Rath Epoxy Floors

I spent weeks looking for a company that does a full concrete grind for their prep work. Very few do this by default. Most elect to use an acid or some other harsh chemical to essentially "burn" a layer of concrete off the floor. So, I was pleased to see that Rath Epoxy Floor does grinding as part of their installs. On the first day, the two-man team arrived and began work immediately. Most of the morning was spent grinding the concrete floor. Before they applied the epoxy, a representative from the epoxy company came out to the property to give the team pointers on how to apply the primer. I believe it was the contractor's first time using that particular product, and I was glad there was an extra person on-site to give me a bit more confidence in the work. Once the flakes were broadcast, the guys left for a few hours before coming back to scrape and vacuum floor before applying the clear coat epoxy. On the second day, the owner drove back up to the property to look at the floor. The air was a bit chilly ? lower than average for September ? and thus the epoxy had not fully set. He waited a few hours before deciding to come back the next day. I was really appreciative of his dedication and concern for the floor. The next day, he came back to apply the chemical resistant urethane. The technical specifications of this product were impressive. Apparently, the floor could take on a slew of various chemicals (including jet fuel) without any harm to the floor. But the stuff smelled intense when he applied it. Even with our doors closed, we could still smell the VOCs. Luckily, the smell was gone by the next day. It took me about a week before I even considered driving my car on it. The neighbors were certainly impressed! I've had the winter to observe the floor, and it appears to be holding up fine. The floor was extremely well-installed, but there were a few technical details that I wish I would have been made aware of prior to the install. For one, all floors have subtle height variations which show up a bit more after the epoxy is applied. There were areas where the flakes can easily be felt (like very rough sandpaper) and areas where the floor texture is very smooth. In the rough parts, the flakes look crisp and sharp. In the valleys, the flakes look a little fuzzier (like looking at something underwater). When I looked up this condition online, it appeared that a double-broadcast system can mitigate this look. Had I known about it, I would have brought it up to Rath Epoxy Floors to discuss the extra cost. Secondly, while reading the technical specifications of the epoxy and urethane, I read that maximum protection from the urethane occurs with two coats. My floor only received one. I'm fairly certain the extra coat was not necessary (as this project was merely residential), but I would have preferred to make the call myself. Third, the guys missed one area of spalled concrete. The epoxy did level the spall out a bit, but it can be felt and seen. I suppose a simple halogen light shone horizontally on the floor prior to applying the epoxy would have identified the imperfection, but this is just minor criticism. Again, I really enjoy the floor, and would recommend Rath Epoxy Floors to anyone.