DIY floor grinding/Full flake polyurea

[Hnines]

I think I have decided to go with a full flake polyurea coating for my new pole barn.
I have basically two options…..
1) Hire a local company that specializes in doing these coatings. They will grind the floor, install the full flake coating, and back it with either a 15 year warranty or a lifetime warranty. Some of these company’s use polyurea, and some use polyaspartics.
Cost for my 2,000 square feet is between 11-12k completed.
2) Rent a floor grinder and grind the floor myself, then buy the coating kit from a vendor here, and complete the job myself.
Cost of floor coating kit, related supplies and renting a floor grinder for a week will probably be somewhere between 6-8k, depending on which polyurea kit I go with.

If I do the job myself I will need to rent a floor grinder from Sunbelt. I would need a pretty large one being in doing 2,000 square feet. What grinder is recommended for a large floor, to get it done as quickly and efficiently as possible?
Also looking for opinions on single part polyureas vs dual part polyureas. The vendors here sell both. Single part polyureas are gonna have lower based solids, whereas the dual part polyureas are going to be very high based solids. The trade off is that the single part polyureas cure slower so there is more time to get them put down vs the dual part polyureas. Are the dual part polyureas significantly better, or more durable than the single part polyureas?
Garage will be used as a combination man cave and to do odd projects. May install a lift down the road and possibly do some work on a hot rod, but definitely not a full auto shop or anything. Will be pulling a boat and truck in and out some. I want a floor that is going to last a long time without flaking up or peeling.
Looking for thoughts/opinions.
Thanks in advance!

 

[Garage Flooring]

A full flake Polyurea floor such as https://www.garageflooringllc.com/polyurea-garage-floor-coating-kits/ is one of the most durable floor coatings you can install. In terms of Polyurea / polyaspartic hybrid products, there are three of us here (Legacy, Armorpoxy, and us) that offer the best products I know of.

We don't generally offer 2-Part Polyasparticcoatings to the DIY community because they are very difficult to work with. The single-component poly products have virtually unlimited pot life and are much easier to work with. The two-part systems will provide a thicker top coat capable of covering a full flake in a single coat as opposed to two -- but we do not suggest it for DIY.

The best approach to this floor will be

1. Surface prep -- etch or grind
2. Full flake into first coat
3. sand (you will then remove dust and loose flake)
4. coat two
5. coat 3

 

[Rusted Nut]

Do you have enough power to run a grinder if you rent one? You may have to factor in the cost of a tow behind generator as well. You will also have dispose the grinding dust, which depending on what state you live in may have to be recycled at an approved facility.

 

[FJ4FUN]

For about the same amount of money (perhaps a little cheaper) and time you can apply ~35mils of full flake Wolverine Coatings' industrial grade goodness. For considerably less, a partial flake floor (Flakes and flood coat are $$). On a dollar per mil basis it's very tough to beat...

With regards to prep for 2,000sf, YES, definitely step up to the 20-30" grinder and appropriate HEPA dust extraction unit from Sunbelt (or any other quality equipment rental service). Sunbelt offers the Lavina grinders and they are the best IMHO. Grinding the field will be relatively easy, the edging is the least favorite part so make sure you rent, or have access to, a quality shrouded angle grinder (or two....) that can be hooked up to the HEPA vac. All-in on rental equipment should run you less than $1,000. With the correct rental EQ and an assistant it should not take you more than 1 long or 2 easy days to grind 2,000sf.

Rusted Nut brings up an often overlooked consideration. Make sure you have ample electrical power to run the grinder AND vac simultaneously... These two units in tandem draw a lot of current, particularly on start-up. If your supply power is suspect rent a genny for the grinder and plug the vac into shop supplied circuit or consider a propane powered grinder if available (NOT gasoline). You won't need a towable genny. Also, make sure the rental yard includes a compatible extension cord/s for the grinder/vac and the floor wand attachments for the HEPA vac. Nothing is more frustrating than renting, hauling, setting up to grind your floor only to have circuit breakers start popping.... trust me, been there, done that...

 

[Hnines]

Is there a reason not to use a gas powered grinder?
Working on getting electric installed now, but will probably be a few weeks until it is completed and in service.

Is there a specific grinder model number anyone can recommend? Looking for the best I can get to make this as easy as possible.

 

[FJ4FUN]

Is there a reason not to use a gas powered grinder?
Working on getting electric installed now, but will probably be a few weeks until it is completed and in service.

Is there a specific grinder model number anyone can recommend? Looking for the best I can get to make this as easy as possible.

Regular gasoline powered EQ runs very dirty and will introduce contaminants onto your floor via the exhaust. Propane runs much cleaner.
Sunbelt Propane
Sunbelt Electric Grinder
Sunbelt Dust Ext
Hand grinder

You will need to rent diamond tooling for the walk-behind grinders as well. Not every Sunbelt location carries these grinders, check with your local branch.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Here is a great video…

 

[P0234]

I'm guessing you've never done a floor coating before. 2000 SQ feet is a huge area. You are going to need help and/or do it in parts which won't look uniform.

 

[Hnines]

Thanks for the info…..that helps!

 

[craigdt]

I just did a 400sq ft install by myself.

Did the 3 layer partial flake from Alpha Garage. Turned out beautifully.

Can't imagine trying to do a 2,000 sq ft. Better have some helpers.

 

[HaiKarate]

Here is a great video…

I'll take your word for it - that thumbnail alone is enough to drive this potential customer away.

 

[FJ4FUN]

If you rent the proper equipment (which is available just about everywhere now) and have a few good friends to help, 2,000sf is totally doable. If you're experienced with floor coatings you can get it done with a 3 person crew but having a 4th really helps.

Just be forewarned, they will be asking you to help them with their floors down the road...

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

I'll take your word for it - that thumbnail alone is enough to drive this potential customer away.

Quite legit actually. This is not our video a customer placed it on youtube. They were boyfriend and girlfriend at the time they are now married. Very nice people.

 

[Hnines]

Would this grinder be a good choice to do 2,000 sq/ft? In other words, would it be sufficient to do the job in a fairly timely manner, or would I want something larger?
I would also have to buy the diamond inserts. Would one set be enough to do the entire floor?

Diamond Grinder Electric 3 Head | Sunbelt Rentals

Utilizes rotating discs to level, smooth or clean the top surface of a concrete slab. Applications include eliminating trowel marks, smoothing rough edges, removing coatings, grinding high spots and adding texture to slippery surfaces.

www.sunbeltrentals.com

 

[kngelv]

That is a large area if you have never done it before. Not sure the 3K savings is worth it versus hiring a legit company. Hitting up 3-4 friends who also may have never done this kind of work adds to the risk element. There are a lot of things that can go wrong as many threads on here can attest to. I'd really think this through and of course have some self awareness of ones own abilities. Good luck.

James

 

[FJ4FUN]

Would this grinder be a good choice to do 2,000 sq/ft? In other words, would it be sufficient to do the job in a fairly timely manner, or would I want something larger?
I would also have to buy the diamond inserts. Would one set be enough to do the entire floor?

Diamond Grinder Electric 3 Head | Sunbelt Rentals

Utilizes rotating discs to level, smooth or clean the top surface of a concrete slab. Applications include eliminating trowel marks, smoothing rough edges, removing coatings, grinding high spots and adding texture to slippery surfaces.

www.sunbeltrentals.com

That will get it done but if you have sufficient power source step up to the 230V version.

 

[benwah]

See if they have a propane grinder and propane vacuum. You can get 2K SF in one tank of each most likely. One set of bits is more than enough for many floors, see if they will buy them back (prob not but worth asking).

You can definitely do 2000 SF but like others have mentioned you'll need some helpers and you will have to HUSTLE. Especially if it is hot, IDK where you are located. Mix man (flaker), 1 or 2 cutmen (cleanup) and a squeegee/roller (you) for DIY. Mark off your square footage with tape on the walls.

As far as the top coat goes, I prefer 2 component polyaspartic, but like the pro's have mentioned you have to be super fast with it, no room for error. 2 coats of a single component poly should be fine.

 

[dcg9381]

I've done 4 polyurea floors (Legacy Industrial) on new concrete. Although griding seems to be the way to go, I've never had adhesion problems with new concrete and simply etching. Polyurea (IMHO) is a lot easier to install than epoxy and it certainly costs less. I've used it in residential over water based stain. I'm going to continue to use it in future products. 2 coat minimum. The most difficult part is making sure that you get consistent coverage with the 2nd coat as it's a bit hard to see.

 

[FJ4FUN]

Given the type of product that we supply (100% solids epoxy) we consider grinding to be the gold standard for prep. About the only time we'll consider chemical etching as a viable alternative to grinding is on new concrete and even then we'll add the caveat "a properly neutralized etch". That being said, many, many of our customers etch, both new and old slabs, and it is my complete confidence in Wolverine's BondTite 1101 primer that allows me to sleep comfortably at night.