Kretus makes some of the most flexible floor coatings on the market, but the catalog can be confusing the first time you look at it: resins and hardeners sold separately, boxed Select kits, letter codes like EZ and FC. This guide explains how the pieces fit together and which Kretus system suits which floor. Empire Coating Solutions is an authorized Kretus distributor, and we stock these products at our shop in Corona, CA.
- Top Shelf Epoxy is the base coat in most Kretus systems. You pair a resin (Part A) with a hardener (Part B) to set cure time, chemical resistance and moisture tolerance.
- Select kits box up popular pairings so you don't have to pick parts. There are seven.
- Epoxy ambers in sunlight. Finish with a polyaspartic or polyurethane topcoat where UV or color stability matters.
- Damp or oily slab? Use the Select OMG Blocker kit, not the standard epoxy kit.
- Buy in person in Corona, order online, or have us install it.
How Kretus Top Shelf Epoxy works
Top Shelf Epoxy is a 100%-solids, two-component epoxy, and it's the foundation of most Kretus floor systems. What makes it different from a one-size kit is the mix-and-match design: Kretus sells several resins and several hardeners, and any Top Shelf resin works with any Top Shelf hardener.
Swapping one component for another changes how the finished coating behaves:
- Cure speed and working time. A slower hardener gives you more time to roll and broadcast. A faster one gets the floor back in service sooner.
- Chemical resistance. Some pairings hold up better to solvents, acids and cleaners.
- Moisture tolerance. Specific resin and hardener combinations are built to go down over slabs with high moisture vapor.
- Cost. You only pay for performance the job needs.
If you need more speed, Top Shelf Epoxy Accelerant shortens working and cure time. Kretus recommends it for experienced installers, since it also shortens the time you have to fix a mistake.
What EZ, FC and XFC mean
These letters show up across the Kretus line and describe cure speed. EZ is the slow cure, with a long working time that helps in hot weather and cuts down on roller marks. FC is fast cure, best in cooler temperatures and lower humidity. Some polyaspartics also come in XFC, an extra-fast cure meant for cold or freezing conditions. Pick by the temperature on install day, not by how fast you want to finish.
Kretus Select kits compared
Kretus created the Select line after asking installers which components they reach for most. Each kit pairs those parts in one box, pre-measured, so you get a proven combination without building it yourself. Here's what each one is for.
| Select kit | Size | What it's for |
|---|---|---|
| Select Epoxy | 3 gal | General-purpose Top Shelf Epoxy base or top coat: 2 gal of Part A resin and 1 gal of TH (traditional) hardener. For slabs with low moisture, up to 3 lbs MVER. Clear, beige or light gray. |
| Select Polyaspartic | 2 gal | 85%-solids, UV-resistant topcoat in EZ or FC. Withstands 0–200°F once cured. The usual clear coat over flake and quartz floors. |
| Select OMG Blocker | 3 gal | Oil, moisture and gas blocker. Goes directly over slabs with up to 25 lbs MVER and 99% RH, and has high chemical resistance. EZ or FC. |
| Select Epoxy Patch | 2 gal | Fills cracks, spalls and divots before the coating goes down. |
| Select Epoxy Cove | 1.5 gal | For cove base, the curved transition where the floor meets the wall in kitchens and wash-down areas. |
| Select ESD Epoxy | 1.5 gal | Static-control (ESD) floors for electronics work, labs and server rooms. Call us before ordering so we can match the kit to your static-control spec. |
| Select ESD Poly | 1.5 gal |
All seven are listed under Kretus Select Line kits in our online store.
Which Kretus system for which floor
These are typical Kretus builds for common jobs. Every slab is different, so read the technical data sheet for each product and ask us if you're unsure.
Garage flake floor
Top Shelf Epoxy base coat, a full color-chip broadcast, then a clear polyaspartic topcoat for UV and hot-tire resistance. See our flake garage floor systems.
Metallic floor
Top Shelf Epoxy with metallic pigment, sealed with a UV-stable topcoat such as Polyurethane HS or Aliphatic MC. More on metallic epoxy floors.
Kitchens, freezers and heavy industry
Urethane Polymer Concrete (UPC) handles -40°F to 266°F and goes on from 5 mils to 4 inches thick. It isn't UV-resistant, so use UPC UV where it sees sunlight. See urethane cement flooring.
Damp or contaminated slab
Start with the Select OMG Blocker kit, rated up to 25 lbs MVER and 99% RH. Test moisture first. A coating over a wet slab is the most common cause of peeling and blistering.
Cracks and joints
Top Shelf Epoxy Patch for cracks and spalls. Poly Patch, a polyurea filler, for control joints, in fast or slow cure.
Occupied spaces and slip resistance
WB Epoxy is the water-based, low-odor option. Add Kretus Anti-Slip (aluminum oxide, bead or texture) to wet areas, ramps and pool surrounds.
Why epoxy needs a topcoat in the sun
Every epoxy ambers over time, and each Top Shelf hardener ambers at a different rate. On a floor that gets sunlight, through an open garage door, a window or outdoors, that shows up as yellowing. Kretus's answer is to finish epoxy systems with a polyaspartic or polyurethane topcoat, which protects the color underneath. This is why most garage and patio systems use two products, not one.
Getting a professional result
A premium coating doesn't fix poor prep. Most failures we see come from three things: concrete that wasn't ground open, cracks that weren't repaired, and moisture that wasn't tested. Grind to an open profile, patch first, test the slab, and follow the mix ratio and recoat window on each product's data sheet.
Buy Kretus in Southern California
Empire Coating Solutions has supplied coatings to contractors and homeowners since 2000. Pick up Kretus at our Corona shop, weekdays from 7:30 AM, or order online. If you'd rather not do it yourself, we also install Kretus floors across Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, Los Angeles and San Diego counties.
284 Dupont Street, Suite B #155, Corona, CA 92879 · (909) 272-5137
Kretus epoxy FAQs
Is Kretus epoxy good for a DIY garage floor?
Yes. The Select kits were designed to make Kretus easier to use for less experienced installers, with pre-measured components in one box. A garage coating still depends on prep: grinding the concrete open, repairing cracks and checking moisture. If you haven't coated a floor before, our 2-day training covers all of it, or we can install it for you.
What do EZ and FC mean on Kretus products?
They are cure speeds. EZ is the slower cure with a longer working time, which helps in hot weather and reduces roller marks. FC is fast cure, suited to cooler, drier conditions and a quicker return to service. Some Kretus polyaspartics also come in XFC, an extra-fast cure for cold conditions.
Does Kretus epoxy turn yellow?
All epoxy ambers over time, and each Top Shelf hardener ambers at a different rate. Where a floor sees sunlight, Kretus recommends a polyaspartic or polyurethane topcoat to keep the color stable.
Can Kretus go over a damp or oily concrete slab?
The standard Select Epoxy kit is meant for slabs with low moisture, up to 3 lbs MVER. For high moisture, oil or chemical vapor, the Select OMG Blocker kit is rated for up to 25 lbs MVER and 99% RH. Test the slab before you choose a product.
Where can I buy Kretus in Southern California?
Empire Coating Solutions is an authorized Kretus distributor. We stock Kretus at our shop at 284 Dupont Street in Corona, CA, open weekdays from 7:30 AM. You can also order through our online store or call (909) 272-5137.
Can Empire Coating Solutions install a Kretus floor for me?
Yes. We install residential, commercial and industrial floor coatings across Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, Los Angeles and San Diego counties. Request a free estimate and tell us about the space.
Product specifications are summarized from Kretus product information. Always follow the current technical data sheet and safety data sheet for each product. Kretus, Top Shelf and Select are trademarks of Kretus Inc.
