You’ve decided you want an epoxy floor. You’ve gotten a couple of names, maybe seen some Instagram photos, and now you’re at the stage where you’re talking to contractors. This is where most homeowners and business owners get tripped up — they don’t know what they don’t know, and a smooth-talking installer can easily sound credible while cutting every corner that matters.

These 10 questions will separate professionals from pretenders — fast.

1. How Do You Prepare the Concrete Before Coating?

The right answer is diamond grinding. Full stop. Grinding removes contaminants, opens the concrete’s pores, and creates a mechanical profile (a slight texture) that the epoxy bonds to. It requires expensive equipment and skilled operation — which is exactly why under-qualified installers skip it.

The wrong answers are “acid etching,” “we’ll clean it really well,” or anything that doesn’t involve a grinder. Acid etching (using muriatic acid to open the surface) can work on bare, uncontaminated concrete — but it fails on sealed slabs, slabs with curing compound, or concrete that’s been contaminated with oil. In Florida, most slabs have at least one of these conditions. If a contractor doesn’t own a diamond grinder, that’s a red flag.

2. Do You Test for Moisture Vapor Emission Before Coating?

Florida’s high water table and humidity mean moisture moves through concrete slabs constantly. If a coating is applied over concrete that’s emitting too much moisture vapor, the coating will bubble, peel, or delaminate — sometimes within weeks. A professional installer either performs a calcium chloride test or uses a relative humidity probe to measure the moisture vapor emission rate (MVER) before selecting the coating system.

If they say “that’s not necessary” or “we just let the slab dry out” — walk away. Moisture testing is a 20-minute step that determines whether the installation lasts 20 years or 20 months.

3. What Specific Products Do You Use, and What Is the Dry Film Thickness?

Ask for the brand and product name of the epoxy they plan to use, and ask what the dry film thickness (DFT) of the finished system will be. A professional 100% solids epoxy system should produce a DFT of at least 10–20 mils. Water-based “epoxy paint” sold at home improvement stores produces 2–4 mils — five to ten times thinner, with a fraction of the durability.

If the contractor can’t tell you the brand, formulation, and expected DFT, they either don’t know their product or they’re using a product they don’t want you to research. Neither is acceptable.

4. Do You Carry Liability Insurance and Workers’ Compensation?

Ask for certificates of insurance — not just “yes, we’re insured.” A legitimate contractor can produce a current certificate of general liability insurance (minimum $1 million per occurrence for residential work) and proof of workers’ compensation coverage. If they can’t produce these documents, you’re liable for any injuries on your property and any damage they cause.

5. How Long Have You Been Installing Epoxy Floors Specifically?

General contractors, handymen, and painting companies frequently add epoxy as an “also available” service. Epoxy installation — done correctly — requires specific knowledge of surface prep, coating chemistry, application techniques, and Florida-specific moisture conditions. Ask specifically how many epoxy floor installations they’ve completed, how long they’ve been doing epoxy exclusively, and whether they can provide references for projects similar to yours.

6. What Happens If the Coating Fails or Delaminate?

Ask this directly: “What is your warranty, and what specifically does it cover?” A credible installer offers a written workmanship warranty that covers delamination and adhesion failure for a defined period. Get it in writing before you sign anything. Verbal assurances are unenforceable.

Be skeptical of very long warranties (10+ years) from small operators — a warranty is only as good as the company that backs it. A 2–3 year workmanship warranty from a company with a track record is worth more than a 10-year warranty from a fly-by-night operation.

7. Will You Repair Cracks and Spalls Before Coating?

Any visible cracks or surface damage (spalling, pitting, chips) should be repaired before the coating is applied. Ask if crack repair is included in the quote or charged separately, and ask what product they use to fill cracks. Polyurea crack filler (flexible, fast-curing) is the professional standard for surface cracks. Cement patch products are lower quality and will often telegraph through the coating.

8. How Long Will the Installation Take, and When Can I Use the Space?

A standard residential garage floor epoxy installation takes one full day for a two-car garage — sometimes extending to day two for larger spaces or multi-coat systems. Light foot traffic is typically safe in 24 hours; vehicle traffic in 72 hours. Full chemical cure takes 7 days. Ask specifically about your project timeline and what restrictions apply during cure.

9. What Is and Isn’t Included in Your Quote?

Get a detailed written quote before you agree to anything. It should specify: surface preparation method, crack and spall repair (what’s included, what costs extra), number of coats, product names and coverage rates, topcoat specification, and cleanup. Quotes that just say “epoxy floor coating” with a single price leave room for corners to be cut silently.

10. Can You Provide References from Similar Projects in This Area?

Florida’s climate — humidity, UV exposure, high water table — creates specific challenges that installers from other markets may not have encountered. Ask for references from jobs completed in the same county or zip code within the last 12–24 months. Call them. Ask directly: Did the floor hold up? Were there any adhesion issues? Would you hire them again?

One More Thing: Trust Your Gut

A contractor who answers all 10 of these questions confidently and specifically — without being defensive or evasive — is probably the real thing. One who gets vague, dismissive, or defensive when asked about product details, insurance, or warranties is telling you something important.

At A1 Epoxy Coatings, we answer every one of these questions clearly because we’ve built our business on doing the work right the first time. If you’re in the Orlando area and ready to get real answers, contact us for a free estimate. We’ll show you exactly what goes into a proper installation — and what’s at stake if it’s done wrong.