Why DIY Garage Kits Fail: The Case for Professional Epoxy Floor Coatings

GarageFloorCoating.comEpoxy Flooring

When โ€œGood Enoughโ€ Isnโ€™t Good Enough

Garage makeovers are having a moment. With online tutorials and big-box store kits making it look easy, many homeowners are tempted to take on their own epoxy floor coating projects. The appeal is obvious: a low upfront cost, a fast weekend project, and the promise of a sleek, high-gloss finish.ย But the reality of DIY garage flooring is far less polished.

Across the country, GFC professionals regularly step in to remove failed coatingsโ€”bubbling, peeling, cracked, or stainedโ€”and start from scratch. The common thread? A store-bought kit that wasnโ€™t built to last, and a process that skipped the prep work entirely.

The Problem With DIY Epoxy Floor Coating Kits

Most DIY epoxy floor coating products available to the public are water-based or solvent-based, not 100%-solids like GFCโ€™s proprietary formulas. These consumer-grade coatings are thinner and leave behind a much weaker layer of protection.

Hereโ€™s why DIY kits typically fail:

  • Thin coverage offers little durability under hot tires or heavy use
  • No moisture mitigation, making them vulnerable to bubbling and delamination
  • Poor adhesion due to inadequate surface prep
  • Inability to flex with temperature changes, leading to early cracking

Add to that the absence of proper crack repair, grinding, or moisture assessment, and itโ€™s no surprise that DIY floors rarely last more than a year or two. Even worse, removing a failed coating before a professional install adds time, cost, and hassle.

The GFC Difference: Materials, Method, Mastery

At GarageFloorCoating.com, we do things differentlyโ€”and we do them the right way. Every floor begins with expert surface preparation, which is one of the most important factors in long-term performance.

Our process includes:

  • Diamond grinding to mechanically profile the concrete for optimal bonding
  • Crack and surface repair to create a smooth, solid foundation
  • Moisture-vapor transmission testing to avoid future coating failures

From there, our installers apply a 100%-solids moisture-mitigating epoxy base coat, a thick, high-build product designed to deeply penetrate and permanently bond to the concrete.

Thatโ€™s followed by two 100%-solids polyaspartic topcoatsโ€”durable, UV-stable, and resistant to abrasion, staining, and heat. This layered system is designed to perform, even in the harshest climates.

Why We Take Two Daysโ€”And Why It Matters

Fast doesnโ€™t mean better. While some contractors push 1-day installs using fast-curing, lower-quality materials, GFC uses a 2-day system for a reason: it allows proper time for surface prep, curing, and layering each coat correctly.

Our system ensures:

  • Maximum bond strength to the concrete slab (even under medium to high moisture conditions)
  • Full chemical and mechanical resistance
  • Seamless, beautiful finishes that last for decades
  • Full warranty against all moisture-related issues

Itโ€™s a process honed over decades and applied consistently across our national network of GFC dealers and franchisesโ€”from Arizona to New York, Texas to Montana.

Donโ€™t Settle for DIY Garage Flooring. Choose a Floor Thatโ€™s Built to Last.

DIY epoxy floor coatings promise a shortcut. However, they often lead to frustration, wasted money, and a floor that fails under real-world use. Whether itโ€™s moisture intrusion, peeling, or damage from tires and tools, those kits arenโ€™t made to handle the demands of daily life.

GFC coatings are different. We combine the best materials in the industry with a proven process and professional application to deliver results that truly last.

Contact GarageFloorCoating.com today to schedule your free quote and find out what a real epoxy floor coating can do for your garage. Donโ€™t redo itโ€”do it right the first time.

About the Author
Avatar photo

GarageFloorCoating.com

Robert Hanson is the President and founder of GarageFloorCoating.com (GFC), an ISO 9001-certified company that has specialized in the installation of epoxy, polyurethane and polyurea-polyaspartic flooring for over 25 years. Robertโ€™s evolving knowledge and experience pertaining to concrete coatings and installation techniques culminated in GFCโ€™s impressive line of commercial-grade Eco-Corflex floor coating products, flake epoxy flooring blends and unique coating systems. His proprietary floor coating products and flake blends are sold to over 35 franchisees & authorized dealers across the United States.

Share this Post