How to Choose an Epoxy Contractor: Certification, Warranty, Reference Projects

Choosing an Installer Means Choosing Who Is Responsible for the Floor

Epoxy floor coating is a scope of work in which quality depends heavily on installation skill and floor preparation, not only on materials. A good coating system can still fail if the floor has not been prepared correctly or the coating layers are applied outside the proper procedure. Choosing an installer should therefore not rely only on general recommendations, but should be assessed through three groups of evidence: certification and capability, warranty terms, and how the installer substantiates the reference projects they present.

Certification and Capability: What Should You Ask?

First, ask the installer specifically about legal standing and installation capability: whether the business has a business registration appropriate to the installation field, whether the installation team has experience with exactly the type of coating system the project needs, and what steps their installation procedure includes, from survey to acceptance inspection. These questions are not meant to “make things difficult” for the installer, but to distinguish a business with a methodical procedure from one that prices by feel.

• Product-related certification: is the installer authorized or trained by the paint manufacturer to install that coating system? If so, ask to see the authorization or confirmation document, and check whether the document is still valid.
• Experience with a similar system: has the installer applied roller-applied, self-leveling, anti-static, or water-based systems for projects with a similar function? Experience with the right type of system matters more than a general number of years in business.
• Survey and floor preparation procedure: does the installer conduct an actual survey, measure floor moisture content, and assess floor condition before quoting? A business that skips the survey step usually overlooks many other risks as well.
• Occupational safety: does the installation team comply with the safety rules at the project owner’s site, especially when installing in an operating factory?

On Kadier’s side, the Kadier contractor partner program is being developed to connect project owners with installation businesses; the participation conditions and specific benefits of the program will be presented separately in the article on the contractor partner program (KAD-020). You can contact us to learn the conditions for joining the program, rather than treating this article as a detailed description of the program.

Warranty Terms: Read Carefully Before Signing

Warranty is a commitment with legal value, so each term should be read carefully rather than only noting the warranty period. A good warranty term should answer the following questions:

• How long is the warranty period, and counted from when — the date installation finished, or the date of acceptance and handover?
• Which defects fall within the warranty scope (for example peeling caused by installation defects) and which cases are excluded (for example damage from mechanical impact, chemicals outside the scope of the coating system, or concrete settlement and cracking after installation)?
• When a defect arises, how quickly does the installer respond, and how is it remedied — by local repair or by reinstalling the whole area?
• During the warranty period, which conditions of use and maintenance must the project owner comply with for the warranty to remain valid? Preventive maintenance is presented separately in the article on epoxy floor maintenance and cleaning.
• Is the warranty recorded in the contract, or only in the quote or email correspondence? Only commitments recorded in the contract carry full binding value.

If an installer avoids stating the scope and exclusion conditions clearly, that is a sign to be cautious. A serious installer is usually willing to state warranty limits clearly, because they understand that a clear commitment protects both sides.

Verifying Reference Projects: Do Not Just Look at Photos

Reference projects are the most convincing evidence of capability, but also the part most easily exaggerated. Beautiful project photos are not enough to conclude, because photos do not show whether that floor is still in good condition after a period of use. Effective verification includes:

• Ask for verifiable information: the project name, the type of coating system installed, the area, and the time of installation. The more specific the information, the easier it is to verify.
• Ask for reference contacts: is the installer willing to let the project owner contact the previous project owner to ask about installation quality and defect handling? That willingness is itself a good sign.
• Visit an actual project if possible: observe the floor after a period of use, especially in heavy-load areas, damp areas, and areas with frequent forklift traffic.
• Cross-check against the contract: is the reference project recorded in the installer’s official capability dossier, or does it appear only in advertising materials?

This article does not name any specific Kadier reference project, because Kadier has not published a verified list of completed installation projects. Any reference project that a business claims to be a “Kadier project” needs to be verified with written confirmation from Kadier before it is relied on.

Warning Signs to Stop

• A quote that does not state the coating system, thickness, and floor preparation items clearly, yet promises absolute quality.
• No actual survey, yet a firm price and schedule are confirmed.
• No installation contract and no written warranty terms.
• Refusal to provide reference contacts, or inability to provide verifiable reference project information.
• Using project images of unclear origin as evidence of capability.

Note on specifications: The individual specifications of each Kadier coating system (thickness, material consumption, chemical resistance) will be updated when the official technical data sheet (TDS) becomes available.

Contact for Consultation

For advice on choosing a coating system and connecting with a suitable installer, you can refer to the coating systems on the homepage — RollCoat, LevelFlow, StatGuard, AquaBase — then send your request through the contact form or use the coating system finder to identify an initial direction.