$6 a FOOT!!!! I should be so luck to get 6 a foot.

 

[Mlynch]

yeah get some other quotes... you should be able to find onee for between 4 or 5 depending on your market.

 

[Andy S]

6$ a foot for a full color chip? Or just a solid color floor? Damn, thats what i sell double broadcast quartz floors for to GC's, hahaha im curious as to what company gave you that quote.. your not in Minnesota are you?

 

[thegarageguy]

I get $6.50 a sqft for a full broadcast chip floor. The 100 % solids base is poured on at 100-150 sqft per gallon and the chip rate is 55 lbs per 300 sq ft. We then top coat it with 98% solids Polyaspartics at the same rate.

I could sell it cheaper by;
a. rolling it on at 400 sqft per gallon (save myself alot of chemical)
b. Use 10 lbs of chips per 500 sqft (save alot in chips)
c. dilute my epoxies with solvents to get a better spread rate (good trick to rip unsuspecting clients off)
d. Not offer a 10 year guarrantee
e. acid etch (Lets see, use $5 of acid or $15k of prep equipment, which would prep better, hmmm.....)
f. Use cheaper epoxies
g. Use cheaper urethanes
h. Not use any top coat, ala U-coat it
i. not repair any cracks properly

Any or all of these could make me sell my work for cheaper. But I decided a long time ago that my work is worth more.

Lastly, putting up prices like that and openly scoffing at what a pro charges in a certain area, is in my opinion counter productive for our business in general. You can't compare the cost of doing business in a metro area compared to a very rural area. There are too many factors that come into play when comparing price quotes from NYC and St. Petersburg Florida. (just picked areas from the sky, not pointing fingers or calling anyone out) Not only in material but in overall cost of doing business. If you are a pro and want to sell your product and service at a certain price, than good for you. You do not represent the rest of the country.

A good company will last not by cheapening his or her prices but rather providing quality, workmanship and standing behind his or her work. You'd be surprised how many people will pay more for those exact qualities.