Metallic Epoxy Floors in My First Rental

General Landlording & Rental Properties
4yFollow

Metallic Epoxy Floors in My First Rental

Phillip Vallelunga
Member since 2021 · 1 post · 0 votes

Hey everyone,

I am nearing completion of renovations on my first rental property in the Metro Detroit area of Michigan. The home is a bilevel and the first floor has a near perfect cement floor. I've been looking into metallic epoxy floors to cover the cement with an epoxy coating that almost looks like marble. Has anyone used a floor like this in a rental before? Just curious to see how it worked out and how it looks after a few turnovers. 

0Reply
149 views

Most Popular Reply

Bill B.
Investor · Las Vegas, NV · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 10k+ votes
4y

I THINK you'd end up with very cold floors and would be better off with LVP or even carpet.

1Reply
See this reply in the discussion

12 Replies

Jump to latestLatest
  • Marian Smith
    Real Estate Investor · Williamson County, TX · Member since 2011 · 1k+ posts · 961 votes
    4y

    @Phillip Vallelunga I bought a house with epoxy coated concrete floors. It was quite slick when wet. We put a thin (so inexpensive) click lock wood look vinyl over it which looked quite good due to the smooth concrete. The epoxy was an unattractive solid tan. I am sure a marble look would be nicer. Here everyone wants a wood floor.

    0Reply
  • Bill B.
    Investor · Las Vegas, NV · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 10k+ votes
    4y

    I THINK you'd end up with very cold floors and would be better off with LVP or even carpet.

    1Reply
  • Scott M.
    Real Estate Broker · Rochester Hills, MI · Member since 2009 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    4y

    Epoxy will create a slip and fall liability you should try and avoid.  If it is level you can use LVP or self leveling concreate then LVP or similar.  Personally, I would avoid epoxy/cement in a living area in SE MI.  Not the norm either. 

    0Reply
  • Andrew S.
    Member since 2019 · 13 posts · 6 votes
    4y

    Use concrete as a good subfloor and put down LVP

    0Reply
  • Drew SygitBusiness Member
    Property Manager · Royal Oak, MI · Member since 2012 · 12k+ posts · 9k+ votes
    4y

    You can add a sand-type grit to epoxy to avoid slip & fall.

    Usually they are used for basement floors.

    [email protected]248-209-6824
    Logical Property Management4.9459 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    0Reply
  • Colleen F.Pro Member
    Investor · Narragansett, RI · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    4y

    @Phillip Vallelunga  that is gonna be cold.  What rooms are you talking about on this level?

    0Reply
  • Vincent Velez
    Member since 2022 · 4 posts · 0 votes
    4y

    Hi Phillip,
    I'm also looking for an answer to this question, both for rentals and as an inexpensive aesthetic upgrade to your primary residence.
    I don't understand the objection that epoxy floors will be "cold" people who like hard floors aren't worried about the temperature of them, they walk around in socks and slippers, no one lays on the floor. I love hard wood floors and think carpet is cheap and disgusting (and everyone knows that carpet doesn't hold up over time and so adds to maintenance expenses substantially) so why anyone would object to epoxy or concrete or stone floors on the grounds of them being "cold" is beyond me.

    what research I've done so far has told me that good quality epoxy floors are durable against impacts and scratches, and "buffing" and polishing the floors for maintenance after so many years seems pretty simple. but I don't have any first hand or second hand experience to offer you, let me know if you try it and like them!

    -Best,

    Vincent

    0Reply
  • Colleen F.Pro Member
    Investor · Narragansett, RI · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    4y

    @Vincent Velez where do you live? , the original poster was in Detroit.   I have wood floors, it is a hard surface but not cold. A concrete slab in contact with the ground unless heated gets cold. I know from having a split level with tile and carpet in New England. Even with slippers it makes the room cold but you are entitled to your opinion. I installed a one inch high rubber floor over the concrete, it hard surface but not cold because there is some air space so you aren't in direct contact with the slab. 

    0Reply
  • Vincent Velez
    Member since 2022 · 4 posts · 0 votes
    4y

    Hi Colleen, (I tried to tag you like you did me but I cant get it to work for some reason...)

    I don't mean to dismiss anyone else's opinion about flooring preference, everyone is entitled to like what they like. But personally I prefer finishes that are aesthetically pleasing and durable enough to survive long term, and carpet for me is just the worst of all options.

    I Currently live in Cedar Rapids Iowa (which is often colder than Alaska in winter). I understand that harder floors get cold, but I don't understand that as an objection to hard floors. I doubt anyone living in a huge mansion with marble floors would see that as a problem for instance. the solution for living spaces is area rugs of course, which look better and are easier to clean. It is just my opinion, but all the best flooring options in my mind are hard and cold: Concrete, Stone, Tile ect. Carpets even when treated delicately only last a handful of years, even a moderate spill can do permanent damage to the padding underneath unless you pull it all up and dry it.

    I assume you mean in your garage you did that? I've only ever heard of rubber flooring in connection with home gym spaces. If you mean as interior flooring I'd love to know more about it.

    -Best,

    Vincent

    0Reply
  • Colleen F.Pro Member
    Investor · Narragansett, RI · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    4y

    @Vincent Velez no it is bamboo pattern with a rubber base, it is designed for areas that flood. This one is a product called place n go.  You can pick it up hose it off and put it back down which I have done. I found it when I was looking for something tolerant of some of the imperfections in our subfloor and discovered we could self installed it over some old vinyl.    I don't like carpet either but wood and vinyl are good hard surface options that are not as cold or hard as concrete.  This option was in a beach house that also had student renters in it. The floor held up very well to beer spills and beach sand. 

    to tag you use the @sign and start typing the name then choose from the pull down menu. Sometimes it still gives you issues.

    0Reply
  • Vincent Velez
    Member since 2022 · 4 posts · 0 votes
    4y

    @Colleen F.

    That's really cool! I'm going to look into that product I've never even heard of it. I always love hearing about more options for finishes!
    One thing I hadn't even thought of in regards to epoxy flooring was, as a few others mentioned on here and got me thinking about it, the fact that they could be very slippery when wet. One person mentioned adding sand with the epoxy mix to add slip resistance, but I've walked bare foot on enough Non-Skid (paint and sand mixture) to know that I wouldn't want that inside my house. It does seem like that could be a liability that I hadn't even considered

    A downside to wood/vinyl is that if you already have concrete subfloors then you're talking a savings of hundreds or thousands of dollars by just finishing the concrete versus putting something on top of it. I haven't actually polished concrete myself but I love the way it looks, stained concrete can look every bit as luxurious as stone

    Thanks for the info on flooring! I appreciate your input :)
    Best,
    Vincent

    0Reply
Join the conversationCreate a free account to reply, vote on answers and follow this thread.
Log InJoin for Free