Last updated: October 2026
Quick answer
Adelaide Epoxy is an installer, not an epoxy supply shop. If you are searching for epoxy supplies in Adelaide to coat a floor yourself, a two-part kit from a supplier can work in a light-use area, but only if you hire a diamond grinder, repair cracks and apply the full thickness. For a garage that parks cars every day, a professional system usually lasts far longer because it is thicker, better bonded and built to resist hot tyres.
Who this guide is for
Every month, plenty of people in Adelaide search for epoxy supplies, epoxy flooring supplies and wholesale epoxy. Some are tradespeople buying materials, some are hobbyists making resin furniture or art, and many are homeowners deciding whether to coat a garage themselves. We do not sell supplies, but we see the results of DIY floors regularly, often when we are asked to grind them off. This guide sets out, honestly, what a DIY floor involves, where it tends to go wrong and when paying a professional makes sense. If your project is resin art, river tables or casting, this is not the right page; those use different, slower-curing resins than floor systems.
What is in a typical DIY floor kit
Hardware and supply stores sell several things labelled "epoxy". One-pack epoxy floor paints are really paints with some epoxy in them. Water-based two-pack kits are easier to use but build a thin film. Solvent-free or high-solids two-pack kits are closer to professional products but have short working times and need careful mixing. Many kits include a small bag of decorative flakes and sometimes an etching solution. What they rarely include is the most important part of the job: mechanical preparation of the concrete.
DIY kit vs professional installation
| Factor | DIY kit from a supplier | Professional installation |
|---|---|---|
| Surface preparation | Usually acid etch or scrub; grinder hire is extra | Diamond grinding with dust extraction |
| Crack and joint repair | Basic filler, if any | Repair materials chosen for the crack type |
| Film thickness | Thin, often one coat | Built up in layers: base, broadcast, topcoat |
| Hot-tyre resistance | Common failure point | Designed for it |
| UV stability at the door | Clear epoxy may yellow | UV-stable topcoat where sun hits |
| Time | A full weekend or more, plus cure | Usually one to three days for a garage |
| Fixing problems later | Failed coating must be ground off | Often recoatable with a refresh |
Our separate comparison of epoxy vs garage floor paint goes further into why thin coatings peel, and the cost guide covers labelled typical Australian price ranges for professional floors.
If you do it yourself: the steps that matter most
- Test for moisture. Tape a square of plastic to the slab for a day or two. Darkening or droplets underneath suggest moisture that can lift a coating.
- Degrease. Oil stains must be cleaned out, not just wiped, or the coating will not bond over them.
- Profile the concrete. Hire a diamond grinder with a vacuum. Acid etching alone often leaves weak surface laitance in place.
- Repair cracks and joints. Use a repair product compatible with the coating.
- Mix exactly. Two-part products cure by chemical reaction. Wrong ratios or poor mixing leave soft, sticky patches.
- Watch the temperature. In Adelaide summer, work early in the morning, keep the kit out of the sun and do not coat a hot slab.
- Respect cure times. Parking too soon is one of the fastest ways to ruin a new floor.
When DIY is reasonable, and when it is not
A DIY kit is a reasonable choice for a storage room, a garden shed, a rental you are tidying up or a garage where cars are rarely parked. It is a poor fit for a daily-use garage, a workshop with jack stands and dropped tools, an outdoor area in full sun, or any commercial floor. It is also worth thinking about safety: grinding creates fine silica dust, and many resin products need good ventilation and proper respiratory protection, so read the product's safety data sheet before you start.
If you would rather hand the job over, a professional garage epoxy floor includes the grinding, repairs, base coat, flake and topcoat, with written cure times. For businesses, see commercial and industrial epoxy.
Fixing a DIY floor that has failed
Peeling in tyre tracks, white blush patches, soft spots and flaking near the door are the most common DIY problems we are asked to fix. The repair is almost always the same: grind off the failed coating, repair the slab and install a full system. Removal adds time compared with bare concrete, so let us know about any previous coating when you request a quote. Photos help.
Frequently asked questions
Does Adelaide Epoxy sell epoxy supplies?
No. We are an installation business, not a retail or wholesale supplier. We supply the materials as part of a professionally installed floor.
Are DIY epoxy floor kits any good?
They can be acceptable for light-use areas if the slab is properly prepared. Most failures come from skipped grinding, thin application and hot-tyre pickup, not from the kit brand itself.
What do I need besides the epoxy kit?
At minimum: a way to mechanically profile the slab (usually a hired diamond grinder with a vacuum), crack filler, degreaser, mixing gear, rollers, spiked shoes and protective equipment including a respirator suitable for the product.
Can you fix a DIY epoxy floor that has peeled?
Usually. The failed coating is ground off, the slab is repaired and a new system is installed. Removal adds time, so tell us about any previous coating when you ask for a quote.
Is professional epoxy worth it compared with a kit?
For garages that park cars daily, often yes, because a professional system is thicker, better bonded and designed for hot tyres. For a rarely used storage room, a carefully applied kit may be enough.
Running a business floor rather than a garage? See commercial epoxy flooring in Adelaide for how professional systems are specified by thickness and traffic.
Keep reading
Ready to talk about your project? Call or text 0421 443 213, Monday to Saturday, 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM, or use the free quote form.
Call 0421 443 213