Residential, commercial and industrial flooring systems see a lot of foot, vehicle and equipment traffic. Epoxy floors are your best option for floors that need to be tough, durable and aesthetically beautiful. Given these points, how much does Los Angeles epoxy floor cost?
Epoxy flooring is a combination of a resin and hardener that when mixed together forms into a thin plastic-like coating. Epoxy is applied over existing or new concrete surface. When concrete surface is properly prepared and the epoxy is well applied the result will be a tough, durable, aesthetically beautiful and long-lasting flooring system.
Many homeowners and business owners are well aware of the benefits of epoxy flooring. What is often not clear is how much epoxy floor cost. Not aware of what factors to consider when coming up with the final cost of epoxy floors often lead customers to think that epoxy flooring is expensive.
Factors that Determine Epoxy Floor Cost
There are homeowners and business owners who think that epoxy flooring comes with an exorbitant cost. Truth is there are many factors that affect the cost of epoxy floors.
- Material Costs
Factors that affect the cost of materials of your epoxy flooring project include:
- Size of the Project
Of course, larger areas will require more materials both for the concrete surface preparation and the actual installation of the epoxy flooring.
- Type of Epoxy
There are two basic types of epoxy: solid epoxy and water-based epoxy. Definitely, each epoxy type has its pros and cons. It is however expected that solid epoxy costs more than water-based epoxy – twice as much, as a matter of fact.
Solid Epoxy
This is 100% solid epoxy.
- Thicker than water-based epoxy.
- More expensive than water-based epoxy.
- Can withstand heavy foot, vehicle and equipment, oils, hot tires, chemical stains and other materials found in commercial, industrial spaces and garages.
- Can be difficult to install.
- Used by professional epoxy floor installers.
Water-based Epoxy
This is epoxy is mixed with other materials and contains only 60% epoxy.
- Thinner than solid epoxy and is more of a sealer.
- Cheaper than solid epoxy.
- Easier to install than solid epoxy.
- Less durable than solid epoxy.
Overall, the choice on the type of epoxy material to be used depends on the kind of traffic (foot, vehicle and equipment) the floor is going to be subjected to.
- Epoxy Color
Epoxy is available in a variety of colors. Neutral colors such as clear, white and gray are less expensive. Other colors especially when you opt for customized colors come with a higher cost.
Using water-based epoxy and neutral colors are less expensive. But then again you will have to consider how the epoxy floor is going to be used before you make the choice. The wrong choice of epoxy type may come out more expensive.
- Design and Texture
Obviously, anything that goes with the epoxy comes with additional costs. Epoxy color chips, flakes, aggregates and custom designs added to the epoxy are more expensive than just a solid plain epoxy floor.
- Preparation of the Control Surface
The condition of the concrete surface will significantly determine addition materials to be used. If the concrete surface has cracks or holes the cost of filling materials will have to be added to the cost of materials.
- Labor Costs
Labor cost for epoxy floor installation is charged per square foot. The type of epoxy to be used, the method of application (squeegee, roller, trowel or sprayer), as well as the number of coats to be applied, is also factored into the labor cost.
The condition of the concrete surface is also a consideration in computing labor costs. Concrete surfaces that are extremely dirty, full of oil and chemical spills may take more time and manpower to clean and will consequently bring up labor costs.
More time will be needed if the concrete surface has existing sealants, tiles and adhesives that need to be removed, more so when holes, chips and cracks need to be repaired. All these add up to the labor cost.
It is important for the concrete surface to be properly prepared prior to epoxy flooring installation to ensure that the epoxy material will adhere well to the concrete surface.
In assessing Los Angeles epoxy floor cost it is important to bear in mind that you get what you pay for. Some epoxy floor contractors may charge more for materials but at least you are sure that they are using 100% solid epoxy.
The rules of thumb in epoxy floor installation are, the thicker the floor, the more expensive the materials and labor will be. The more decorative the epoxy floor, the more expensive the materials and labor. The faster you need the epoxy floor to dry, the more expensive it will cost, too.
Los Angeles epoxy floor cost is definitely cheaper if installation is a do-it-yourself project. It may be feasible if you are working in your home garage. If you are however going to be working on the floor of your business, hiring the pros will prevent costly errors.
At Los Angeles Epoxy Pros we always make it a point to give our customers the best price and the best value.
