Why DIY Kits Keep Failing in Indiana
Every few weeks someone calls us to re-coat a floor that a big-box store kit failed on. The conversation is always the same: "I followed the instructions exactly. It looked great for a year and a half. Now it's peeling everywhere."
What's In a DIY Epoxy Kit
The kits sold at hardware stores are water-based or solvent-cut epoxy — diluted to make them easier to apply. The solids content is typically 40–50%. The rest evaporates. This means the final film thickness is a fraction of what a 100% solids professional system achieves.
The Indiana-Specific Problems DIY Kits Don't Address
- Moisture vapor: Every kit assumes a dry slab. Indiana slabs are rarely fully dry. Without moisture testing and a vapor-blocking primer, the water pushing up through your concrete will lift the coating within 1–3 years.
- Temperature windows: Most DIY epoxy products require 65–85°F application temperature. Indiana's shoulder seasons frequently fall outside these windows.
- Hot tire pickup: Water-based epoxy kits are particularly vulnerable — the phenomenon where a hot car tire bonds slightly to the coating and pulls chips off. This is the #1 complaint about kit failures in the first summer.
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