When our homeowners needed to decide on a material for their basement, epoxy was the clear winner thanks to its durability and waterproof properties.
Epoxy flooring is a great option for most basement floors. It’s a two-part product made from a resin and a hardener, and it can be poured onto the floor and spread easily. It can be dressed up with flakes and sheens, and it does a great job of waterproofing the floor against leaks and rain or snow coming in with the vehicle. Nick and Hannah chose a low-VOC option to avoid the harmful chemicals in their home.
It Starts with Prep Work
An epoxy flooring installation is essentially a paint job, and with all paint jobs, 90% of the results are in the prep work. This includes cleaning everything, making any necessary repairs to cracks, grinding down any high spots, and priming the floor to make it as smooth as the budget allows.
Then Comes the Basecoat
After the prep work, it’s time to apply the basecoat. The basecoat can be rolled on with a paint roller or poured out and squeegeed onto the floor. It needs to be cut-in along the edges of the walls with a brush and forced into any cracks or gaps.
Chips are Applied
After the basecoat is applied, the chips are then broadcast onto the surface. Chips are a decorative material made from vinyl or a composite material that creates a bit of depth and color for the floor. They also help hide a lot of the imperfections and unevenness.
Last is Clearcoat
The last step is applying the clearcoat. Clearcoat locks the flake into place and creates a durable, clear top layer that resists scratches, leaks, spills, stains, and other accidents that may occur. It’s an important final step that leads to a beautiful, durable final topical product that seals the floor and protects it from issues down the road.
Looking for more step by step guidance on how to complete projects around the house? Join This Old House Insider to stream over 1,000 episodes commercial-free: https://bit.ly/2GPiYbH

