The honest answer: choose an epoxy flooring contractor on three things, in this order. First, whether they inspect and test your slab before they quote. Second, whether the quote says which system you are buying and what is included. Third, who is responsible for the floor once it is poured. The resin itself is rarely what goes wrong. A poor floor is almost always a skipped preparation step, a wrong system for the room, or nobody who owns the result. The eight questions below work on any epoxy flooring company in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or elsewhere in the UAE, us included.
1. Do they inspect the slab before quoting?
Epoxy bonds to whatever is underneath it. A slab with moisture rising through it, loose or hollow patches, old coatings or oil stains will show the problem later as bubbles, lifting or patches. A contractor who gives a firm price from a message alone has not looked at the part of the job that decides how long the floor lasts. A site visit before the quote is normal, and a good company asks for photos first and visits second. Our quotes follow a visit for the same reason.
2. What exactly is the preparation?
Ask for it in words. Diamond grinding of the slab is the standard route for a floor you want to last; a quote that says “cleaning” or “light sanding” is a thinner job. Ask what happens to cracks, joints and damaged areas, and whether a primer is part of the price. You are comparing scope here, not a brand name.
3. Which system are you being sold?
“Epoxy” covers very different floors, and the name alone tells you nothing:
- Metallic epoxy: a multi-layer decorative pour with swirls and depth, for living areas, showrooms and statement floors. See metallic epoxy.
- Solid-colour poured epoxy: a smooth, seamless, single-colour floor for clean modern spaces. See poured epoxy.
- Flake epoxy: a chip-broadcast finish with texture and grip, used in garages, utility rooms and busy spaces. See flake epoxy and where flake epoxy belongs.
- A single roller coat: a thin paint-like layer on a cleaned slab. It is a different product from a poured system, and epoxy paint vs an epoxy floor coating explains the difference.
If two quotes differ a lot, they are almost always for different systems. Ask each contractor to name theirs.
4. What does the quote include?
A quote worth comparing lists the preparation, the number of layers, the topcoat and whether supply and installation are both included. Without that list you cannot compare two figures, because the cheaper one may simply leave things out. For why prices vary and what drives them, read how much epoxy flooring costs in the UAE. At RBS, epoxy is priced per project after a site visit, supply and install.
5. Can they show work that has been lived on?
A fresh epoxy floor always looks good. Ask to see, or at least see photos of, a floor that has been in use for a year or more, and ask where it was laid. Be careful with portfolios made of stock pictures: ask whether the images are of the contractor’s own jobs. The pictures on our own epoxy pages are illustrations of each finish, and we say so on the page.
6. Which room, which traffic, and will they say when epoxy is the wrong answer?
This is the most telling question. Epoxy is an indoor floor. In direct sun it ambers and chalks, so a terrace, pool surround or driveway needs a different, UV-stable surface; read does epoxy flooring turn yellow. A smooth gloss floor can be slippery when wet, and a fine anti-slip texture in the topcoat is the fix, as is epoxy flooring slippery explains. Heavy forklift and impact floors need an epoxy mortar screed rather than a decorative pour; see warehouse and industrial flooring. A contractor who never talks a client out of epoxy, or who offers the same system for a kitchen, a garage and a warehouse, is not looking closely.
We are a decorative-surfaces company, not an industrial coater. For a heavy-duty plant floor, ask a specialist industrial contractor; for a home, shop, showroom, office or garage where the look matters as much as the wear, that is the work we do.
7. Who is responsible when something goes wrong?
A resin pour is a one-shot, live process. Ask who is on site, who signs off each stage, and who you call if a defect appears. Ask whether supply and installation sit with one company or are split between several. RBS is responsible for every job, start to finish: the slab check, the preparation, the pour, the topcoat and the result. Whatever company you choose, get the answer in writing and make sure it names one party.
8. What are the care instructions and the curing time?
A good contractor tells you when the floor can take foot traffic, furniture and vehicles, and how to clean it, before the job starts. If the answer is vague, expect surprises. Our care guides, epoxy floor care and cleaning and metallic epoxy floor care, show the level of detail you should expect from anyone.
Quick checklist: green flags and red flags
| Question | Green flag | Red flag |
|---|---|---|
| Slab | Inspected on site before the quote | Firm price from a message alone |
| Preparation | Named in words (diamond grinding, repairs, primer) | “We clean it and coat it” |
| System | Named: metallic, solid, flake | Just “epoxy” |
| Quote | Preparation, layers, topcoat, supply and install listed | One line with a total |
| Past work | Their own jobs, some a year or more old | Stock pictures |
| Honesty | Tells you where epoxy is the wrong choice | Epoxy for every room |
| Responsibility | One company answers for the whole job | Split between parties, nobody owns the result |
Which one should you choose?
Shortlist two or three companies and ask each the same eight questions, in writing. Choose the one that inspected the slab, named the system, listed what is in the price and told you something honest, even if it was “not for that room”. The lowest figure is rarely the same product as the next one up. If you would rather start from a simple picture of what to expect, epoxy flooring in Dubai shows the three finishes and where each one belongs.
To have us look at your floor, send a photo of the slab and the rough size on WhatsApp. The exact quote follows a site visit.
Related guides
- How Much Does Epoxy Flooring Cost in the UAE?
- Does Epoxy Flooring Turn Yellow?
- Where Does Flake Epoxy Actually Belong?
- Epoxy Flooring vs Tiles: Which Is Better for a UAE Home?
- Warehouse & Industrial Flooring in the UAE
FAQ
How do I choose an epoxy flooring contractor in Dubai?
Ask two or three companies the same questions: do they inspect the slab before quoting, what exactly is the preparation, which system are they selling, what does the quote include, and who is responsible for the finished floor. Compare scope, not just the total.
Why do epoxy flooring quotes differ so much?
Because they are often for different products. A single roller coat on a cleaned slab and a diamond-ground, multi-layer poured system with a protective topcoat share a name but not a process. Ask each contractor to name the system and list what is included.
Should an epoxy flooring company visit before quoting?
Yes. The condition of the slab, including moisture, loose areas and old coatings, decides how the floor is prepared and how long it lasts. A price given only from photos or a message skips that check.
Is a cheap epoxy flooring quote a red flag?
Not by itself, but check what it leaves out. The usual gaps are slab preparation, the number of layers and the topcoat. If the scope matches the higher quote, the low one may be fine; if it does not, you are comparing two different floors.
What is the difference between an epoxy flooring contractor and an industrial coater?
An industrial coater specialises in heavy-duty plant floors for forklifts, chemicals and impact. A decorative contractor like RBS focuses on floors where the look matters as much as the wear: homes, showrooms, shops, offices and garages. Pick the specialist that matches the room.
Can epoxy go outdoors?
Not in direct sun. Epoxy ambers and chalks outdoors in the UAE, so terraces, pool surrounds and driveways need a different, UV-stable surface.
How do I get a quote from RBS for an epoxy floor?
Send a photo of the slab and the rough size on WhatsApp. Epoxy is priced per project after a site visit, supply and install.
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