Why This Debate Matters in Arkansas

In Arkansas, the garage isn’t just a place to park the car—it’s where you work on weekend projects, store tools and gear, maybe even sneak in a workout. In places like Little Rock, Benton, Conway, and North Little Rock, homeowners are investing more into making these spaces clean, functional, and durable. And for a lot of folks, that starts with the floor.

That’s where epoxy flooring comes in. Durable, seamless, easy to clean—it sounds like the perfect solution. And it is, when it’s done right. But here’s where most people hesitate: do you grab one of those DIY kits off the shelf at Lowe’s, or do you hire a professional crew like Rock City Epoxy to handle it?

We get it. DIY looks cheaper. It’s marketed as “weekend warrior” friendly. You roll it on, toss in some flakes, and boom—new garage. But we’ve been called in too many times to tear out peeling coatings, fix moisture failures, or redo floors that didn’t even make it through one Arkansas summer.

This isn’t about bashing DIY. It’s about giving homeowners real insight—before they waste time or money. Because the truth is, what works in a YouTube tutorial often falls flat on a humid Arkansas slab. And what saves you money upfront might cost you twice as much when you have to redo it a year later.

In this guide, we’ll break down the exact differences between DIY epoxy and professional installation—from surface prep and materials to lifespan and cost. You’ll walk away knowing exactly what you’re getting into—and whether DIY is worth it or not for your garage.

What Is “DIY Garage Epoxy”? (And What It Isn’t)

If you’ve ever walked through a hardware store in Little Rock, chances are you’ve seen those colorful boxes promising a garage makeover in a weekend. They typically say “Garage Floor Epoxy Kit” and include a few gallons of resin, a small can of hardener, a roller, and a tiny bag of flakes for looks. The label usually shows a glossy, speckled garage that looks straight out of a car commercial. What could go wrong, right?

Here’s what those kits don’t tell you.

First, most DIY epoxy kits are water-based or low-solids systems. They’re made to be user-friendly, not industrial-grade. That means they go on thinner (typically 3–5 mils of thickness), don’t bond as deeply to the slab, and don’t hold up well to real-world abuse. For a quick cosmetic refresh on a low-traffic floor, they can work. But for Arkansas garages that deal with humidity, hot tires, tools, and temperature swings? They’re out of their league.

The biggest problem isn’t the epoxy itself—it’s the lack of proper prep. These kits assume you’ll just sweep the floor, maybe hose it down, and start painting. But concrete isn’t a blank canvas. In Arkansas, we have high humidity, vapor drive, and plenty of slabs that were never sealed correctly to begin with. If you don’t open up the pores of the concrete (usually done by mechanical grinding or acid etching), that epoxy has nothing to grab onto. It just sits on top—and eventually peels off.

And then there’s the missing topcoat. Most DIY kits don’t include a proper polyaspartic or polyurethane top layer. That means the surface is more likely to yellow in UV light, stain from oil or brake fluid, and wear down with normal use. If you park hot tires on it in July, expect to see patches lifting by August.

To be clear: DIY epoxy kits aren’t a scam. They have their place. But you need to know what they actually are—and what they’re not. They’re cosmetic coatings, not high-performance flooring systems. And in a state like Arkansas, where moisture, heat, and heavy use are real factors, that’s a critical distinction.

Professional Epoxy Installation: What Really Happens

When most people picture epoxy installation, they imagine rolling some goo across the garage floor and calling it a day. But professional installers? We’re operating on a whole different level—and the results speak for themselves.

At Rock City Epoxy, we don’t just “paint concrete.” We install full systems that are engineered for performance, especially in environments like Arkansas where slabs are constantly battling humidity, ground movement, and temperature shifts.

So what does that process actually look like?

We start with mechanical surface prep. That means grinding the concrete using industrial-grade diamond tooling to remove surface contamination, open the pores, and give the epoxy a rough profile to bond to. This isn’t optional—it’s the foundation for a long-lasting install. Skipping this step is the #1 reason DIY floors fail.

Next, we address any cracks, spalling, or joint damage. Using flexible polyurea or epoxy patching compounds, we repair those problem areas so the coating doesn’t just mask them—it corrects them. Especially in places like Benton and Maumelle, where concrete can shift seasonally, crack control is non-negotiable.

Then comes the moisture testing. This is a big deal in Arkansas. Our concrete slabs often trap moisture beneath the surface due to our humid climate and clay-heavy soil. If you apply epoxy over a slab that’s pushing out vapor, it’ll bubble, lift, and fail within months. We test every slab before coating. If it fails, we install a moisture vapor barrier primer before moving forward.

Now we build the floor.

A typical professional system includes:

• A primer coat for enhanced bonding (especially on slick or sealed concrete)

• A 100% solids epoxy base coat—much thicker and more durable than anything DIY

• Optional decorative flake broadcast or metallic pigments

• A UV-stable polyaspartic topcoat for maximum resistance to sunlight, chemicals, abrasions, and heat

Each layer is applied and cured with precision. We factor in temperature, humidity, cure times, and expected use—something a weekend warrior can’t really replicate.

When we walk off the job, the result isn’t just a “coated floor.” It’s a permanent, high-performance surface that resists staining, holds up to hot tires, and looks showroom-quality for years. In garages around Conway, Little Rock, and Cabot, we’ve installed floors that still look brand new five, seven, even ten years later.

That’s the power of professional prep and product. And it’s why people call us when their DIY project starts peeling.

Head-to-Head Comparison: Cost, Time, Longevity, and Maintenance

Let’s be real—when homeowners in Little Rock or Benton weigh their options, it almost always comes down to cost. But upfront price doesn’t tell the whole story. If you want a floor that holds up in Arkansas heat, humidity, and day-to-day wear, here’s how DIY epoxy kits really stack up against a professional installation:

Initial Cost

• DIY epoxy kits typically run $300 to $800 for a 2-car garage.

• A professionally installed floor from Rock City Epoxy usually falls between $2,500 and $5,000 depending on size, prep, and finish.

• On paper, DIY is cheaper—but only if everything goes perfectly (spoiler: it rarely does).

Time and Effort

• DIY takes up your entire weekend—maybe two. You’ll spend hours on prep, mixing, coating, and cure times.

• With a pro install, your garage is typically done in one to two days—start to finish—with no cleanup or guesswork on your part.

Prep Quality

• Most DIYers sweep or maybe acid etch. That’s not enough in Arkansas, where moisture and dust are real issues.

• We mechanically grind every slab, test for vapor, and repair cracks before we even open a bucket.

Thickness and Coverage

• DIY kits go on thin—usually around 3 to 5 mils. That’s barely more than paint.

• Our 100% solids epoxy systems are 3–6x thicker, going down at 15 to 30+ mils, depending on your needs.

Durability

• DIY coatings often start to peel or flake within 1–3 years—sometimes sooner if you park hot tires or use it as a workspace.

• A professionally installed floor can last 15 to 20+ years with basic maintenance.

UV and Heat Resistance

• Most DIY kits don’t include a UV-stable topcoat. Expect yellowing, chalking, or fading—especially near garage doors or windows.

• We finish with a polyaspartic or urethane topcoat that resists sun damage and high temperatures year-round.

Safety and Slip Resistance

• DIY floors can be dangerously slick—especially if you don’t add a traction additive (and most kits don’t come with one).

• We offer optional slip-resistant textures built into the coating—perfect for families, home gyms, or workspaces.

Aesthetic Quality

• DIY jobs often show brush strokes, roller lines, and uneven color. Flakes don’t spread evenly, and coverage can look patchy.

• Our floors are seamless, smooth, and fully customizable—flake blends, metallic swirls, solid colors, whatever you want.

Maintenance

• DIY coatings stain easily and wear out fast, especially in garages used for real work.

• Professional systems repel oil, chemicals, and dirt. Most just need a quick mop or rinse to look good as new.

At face value, the DIY route looks appealing—until you factor in the time, risk, and likelihood of failure. And when it fails? You're looking at grinding it all off, repairing the slab, and paying more than you would’ve for a pro job in the first place.

When you get it done right the first time, you’re not just buying a coating—you’re buying years of durability, lower maintenance, and peace of mind.

Real-World Pitfalls of DIY Kits (We See These Weekly)

We’re not guessing when we talk about the downsides of DIY garage epoxy—we’ve seen them firsthand. Every week, Rock City Epoxy gets calls from frustrated homeowners in places like Cabot, Conway, and Benton who thought they could save a few bucks by going the DIY route… until the floor started falling apart.

Here are the most common issues we see:

Peeling and Delamination

• The #1 failure point. The epoxy starts lifting in sheets—usually in high-traffic zones or wherever tires sit.

• Why? Poor surface prep and trapped moisture. Rolling epoxy over an unground slab is like painting glass—it won’t stick for long.

Hot Tire Pickup

• Your tires heat up during driving. When you park in the garage, they can soften the epoxy surface just enough to bond—then peel it up the next morning when you back out.

• DIY kits simply aren’t made to handle that kind of heat and pressure.

Moisture Bubbles and Blistering

• We see this a lot in areas with high humidity or poor drainage (hello, Arkansas summers).

• If there’s moisture vapor pushing up from the slab, the epoxy can bubble, blister, or form soft spots. DIY kits don’t include moisture testing or vapor barrier solutions—pros do.

Yellowing and Fading

• No UV protection means that fresh gray floor will start turning yellow after just a few months of sun exposure, especially near garage door thresholds.

• If you’re in a space with natural light, your floor’s going to age fast without a proper polyaspartic topcoat.

Slippery as Ice

• DIY epoxy might look glossy, but once it’s wet, it’s dangerous. No traction additives means you’ve created a slick, plastic-like surface that becomes a safety hazard with even a little rain or spilled oil.

• We’ve had more than a few clients in Little Rock who called us after a close call (or a fall).

Uneven Flake Coverage

• DIY kits often don’t include enough flakes, or they’re thrown by hand with no experience—leading to patchy, uneven results.

• A pro team uses a full broadcast method to ensure consistent texture, grip, and aesthetics across the entire surface.

Regret and Rework

• The harshest reality: when a DIY job fails, you can’t just coat over it.

• You have to grind it off. That adds hundreds—sometimes thousands—to the cost of doing it right the second time.

Where DIY Does Make Sense

DIY epoxy has its place—as long as you understand its limits. Here are a few situations where going the DIY route may actually be a smart move.

You’re Flipping the Property

If you’re planning to sell a home and want to give the garage a quick cosmetic boost, a DIY epoxy kit might be all you need. It won’t hold up to long-term wear, but it can make the space look cleaner and more finished in photos and showings. For short-term visual appeal, it does the trick.

The Garage Isn’t Used Much

In low-traffic garages—maybe one that’s used mostly for storage or as a place to park a single car that rarely moves—a DIY system can be enough. If the floor doesn’t take much abuse, the risk of failure is lower. Just remember that even in light-use areas, skipping proper prep can still lead to peeling.

You Want to Test the Look First

Sometimes homeowners just want to experiment. Maybe you’re curious about the look of a flake finish or want to see how a glossy coating changes the space. A DIY kit lets you try it out with minimal investment. If you love it and decide to upgrade later, you’ll go into the professional install knowing exactly what style you want.

Where Pro Installation Is the Smart Play (Especially in Arkansas)

DIY can get you by, but there’s a reason most of our calls at Rock City Epoxy come from homeowners who tried a kit first—and now want it done right. If your garage actually sees real use, a professional install isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity.

You Actually Use Your Garage

If your garage doubles as a workshop, gym, storage area, or home entry point, that floor takes a beating. Cars, lawnmowers, dropped tools, bike tires, oil, paint—it all adds up fast. A pro-grade epoxy or polyaspartic system is built to take that punishment and keep looking good.

You’re Parking on It Every Day

The moment you park a hot vehicle on DIY epoxy, the clock starts ticking. Cheap coatings can’t handle high temps or hot tire pressure, especially during Arkansas summers. A professional system—especially with a polyaspartic topcoat—handles it without blinking. You won’t see tire marks, peeling, or breakdown from heat.

You Want It to Last More Than a Few Years

A $400 kit might survive a couple of seasons, if you’re lucky. But a properly installed system can last 15 to 20 years or more. We’re not just coating the surface—we’re bonding deep into the concrete, sealing it, and protecting it with multiple layers. That’s how you get long-term value.

You’re Dealing with Moisture (And You Probably Are)

In Arkansas, concrete slabs hold a lot of moisture—especially if your garage was built more than five years ago and wasn’t vapor-sealed properly. Moisture is the silent killer of epoxy floors. DIY kits don’t include vapor testing, and most homeowners don’t know to check. We test every slab before coating. If there's an issue, we handle it before we install anything.

You Want the Job Done Right—Once

Time is money. And having to redo a floor—or worse, grind off a failed DIY coating—costs more in the end. We’ve had more than a few homeowners from Conway, Maumelle, and Benton who told us, “I wish we just hired you the first time.” When you go pro, you don’t worry about adhesion, finish, or how it’ll look in six months. You get it done once—and done right.

What Rock City Epoxy Does Differently

We’re not a franchise. We’re not subcontracting out installs to the lowest bidder. Rock City Epoxy is local, experienced, and obsessed with doing things the right way. We’ve installed garage floors all across Central Arkansas—from North Little Rock to Benton to Conway—and we know what works here because we’ve fixed what doesn’t.

We Start with Real Surface Prep

Surface prep is everything, and most installers rush or skip it. Not us. We use industrial diamond grinders to mechanically profile every slab. We don’t just sweep—we open up the concrete, repair cracks, and make sure there’s a solid base for the coating to bond to. If there’s a moisture issue (which is common in Arkansas), we test for it and address it with a moisture vapor barrier before any epoxy goes down.

We Use 100% Solids, Professional-Grade Products

Our epoxy isn’t watered down, and it’s not the stuff you find in big box stores. We install 100% solids epoxy systems, followed by UV-stable polyaspartic topcoats that resist chemicals, stains, yellowing, and hot tire pickup. Our materials are designed to last—not to look good for six months and start peeling in year two.

We Customize Every System to Fit Your Needs

Want a clean, solid color floor that’s easy to clean? A full flake broadcast with anti-slip texture? A metallic swirl that makes your garage look like a showroom? We build the system around how you’ll use it—not a cookie-cutter package. That’s the difference between a contractor and a true specialist.

We Stand Behind It

We’re not disappearing after the job. We stand behind our floors with a real warranty, real support, and real accountability. When you hire Rock City Epoxy, you’re working with a team that takes pride in being the most trusted name in garage floor coatings in Arkansas. No gimmicks. No cut corners. Just results that last.

The Truth About “Saving Money”

On the surface, DIY epoxy feels like the smart move. It’s cheaper. It’s convenient. And it’s marketed to make you feel like you’ve got this.

But here’s what we’ve seen over and over in Little Rock and the surrounding areas: DIY coatings almost never hold up. They peel, they fade, they bubble, and eventually, they cost more to fix than it would’ve cost to do the job right the first time. You don’t save money—you just push the expense down the road and double it.

The floor in your garage isn’t just about looks. It’s about function, safety, and longevity. It’s where your family walks in and out every day. It’s where your tools live, where your tires park, and where your home’s resale value takes a visible hit—or gets a boost.

So if you’re serious about upgrading your garage floor, do it right. Call a pro. Call someone who knows how Arkansas concrete behaves and installs systems built to last in this climate.

And if you’re anywhere near Central Arkansas, we’d be glad to help.

Let’s Talk About Your Garage Floor

If you’ve read this far, you’re not looking for shortcuts—you’re looking for a garage floor that actually lasts. One that doesn’t peel, doesn’t fade, and doesn’t turn into a regret six months down the line.

That’s what we do at Rock City Epoxy.

Whether you’re in Little Rock, Maumelle, North Little Rock, Benton, Bryant, or Conway—we install garage floors that hold up under pressure, handle Arkansas humidity, and still look sharp years down the road.

So if you’re ready to stop guessing and start building a floor that works, give us a shout. We’ll answer your questions, check out your garage, and tell you exactly what it needs—no hard sell, just honest advice and expert work.

📍 Serving Central Arkansas
📞 Call TJ at (501) 408-6160
📧 Email: [email protected]

Let’s build something that lasts.