Basement Epoxy Floors in Kelso, WA, Tested Before We Coat

A common mistake in Kelso basements is rolling a hardware-store epoxy kit onto a slab that has water coming up through it. Within a season the coating bubbles, peels and smells musty. The concrete was never the problem. Moisture vapor from the ground was, and in a town built along the Cowlitz River with a high water table in the low areas, that happens a lot.

So every basement job here starts with a calcium-chloride test or an RH probe. The early 1900s to 1950s houses in Downtown Kelso and South Kelso, rather than the hillside ranches of North Kelso and Lexington, are the ones most likely to have basements, and many of them have old floor tile, paint layers or both. The reading and a look at the surface tell us exactly which system the floor needs.

A Basement System Made for Damp Ground

When the test shows high vapor, we roll a moisture-mitigating primer first. It bonds into the ground concrete and holds back the vapor so the rest of the system can stay stuck. On top goes 100% solids epoxy, then a full flake broadcast, then polyaspartic to finish, for a total build of 30 to 40 mils. The finish is mold resistant and mops clean, which is a big step up from bare, dusty concrete.

We never coat over standing water or an active leak. If a wall seeps or the floor puddles after rain, the source has to be fixed first, whether that is gutters, grading or a sump. Once the slab is just damp rather than wet, the coating handles it. Expect the crew in the basement a day or two, then give the floor two or three more days to harden. The warranty is 15 years.

Our Basement Epoxy Floors System

Materials: Moisture-mitigating primer, 100% solids epoxy, flake broadcast, polyaspartic topcoat
Thickness: 30-40 mils
Install time: 1-2 days
Cure time: 2-3 days
Warranty: 15 years

Moisture tolerant. Mold resistant. Easy to clean.

Old Tile, Old Houses and the Cowlitz Water Table

Many older Kelso basements still have 9 by 9 floor tile, and some of that tile and its glue can contain asbestos. We do not tear it out ourselves. A sample goes to a lab, and on a positive result licensed abatement contractors take it out ahead of our crew, or in some cases it can be encapsulated; we will tell you which after seeing it. Valley fog and long wet winters keep basement air damp, and colder mornings than Vancouver slow the cure. We are about 40 minutes down I-5 from exit 39, so the test visit and install are scheduled together.

Kelso Neighborhoods We Cover

Downtown Kelso, South Kelso, North Kelso, Lexington

Basement Floor Pricing for Kelso Houses

Basement systems run $5 to $10 a square foot. A 500-square-foot basement in one of the older flats houses comes to about $2,500 to $5,000. A full 800-square-foot lower level runs $4,000 to $8,000. The moisture primer and heavy tile glue removal push toward the top of that range. Abatement, when needed, is billed separately by the licensed company. We quote after testing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Our South Kelso basement smells damp but the floor looks dry. Do we need the moisture primer?

Maybe. A slab can look dry and still push plenty of vapor, especially that close to the river. The calcium-chloride or RH test gives us a real number. If it is over the limit for standard epoxy, the primer goes on. If not, you skip that cost.

We have old 9 by 9 tile down there. Can you just coat over it?

We will not coat over tile without knowing what it is. Old tile and black glue can contain asbestos. A lab test comes first; on a positive result a licensed abatement crew pulls it up or, in some cases, it gets encapsulated. We tell you which route makes sense after we see the floor.

The floor puddles every heavy rain. Can epoxy fix that?

No coating fixes running water. The source has to be handled first, usually gutters, downspouts, grading or a sump pump. Once the floor stops getting wet and is just damp, we can coat it with the moisture-tolerant system. We are happy to look and tell you what we think is causing it.

Is a coated basement floor a good base for a rec room or gym?

Yes. The surface is hard, easy to clean and does not shed concrete dust. Rubber gym mats sit fine on it, and area rugs can go down once it cures. Flake hides scuffs from weights and kids. If you want a warmer look, we can talk colors at the estimate.

How long will the basement be off limits?

Plan on one to two days of work and two to three days before heavy furniture goes back. Socks and slippers can usually cross it by the next evening. Kelso basements stay cool, so we may run a small heater to keep the cure on schedule. We will give you a firm timeline once we see the space.

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