.svg)
In the age of YouTube tutorials and weekend projects, DIY garage floor coatings might seem like a budget-friendly idea. But what many homeowners across the DFW area discover is that floor coatings are more complex than they look—and costly mistakes can lead to peeling, bubbling, and disappointment.
Before you grab a roller and a DIY epoxy kit from the hardware store, let’s look at the 7 most common DIY floor coating mistakes, and why hiring a professional might actually save you money (and your concrete).
DIYers often underestimate the importance of mechanical surface preparation. Simply cleaning the floor isn’t enough.
🛑 Mistake: Using household degreasers or acid etching instead of diamond grinding.
✅ Solution: Professional installers use heavy-duty grinders to remove old coatings, oils, and open concrete pores for bonding.
Temperature and humidity affect how coatings cure. Many DIY kits don’t account for DFW’s hot summers or humid conditions.
🛑 Mistake: Coating floors during extreme heat or moisture exposure, which causes bubbling or improper curing.
✅ Solution: Professionals time the installation for ideal weather—or use climate-controlled tools to manage it.
Not all epoxy is created equal. Store-bought kits are often water-based, thin, and lack durability.
🛑 Mistake: Assuming all coatings offer the same level of protection.
✅ Solution: Pros use commercial-grade epoxy and polyaspartic coatings that last 10+ years and include UV protection.
Rolling epoxy too thick or thin can lead to uneven surfaces, roller streaks, or areas that never cure properly.
🛑 Mistake: Applying the coating too quickly or unevenly.
✅ Solution: Trained crews apply each layer with precision, ensuring a uniform, professional-grade finish.
Trying to add decorative flakes can go sideways quickly—especially if you're unsure how much to use or when to apply them.
🛑 Mistake: Under-broadcasting or clumping flakes in sections.
✅ Solution: Experienced installers apply flakes evenly across the floor for a balanced, slip-resistant finish.
Many DIY kits skip a polyaspartic topcoat, leaving the floor vulnerable to stains, tire marks, and peeling.
🛑 Mistake: Thinking one layer of epoxy is enough.
✅ Solution: Professionals seal floors with a high-performance topcoat that protects and extends the life of your investment.
Coating a floor is physically demanding and requires downtime that most families and businesses can’t afford.
🛑 Mistake: Starting a project that drags out for days, disrupting daily life.
✅ Solution: DFW Flake & Epoxy Floor Coatings offers one-day installations that minimize inconvenience.
Don’t let your concrete become a cautionary tale. Let the pros do it right the first time.
DIY may seem cost-effective, but when it comes to floor coatings, cutting corners can cost more in the long run. Between failed adhesion, uneven finishes, and lack of durability, DIY mistakes are common—and often avoidable.
If you want a floor that lasts, looks great, and adds value to your space, trust the pros at DFW Flake & Epoxy Floor Coatings. Schedule your free quote today and skip the stress of going it alone.
.svg){kind=icon}