Side by side epoxy comparisons?

[Steves32]

I was pretty much set on using product from either Legacy or Epoxy Coat until I ran into an installer on a job I was working on (I was running air lines in customer's garage).
Home owner was getting bids on having a contractor install epoxy floors.
So- I picked his brain.

He says all these home center DIY products rarely make it past a few years.
The stuff he uses & recommends is called Armor Garage & it goes down 23 mils thick- which is 3-4 times thicker than the competition. He offers a 5 year unconditional warranty if the coating fails as long as his company handles all slab prep as part of the job. Cost of materials is roughly 3 times the price of Epoxy Coat. The link I provided isn't the actual company installing it- this is a link to the same kits he uses that sells the same kit in a DIY product.

Is this guy blowing smoke or is really a better alternative?
Thoughts? I only want to do this once. In the last week- I've seen several garages that epoxy coatings were peeling off or worn through.


http://www.armorgarage.com/qatestsection.html

 

[Jim Johnstone]

The first thing that goes through my head is "Of course it costs 3 times more, if you lay it 3 times thicker."

I'm sure if you layed any of the 100% solids (like Epoxy Coat) that thick, you'd get the same result.

 

[Steves32]

The other thing I forgot to mention- most say it's ok to epoxy new concrete after 30 days. He says that's bull (a quote).
He won't lay down epoxy until he tests for moisture by taping plastic down to slab to see if it traps water.

 

[csp]

With the mention of home center DIY products, I wouldn't equate that with a 100% solids epoxy like you get with Epoxy-Coat or Legacy products. Those two, among others, aren't the same as the Rustoleum or Behr kits you find in Home Depot or Lowes.

Any floor, whether 30 days old or 30 years, should be checked for moisture.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Thank you CSP. You hit the nail on the head.