How Do I Know If an Epoxy Flooring Company Is Using Quality Materials?

You've decided to coat your garage floor. You've gotten a few quotes. One company is charging $800 and another is charging $2,200 — and both are telling you they do great work.

So how do you know who's actually using quality materials and who's cutting corners?

This is one of the most common questions we get from Queen Creek homeowners — and it's a great one to ask before you hand anyone a deposit. Here's exactly what to look for.

Ask About Solids Content First

This is the single most revealing question you can ask any epoxy flooring company:

"What is the solids content of your epoxy?"

Solids content refers to the percentage of the wet product that actually stays on your floor after the solvents evaporate. The rest disappears into the air.

Professional-grade epoxy systems use 100% solids — every drop you apply becomes part of your finished floor. The result is a thick, dense film with real mechanical strength.

Budget products — including virtually every kit sold at hardware stores — use 30–50% solids. That means up to 70% of the product evaporates, leaving a paper-thin coating that scratches easily, chips at the edges, and can't handle the thermal stress of an Arizona summer.

If a contractor can't answer this question clearly, or tells you solids content doesn't matter — walk away.

Ask Whether the Topcoat Is Aliphatic or Aromatic

This question will immediately separate professional installers from amateurs.

Epoxy topcoats come in two chemical varieties:

Aromatic — less expensive, commonly used in budget installations. Aromatic epoxy is not UV stable. In Arizona's intense sunlight, it will yellow, chalk, and degrade within 1–2 years. You've seen this — garage floors that started out clean gray and turned patchy yellow. That's aromatic epoxy under Arizona UV.

Aliphatic — UV stable, chemically different at the molecular level, maintains its color and clarity indefinitely regardless of sun exposure. All professional installations in Arizona should use an aliphatic polyaspartic topcoat.

Ask directly: "Is your topcoat aliphatic or aromatic?"

A contractor using quality materials will answer immediately and confidently. A contractor using budget materials may not even know what you're asking — which tells you everything you need to know.

Ask What Brand of Products They Use

Professional epoxy flooring contractors use commercial-grade products from established manufacturers. Some names worth knowing:

• Dur-A-Flex — commercial-grade epoxy and polyaspartic systems

• Sherwin-Williams Industrial — professional flooring coatings

• Polyspec — polyaspartic and epoxy systems used in industrial applications

• ArmorPoxy — professional-grade systems

• Elite Crete — decorative and industrial flooring systems

If a contractor mentions using products from Home Depot, Lowe's, or a brand you've never heard of — that's a red flag. If they can name a specific professional product line and explain why they chose it, that's a green flag.

You can also ask: "Can you show me the product data sheet for the materials you'll be using?" Every legitimate professional product has a technical data sheet (TDS) that lists solids content, chemical type, cure time, and performance specs. A good contractor should be able to provide this without hesitation.

Ask About Their Surface Preparation Process

Material quality means nothing if the surface isn't prepared correctly. The bond between epoxy and concrete is everything — and the preparation determines how strong that bond is.

There are two preparation methods:

Acid etching — a chemical process that slightly opens the concrete surface. It's cheap, fast, and produces a weak bond. Most DIY kits and budget contractors use acid etching. Floors prepared this way are significantly more likely to delaminate and peel.

Diamond grinding — a mechanical process using industrial diamond-tipped grinding wheels to open the concrete's pores and create a surface profile. It requires professional equipment and takes more time — but it creates a dramatically stronger mechanical bond between the epoxy and the concrete.

Ask every contractor you're considering: "Do you use diamond grinding or acid etching for surface preparation?"

Diamond grinding only. If any contractor tells you acid etching is sufficient, that's a clear sign they're cutting corners on preparation — which means the floor will fail prematurely regardless of what products they use on top.

Ask About Their Warranty

A contractor's warranty tells you a lot about their confidence in their own materials and workmanship.

A contractor using professional-grade materials and proper preparation should be willing to back their work with a minimum 10-year adhesion warranty. If the floor peels, chips, or delaminates under normal residential use within that period, they fix it at no charge.

Budget contractors using inferior materials will offer shorter warranties — or none at all. Some offer a "satisfaction guarantee" that sounds good but has no specific terms.

Ask: "What does your warranty cover and for how long?" Get it in writing before work begins.

Check Their Reviews for Specific Complaints

Before hiring any epoxy flooring company in Queen Creek, read their Google reviews carefully — not just the star rating but the actual text of the reviews.

Green flags in reviews:

• Mentions of diamond grinding and thorough prep

• Comments about the floor holding up years later

• References to the contractor explaining the process in detail

• Repeat customers or referrals from neighbors

Red flags in reviews:

• Any mention of peeling, bubbling, or yellowing — even one or two complaints like this suggest a pattern

• Reviews that only talk about price and speed, never about quality or process

• A large number of reviews that all sound similar or generic — these may not be authentic

Also check how long they've been in business. A company that's been installing floors in the Queen Creek area for 5+ years and still has a strong reputation is almost certainly using materials that hold up — because if they weren't, the negative reviews would have piled up long ago.

Ask If They're Licensed and Insured

This isn't directly about material quality — but it's a prerequisite for hiring anyone to work on your home in Arizona.

Ask for proof of:

• Arizona contractor's license — verify it at the Arizona Registrar of Contractors website (roc.az.gov)

• General liability insurance — protects you if something goes wrong during installation

• Workers' compensation — protects you if a worker is injured on your property

An unlicensed contractor has no accountability. A licensed contractor has passed testing requirements, maintains insurance, and can be reported to the state if they don't deliver on their commitments.

The Questions to Ask Before Hiring Any Epoxy Flooring Company in Queen Creek

Here's a quick reference list to take into any conversation with a contractor:

On materials:

• What is the solids content of your epoxy?

• Is your topcoat aliphatic or aromatic?

• What brand of products do you use?

• Can you provide a product data sheet?

On preparation:

• Do you use diamond grinding or acid etching?

• How do you handle cracks and surface defects before coating?

On accountability:

• What does your warranty cover and for how long?

• Are you licensed and insured in Arizona?

• Can I see your ROC license number?

On experience:

• How long have you been installing epoxy floors in Queen Creek?

• Can you show me photos of completed projects in the area?

What Good Answers Sound Like

A contractor using quality materials and professional processes will answer these questions clearly, specifically, and without hesitation. They'll be able to tell you their topcoat is aliphatic polyaspartic, their epoxy is 100% solids, and they diamond grind every floor. They'll hand you a product data sheet if you ask. They'll have a written warranty they're proud of.

A contractor cutting corners will give vague answers, change the subject to price, or tell you the technical details "don't really matter."

The technical details always matter — especially in Queen Creek, where Arizona's heat, UV, and thermal cycling will expose every shortcut within a season or two.

Get a Free Quote From a Queen Creek Epoxy Specialist

If you're ready to get your garage floor coated the right way — with the right materials, the right prep, and a 10-year warranty — we'd love to help.

We serve Queen Creek, San Tan Valley, Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Gold Canyon, Maricopa, and Apache Junction. Call (480) 573-8085 or visit epoxyflooringqueencreek.com for a free on-site quote.

Epoxy Flooring Queen Creek connects East Valley homeowners with licensed, insured epoxy flooring professionals using professional-grade materials and preparation processes built for Arizona's climate.