The Process
How It Works
Collect Data
Google reviews, the insurance, bonding and manufacturer certifications each shop states on its own website, and business details — all pulled from public sources.
Score Five Factors
Each installer is evaluated across five weighted categories totaling 100 points. Same formula applies to every shop.
Assign a Grade
Points map to a letter grade from A (best) to F (insufficient data). Refreshed as new information becomes available.
Scoring Breakdown
The Five Factors
Each factor is weighted to reflect what matters most when hiring an epoxy floor coating installer in Wisconsin.
We use each installer's Google rating and review count. But we don't just average the stars — review volume, recency, and how the installer responds to complaints all factor in. For epoxy, we pay special attention to reviews written 12+ months after install — that's when coating quality actually shows up (hot tire pickup, delamination, peeling edges).
Wisconsin doesn't require a state-issued epoxy installer license, so we look for general liability insurance, workers' compensation, and bonding as stated on each installer's own website. We do not check them with a regulator or insurer, so confirm them with the installer before you hire. Manufacturer certifications from brands like Penntek, Graniflex, ArmorPoxy, Elite Crete, and Rust-Oleum Rock Solid earn additional points — certified installers are trained on specific systems and usually carry extended warranty authority.
Years in business installing epoxy and polyaspartic systems in the Fox Valley. Longevity isn't everything — but a shop that has survived multiple Wisconsin freeze-thaw cycles has proven their moisture vapor testing and concrete prep actually hold up. New shops aren't penalized, just scored more cautiously until a track record exists.
Phone number from the business's Google profile, functional website, visible project photos, clear service area, and published business hours. Installers who show real finished work — not just stock coating samples — and make it obvious how to reach them score higher than those with scattered or outdated information.
Whether epoxy and polyaspartic coatings are their core business — not a side service bolted onto a general painting or handyman shop. Dedicated specialists own the right concrete prep equipment (diamond grinders, shot blasters), understand moisture vapor transmission testing, carry the correct 100% solids epoxy and polyaspartic topcoats in stock, and honor their warranties. For a vanity upgrade that's supposed to last 15+ years, specialization matters more in this trade than almost any other.
Final Score
The Grade Scale
Points are totaled and mapped to a letter grade. Only A and B installers are featured prominently in our directory.
Excellent reviews, manufacturer-certified, insurance stated on its website, strong portfolio, dedicated specialist.
Solid reputation, good credentials, clear specialization. A safe pick.
Decent but with limited information, thin portfolio, or mixed reviews. Worth a second look.
Sparse profile, very few reviews, or credential gaps. Get multiple quotes.
Not enough public data to form a judgment. Not featured in our directory.
The Fine Print
Common Questions
Can installers pay to improve their grade?
No. Our grades are generated from public data and cannot be influenced by payment, advertising, or listing claims. If an installer disputes their grade, we review the underlying data — but the scoring formula applies equally to everyone. Even claimed listings get scored by the same rubric as unclaimed ones.
How often are grades updated?
We refresh installer data on a rolling basis. Major changes (new reviews, license updates, insurance lapses, manufacturer certification changes, business closures) are reflected in the next monthly grading pass. Project portfolios and certifications are spot-checked quarterly.
Why isn't every installer in the Fox Valley listed?
We only list installers with enough public data to score meaningfully. If a shop has no online presence, no reviews, and no stated credentials, there's nothing to grade — and nothing to recommend to a homeowner. We also don't list painters or handymen who do epoxy as a once-a-quarter side service.
What if I think a grade is wrong?
Send us the specifics through our contact page. If we find an error in the underlying data — an outdated review aggregate, a missing certification, wrong business hours — we'll correct it and rerun the score. We can't change weights or add categories on request, but we can absolutely fix bad inputs.
Browse graded installers
See how Fox Valley epoxy floor coating installers stack up against our five-factor grade. A and B shops only, sorted by score.