Why are epoxy tables so expensive?

Why are epoxy tables so expensive?
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This is a question I see a lot online and there aren’t a lot of resources available that explain why epoxy river tables are so expensive. I decided to write a quick blog explaining the cost of an epoxy table and what goes into them.

The Materials:

The first factor in the price of an epoxy river table is the materials. Typically most epoxy tables are made using some type of live edge wood. This can be just about anything from live edge walnut or maple, to exotic burls or other unique species of wood. 
The cost of the wood can vary greatly depending on the size, thickness, species, and other factors such as cutting, drying, and processing the slabs. Suitable slabs for most tables are between $1200-2400 but can range quite high.
 
The Molds

The live edge wood is usually put into some type of mold either made from melamine or a form of plastic. These molds are normally made each time a table is being created and are only good for one use. The materials used to create the mold are generally fairly expensive but also require a lot of prep work as well. 
Tuck tape, or sheathing tape, is usually applied to the mold to prevent the epoxy from sticking unless the mold is made from a shiny material, which epoxy won’t stick to. The edges are usually screwed on from underneath and caulking or hot glue is used to seal it. 

Epoxy

Once the mold is ready and the wood is cleaned up,we then seal the edges and surface with a fast-curing epoxy. The curing process takes a few hours before the full pour is done. The cost of the fast epoxy is about $50 for a 1-liter kit. 
The next step is to use a deep case epoxy which is very expensive. The product used at G&B Urban Design retails for around $260/ 3 gallon kit. Most tables require between 3-8 kits depending on the size, with the average table taking around 5 kits. The total cost of this averages around $1300 but again can vary depending on the size and depth of the epoxy.

Processing... Again

Once the epoxy is cured (about 3 days) then it needs to be taken to a large planer to be flattened again so that the wood and epoxy are level. This type of specialty machinery is very expensive so most makers do not own one and have to outsource the work. This process can also require transport fees if the maker doesn’t own a large enough vehicle. 

Topcoat and finishing

Once the table is flattened, it needs to either receive a flood coat of tabletop epoxy to seal the whole top, or it needs to be sanded to be oiled. 

The epoxy flood coat costs another $100/ gallon and still needs to be sanded and sprayed with a polyurethane or acrylic topcoat at roughly $30/ liter.

If deciding on an oiled finish rather than a flood coat, the epoxy needs to be sanded through several steps and then buffed. Each sanding disk used costs around $1 depending on the quality and the process takes a couple of hours.

A hard oil such as Rubio Monocoat is applied to protect the wood and comes at a cost of $80/ can if the finished result doesn’t call for the flood coat. 

Table Legs

Of course, no table is a table if it’s on the floor. This means that there needs to be some type of base or table legs to support the top. These can be made from steel or wood and can vary in cost from a few hundred to thousands of dollars depending on the choices. 

In addition to the legs are all the other pieces of hardware that go along with the legs such as the threaded inserts, steel support channels, bold hardware, and leveling feet. 

Disposables and Cleanup

Whenever working with epoxy there is never a shortage of mess. Between the several sticky buckets that cost between $3-5 each and can’t be reused, the tarps protecting the floor, the ruined clothes and shoes, and all the other challenges that come with the territory, In total, you can easily add another $50 in disposables and cleanup.

Labour

Then you need to factor in the labour and experience of the person creating your custom table. Epoxy river tables are not easy and a lot can go wrong, causing costly mistakes. Each maker will have their own rates that are typically correlated to their experience and comfort level. 

At G&B Urban Design, we have been working with epoxy for over a decade now so we know what to expect. This allows us to price our products accurately and fairly based on the work involved to create one of these pieces of art. 

Conclusion

As you can see, the total average cost of an epoxy river table can range quite a lot. An average-size epoxy table would be expected to run the maker upwards of $3000+ just to create. 

Now that you know why epoxy tables cost so much, you can make a decision if investing in an epoxy river table is the right decision for you. 

If you have more questions about the price of a river table or why river tables are worth so much, contact us at [email protected] and we will be happy to answer any questions you might have.