The Orlando epoxy flooring market is booming — and so is the number of unqualified operators trying to get a piece of it. This guide covers the red flags that separate legitimate epoxy contractors from the ones who will cost you double when you have to redo the job.
Red Flag #1: They Quote Over the Phone Without Seeing the Floor
No professional epoxy installer should give you a firm quote without seeing the concrete. The slab condition — existing coatings, oil contamination, cracks, moisture — directly affects the scope of work and the products required. A phone quote is either a guess or a low-ball number with upsells to follow. Legitimate contractors schedule a free on-site estimate and provide a written quote based on what they actually see.
Red Flag #2: No Mention of Diamond Grinding
Surface preparation is 80% of a successful epoxy installation, and diamond grinding is non-negotiable for professional results. If a proposal says “acid etch,” “pressure wash,” or just “clean and prep” — without mentioning grinding — they’re planning to skip the most important step. Ask directly: “Do you use a diamond grinder?” If the answer is anything but yes, move on.
Red Flag #3: The Price Is Way Below Other Quotes
Professional epoxy in Orlando runs $3–$7/sq ft residential, $4–$10 commercial. Quotes at $1.50–$2.50/sq ft mean something critical is being left out — usually the grinding, moisture primer, or topcoat. A cheap install that fails and needs to be stripped and redone costs more than doing it right the first time.
Red Flag #4: They Can’t Name the Products They Use
Ask: “What brand and formulation of epoxy do you use, and what’s the dry film thickness?” A professional answers immediately. “Commercial-grade epoxy” or “proprietary blend” without a specific manufacturer means they’re either using discount materials or hiding what they’re using. Quality systems come from Sherwin-Williams, PPG, Dur-A-Flex, ArmorPoxy, and similar commercial coating brands.
Red Flag #5: No License or Insurance Certificates
Ask for a certificate of general liability insurance and workers’ compensation — not just a verbal assurance. Verify their Florida contractor’s license on the DBPR website. If someone is injured on your property while working for an uninsured contractor, you may be liable. Legitimate operators provide certificates without hesitation.
Red Flag #6: No Mention of Moisture Testing
If a contractor doesn’t mention testing for moisture vapor emission — either a calcium chloride test or RH probe — they’re planning to apply coating over potentially moisture-compromised concrete. In Florida, this is how delamination happens. It’s not a question of if the floor fails — it’s a question of when.
Red Flag #7: High-Pressure Tactics
“This price is only good until Friday” or “we have an opening this week but after that we’re booked for months” are fabricated urgency designed to prevent you from getting competing quotes. Legitimate contractors are busy — but they don’t manufacture fake pressure. If you feel rushed to commit, that’s a red flag.
Red Flag #8: No Written Contract
Never agree to work without a written contract that specifies the scope, materials, timeline, payment schedule, and warranty. Without a contract, you have no recourse if the work is incomplete or substandard.
Red Flag #9: No Local Portfolio or References
Any contractor in the Orlando market for more than a year should have photos of local completed jobs and references who will take your call. If they can’t provide either, they haven’t done much local work — or the work hasn’t gone well.
What a Legitimate Epoxy Contractor Looks Like
They show up on time, walk the entire floor, mention surface prep and moisture testing unprompted, provide a written itemized quote, carry insurance they can prove, and don’t pressure you. That’s A1 Epoxy Coatings. Contact us for a free, no-pressure estimate in Orlando and surrounding areas.