DIY Epoxy Basement Floor

The basement is among the least visited rooms in a house and that is why it is neglected the most. Also, people use it as a store room so they don’t really care about it much. But lately, there has been a trend of people transforming their basements into a “Mancave” or a “Gameroom” or just another spare bedroom. Due to this, people are looking to transform their basement room. The first thing they do is change/upgrade the flooring of the residential basement. Years of negligence cause the concrete floors to crack and scratch. Also, water leakage and moisture cause the development of mold and mildew on the basement floors. The scratch and cracks on the floor cause the room to look ugly and the mold causes a certain smell in the room. So, in order to avoid that people are looking for other basement flooring options. 

DIY Epoxy basement floor

Many people are choosing Epoxy flooring as the solution to their basement flooring problems. Epoxy flooring is the best solution because it is durable, strong, water resistant helps to avoid molds, and most importantly it is super easy to clean. These are among the few reasons to choose Epoxy flooring for your basement. People are hiring professional flooring companies to transform their basements. However, some people like to do it themselves. The DIY Epoxy basement floor installation process is easy and consists of a few easy steps. You will need some materials and equipment before you can start with the process. Any kind of DIY experience is going to be a great help.

Materials/Equipment Needed

  • Brooms and Vacuum cleaners
  • Gloves
  • Paintbrush(3 inches) 
  • 9-inch paint roller with 3/8-inch-nap roller cover
  • Buckets to Mix epoxy Solution
  • Spiked Shoes
  • Epoxy Kit

Steps to DIY Epoxy Basement Floor Installation

There are some simple steps you need to follow to successfully carry out DIY Epoxy basement floor installation. Each step is explained carefully and in detail. The steps are:  

Clean the Basement Floor

clean basement

First of all, clear out everything in the basement. The entire room and the floor must be empty in order to proceed with the application process. Take everything out from the room to a different room and make sure it is empty. Now next step is to clean the room. Use a broom to sweep all the dust and dirt from the room. Properly sweep the room and take out all the dust.

The next step is to properly vacuum the floor to take out any other residue on the floor. Remember, dust and dirt make it difficult for the epoxy to bind with the concrete floor. Now, properly wash the area with water and mop it to clean the floor fully. Now after mopping the floor, use a dry mop and dry out the floor. Ensure that the floor is super clean and then we can proceed. 

Prepping Basement Floor for Epoxy Coating

floor prep

The next step in the DIY Epoxy basement floor installation process is the floor prepping step. This step is very important because applying the epoxy coating for basement floor on an unprepared surface will result in irregularities and other issues. Years of dragging Heavy furniture across the basement and old machines may have caused several cracks on the floor surface. The basement concrete floor needs to be properly etched so that the floor can have a proper grip with the epoxy solution. You can use several concrete floor prepping techniques to prep the floor. We can use methods such as diamond grinding, shot blasting, or acid etching to etch the concrete surface. Use protective gears while proceeding with this process. The acid-water solution is sprayed which further opens up pores on the surface and helps to improve the binding power of the epoxy and floor. Properly prepping basement floor for epoxy to be applied later and have a super strong binding power. Now we move on to the next step of the DIY Epoxy Basement floor installation process.

Mix the Epoxy Solution

mixing epoxy

The epoxy solution needs to be prepared and mixed before we can apply it to the floor surface. In this step, we properly mix the solution of epoxy coating for basement floor. We generally use a 2 Component kit A&B for flooring. Epoxy isn’t readily available. Everyone has to mix it up after you buy it. As we all know, Epoxy coating is formed by making a mixture of Epoxy resin and Epoxy hardener. Epoxy coating is a very thick solution. Now we have to properly stir and move the solution for a while so that it mixes properly. Use a drill and a mixing paddle for around 3-5 minutes and that should do the job. After using a drill and mixing paddle for that long, the solution of epoxy coating for basement floor should be properly mixed and ready to use. Do not leave the epoxy for too long after mixing it.

Apply the First Coat of Epoxy

apply first layer of epoxy

The next step in the DIY Epoxy basement floor installation process is to apply the mixture that we just prepared. The mixture is ready to be applied to the basement floor. As it was said earlier, do not leave the solution for too long after mixing it up. They typically have a short span of around 25-30 minutes so you have to move fast. Use the paintbrush to apply the mixture all over the basement floor. Epoxy coatings are thicker and heavier than normal paint so it may not glide as easily. Use a roller to evenly spray the coating throughout the floor. Dividing the basement floors into several sections will make it easier for you to epoxy the floor. Use the extension handle for areas where your hands cannot reach. Use nap roller covers to spread the epoxy coatings evenly. Make sure all the spots on the floor are evenly covered. Once ensured, this step is complete. Now we move on to the next step of the DIY epoxy basement floor installation process. 

Let it dry overnight

This is a very simple yet very responsible step. All you have to do is leave the floor alone for the night. Sounds simple but it is not. You have to make sure that the perimeter is secured. Also, you have to make sure that nobody steps on it during the night. So, keep your kids from running through the recently coated floors. Also, make sure that no dirt, hair, or any other things fall on the surface. It should be left alone for at least 24 hours before we can work on it again.

Apply Top Coat for Protection and Shine

top coat of protection

This is the final step in the DIY epoxy basement floor installation process. After the floor has been dried overnight, we can finally work on it again. Some people like to stop at this point but We highly recommend proceeding with this step. Applying a clear top coat over the base coat of epoxy will ensure additional durability and offer more resistance. The best thing about applying a clear top coat is that it provides a shiny and glossy finish to the floor. Due to these additional features, applying a top coat is highly recommended. After applying the top coat over the epoxy coating, we just let it dry for an additional 2-3 days and we are good to go.

Also Read: DIY Epoxy Garage Floor Tutorial

epoxy basement floor

Conclusion

So, these were the simple steps for the DIY epoxy basement floor installation process. These steps are simple and can be easily followed. Let the floor cure for 2-3 days before putting back the furniture inside the basement. A lot of people are opting for having an Epoxy basement floor due to various reasons. 

I think this blog was able to give you helpful insights and tips on how to epoxy a basement floor with some simple DIY Epoxy basement flooring tips. These steps are doable by you without any prior experience of it. But hiring an experienced Epoxy flooring company will make the job even easier for you. You will get the best results and super satisfaction from a professional Epoxy flooring company.

CALL US for any kind of Epoxy Basement flooring services or Basement floor transformation services.

Author

Ryan Pepple

My name is Ryan Pepple and I am the founder/president of Best Coast Epoxy Coatings Inc. I do all the residential jobs myself and use a crew to complete commercial jobs. You can call the number mentioned on the site to talk to me.

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