[S1nner]

I had my garage floor coated a few years ago. The salesman did a good job selling, etc., but I explicitly asked him about IL winters and the floor holding up, and I was assured that it'd be okay.

Now, the floor is cracking, peeling, and swallowing in multiple spots. It has already been repaired once for cracks. This is my second claim against their "lifetime" warranty.

I received a call from their rep today. She stated that I needed a moisture barrier installed for $1800. They will remove the existing coating, install a barrier, and re-coat the floor.

The initial proposal had an "Acceptable Concrete Moisture Reading," which was within an acceptable range.

To me, $1800 for a moisture barrier sounds like a bs, and this is how the company is trying to recoup labor/job costs and stand for its "lifetime" warranty. Instead, it was a shitty prep job. Also, how did they determine it's failing because of moisture? Can moisture fluctuate that much?


What do you guys think?

[Maynard]

I think you need to ask yourself if you really think those people are capable of actually fixing it and getting you an acceptable floor (I'm thinking no from the pics). If not, don't waste time trying to force them to 'repair' it and just move on to somebody who does good work. Possible you could get them to give some refund, but probably will cost more in lawyer fees than you'd recoup.

[Gemini562]

This whole thing smells like BS. They tested for moisture originally and said it was fine, but now, suddenly, it’s a problem? Sounds more like bad prep work, and now they’re trying to make you pay for it. If their “lifetime” warranty actually meant anything, they’d fix it without asking for more money.

[Lady Jane]

Originally Posted by S1nner

I had my garage floor coated a few years ago.

You got fleeced. Your floor looks like it was improperly prepared to receive the epoxy, flakes and topcoat.

Did they sand and etched the floor, expose the cracks if any and seal them...?

Did they allow at least 24 hours for the epoxy and flakes to settle before the UV protectant clear topcoat...?

My floor has gone through ten winters and still looks brand new.

[S1nner]

Originally Posted by Maynard

I think you need to ask yourself if you really think those people are capable of actually fixing it and getting you an acceptable floor (I'm thinking no from the pics). If not, don't waste time trying to force them to 'repair' it and just move on to somebody who does good work. Possible you could get them to give some refund, but probably will cost more in lawyer fees than you'd recoup.

Well, based on reviews/feedback, etc., they have a "good" reputation, which is why I chose them. Now, we will see how good their reputation is. But I already don't like their "proposal".
Totally agree that $2500 job not worth lawyers etc.

[Mech Spec]

Too much texturing flake used in the epoxy. Its interrupting cohesive bonding of the epoxy.

Also looks like it's not well bonded to the concrete surface below, but that could be also caused by the excess texturing.

I love my racedeck flooring and it has held up extremely well to use.

[S1nner]

Originally Posted by Lady Jane

You got fleeced. Your floor looks like it was improperly prepared to receive the epoxy, flakes and topcoat.

Did they sand and etched the floor, expose the cracks if any and seal them...?

Did they allow at least 24 hours for the epoxy and flakes to settle before the UV protectant clear topcoat...?

My floor has gone through ten winters and still looks brand new.

Wow! Your floor is looking fabulous. LOL to mine (((

They did sand and patch the cracks but definitely didn't wait 24 hours before applying the UV clear topcoat

[S1nner]

Originally Posted by Gemini562

This whole thing smells like BS. They tested for moisture originally and said it was fine, but now, suddenly, it’s a problem? Sounds more like bad prep work, and now they’re trying to make you pay for it. If their “lifetime” warranty actually meant anything, they’d fix it without asking for more money.

Yeah, thinking the same, we'll see

[Lady Jane]

Originally Posted by Mech Spec

Too much texturing flake used in the epoxy. Its interrupting cohesive bonding of the epoxy.

I can't speak for other methods but in my case, the epoxy was applied and the flakes "sprinkled" over top using an air gun device for lack of a better word. There was no "mixing".

[Mech Spec]

Originally Posted by Lady Jane

I can't speak for other methods but in my case, the epoxy was applied and the flakes "sprinkled" over top using an air gun device for lack of a better word. There was no "mixing".

Yes, that is how it's done, but this application either has far too much flake or far too little epoxy.

[vreihen16]

If you have to do the epoxy job over, my $0.02 is to see if polished concrete is an option for a similar price? You can allegedly even put artwork on the concrete before it is sealed, like that huge BMW roundel that you've always wanted.....

[M-technik-3]

I was going to suggest cross posting over to www.garagejournal.com for obvious reasons. But after seeing the photos it looks as thought the floor was not prepped that well. For that dollar amount you spent it's a BBB complaint in my opinion and not bothering to sue them. It would cost you more in lawyer fees than getting it done again.

[B58 parts]

I agree you got fleeced and they are still trying to take you for a ride. Myself I would say the costs are sunk and find somebody else to try and work with. Leave them a one-star review and move on. Or try and fight them etc.

I can't find it now, I've been looking all day, but there was a clip of a guy that had his garage done with an epoxy white and it was really nice. He said that he told the guy, "I want to look like a hospital in here." The brighter the better I think. Just clean everything all the time.

I'm in the process of painting the ceiling bright white. It would be nice if I could learn how to cut an edge with the brush. I try every time and after 20 seconds there's paint everywhere.

[ezaircon4jc]

We bought some mini-blinds from a major hardware store with an orange theme with a "lifetime" warranty. We tried to get a couple of blinds replaced as the ladders failed; they wouldn't replace them. Turns out, according to them, "lifetime" means the lifetime of the product and as the blinds failed, that was their lifetime. IMHO, with that mentality, "lifetime" is meaningless.

I'm no expert, but I agree with others above; the epoxy didn't adhere to the substrate.

[iX nOOky]

I would reply back with something such as "if you don't want to come back and fix my floor properly for free, I will eat the cost and find a different installer. It's up to you if the cost of fixing my floor is worth the negative reviews on social media and the internet I am going to flood with those reviews. Thanks!".

[zx10guy]

I don't know the condition of your concrete garage floor prior to them working on it. In my case, I did it myself with the Rustoliem Epoxyshield stuff you can get from HD/Lowes. The kit included some powder to be added to water to etch the concrete. When I did this, the concrete floor was totally virgin meaning it wasn't exposed to anything as I bought the house as new construction. I first power washed the floor and then let it dry. Then applied the etch. And then applied the epoxy paint. I opted not to put the flakes down. It held up fine for about 10 years before some patches where my garage queens would roll in and out/sit would pull up. But everywhere else is fine. The epoxy is now coming up on 24 years old and looks better than the pics you posted.

[S1nner]

I finally got a call from their production manager, and surprise, surprise - it was a moisture issue.

When I asked how he determined it was moisture, he said he’s seen it many times before and that just looking at the pictures was enough. I asked him to come and recheck the moisture levels, but he insisted he didn’t need to because the pictures alone told him everything. I also asked about using a third-party company, but he said he wouldn’t rely on their metrics. He declined even when I offered to compensate him for his time, labor, and tools.

Unfortunately, we live in a world where all you can really do is leave a one-star Google or BBB review. People aren’t held accountable for shitty work, but if you punch him, you’ll be the one behind bars in no time.

[Mech Spec]

Sorry to hear it. just the pictures of the terrible flake application will deter many people.

[tcphoto]

My response to the Rep would be, no thanks to the $1800 add-on. I'll simply file another claim and hope that you install it correctly or we'll just plan on you coming back every couple of years.