Epoxy Durability Ratings?

[Wesley J]

Hey Guys,

I'm going to be building a 24x70 garage this summer and am trying to figure out what epoxy system to use. I know this has really been beaten to death but I'm hoping to get some opinions from people who have experience with the different products.

I currently have a 24x24 shop that I coated with U-Coatit about 5 years ago. Although I havent had any peeling, the floor is in relatively rough shape. I used the standard coating plus the high gloss chemical resistant top coat. My shop is a shop, not a garage. I do a lot of fabrication and the MIG and plasma are used on a very regular basis. The gloss is completely gone from the main work area and I have many many burns not only from the plasma but also from MIG spatter. Moving jack stands around will scratch the floor.

So, I guess what I'm asking is, are any of the products that seem to get a lot of press here any better than ucoatit?

I'm going to have enough space so that I can have a dedicated welding area and am most likely going to add additional floor protection there, but I'd like to start off with the most durable floor to begin with.

Cheers,

Wes

 

[Wesley J]

A couple of pics

 

[bdamico]

That's what I had and my experience was about the same. I would say if you go with industrial or wolverine you'll have more thickness and more durability. Read up. This is covered extensively. Plenty of information here.

That being said, I switched to porcelain.

 

[pauloman]

for a hard working shop you need a quart broadcast epoxy floor. Serious professional epoxy floor installers that I've worked with in the past, would offer nothing else. Essentially you get a quartz floor held in place with epoxy as opposed to a plastic like epoxy coating on a regular epoxy floor with maybe a few sand grains for anti slip

see www.epoxyproducts.com/quartz4u.html for a 2 coat broadcast floor

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Agreed. You need more mils.

Frankly, the hot-work you are doing requires a welding-mat to protect the floor coating.

 

[Garage Flooring]

Look at mills and abrasion resistance... AND, no matter what kind of floor you have, working with welding requires precautions. Legacy is correct.

 

[Wesley J]

Guys,

Thanks a bunch for all of the information!

So, better/thicker product and a welding mat it is. Now to read through the hundreds of threads on the epoxy...

Cheers,

Wes

 

[tncatadjuster]

for a hard working shop you need a quart broadcast epoxy floor. Serious professional epoxy floor installers that I've worked with in the past, would offer nothing else. Essentially you get a quartz floor held in place with epoxy as opposed to a plastic like epoxy coating on a regular epoxy floor with maybe a few sand grains for anti slip

see www.epoxyproducts.com/quartz4u.html for a 2 coat broadcast floor

Got to be the worst web site ever.

 

[bdamico]

Guys,

Thanks a bunch for all of the information!

So, better/thicker product and a welding mat it is. Now to read through the hundreds of threads on the epoxy...

Cheers,

Wes

or, as i stated, move to porcelain tile... and not worry about a welding mat

 

[Wesley J]

Got to be the worst web site ever.

I hear ya. Looks worse than my first website from 1993 that I wrote in a Linux text editor, LOL.

 

[Wesley J]

or, as i stated, move to porcelain tile... and not worry about a welding mat

Theres something about a shiny continuous floor that I love.

Any pics of your porcelain floor?

 

[bdamico]

Theres something about a shiny continuous floor that I love.

Any pics of your porcelain floor?

Remember I had ucoat it. There is something about not worrying about the finish on my floor.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=151789&highlight=rectified

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

I hear ya. Looks worse than my first website from 1993 that I wrote in a Linux text editor, LOL.

 

[Cobra6]

I hear ya. Looks worse than my first website from 1993 that I wrote in a Linux text editor, LOL.

Yep - takes you back at least a decade or more.........

 

[pauloman]

see all the free press you've given that web site? more coverage than any other web site every mentioned on this forum. Pretty slick marketing!

 

[CreteCoater]

for a hard working shop you need a quart broadcast epoxy floor. Serious professional epoxy floor installers that I've worked with in the past, would offer nothing else. Essentially you get a quartz floor held in place with epoxy as opposed to a plastic like epoxy coating on a regular epoxy floor with maybe a few sand grains for anti slip

see www.epoxyproducts.com/quartz4u.html for a 2 coat broadcast floor

Thanks for the LOLZ . What a rediculous website.

 

[Texas Proud]

In process of building 30 x 40 workshop/garage. Just purchased armor garage epoxy product for floor. Will post pics when done. Heard durability is good.

 

[pauls_workshop]

Thanks for the LOLZ . What a rediculous website.

To Paul's defense, I only recently discovered his website, and while I also think it could use some updates, the knowledge and information there is just top notch and helped me tremendously on my first epoxy floor project. Paul is top notch too. So do take a look at that terrible website and go through each page, if you can find them! It is worth it ! - Paul

 

[Cobra6]

I would rate Legacy and Epoxy-Coat above U-Coat-it

The only spot on my Epoxy Coat floor is where I dropped a 40 lb vice 4 feet on its corner - it even cracked the concrete - so it didn't matter what kind of floor was on there.

 

[pauls_workshop]

I would rate Legacy and Epoxy-Coat above U-Coat-it

The only spot on my Epoxy Coat floor is where I dropped a 40 lb vice 4 feet on its corner - it even cracked the concrete - so it didn't matter what kind of floor was on there.

Hey Cobra, how has the epoxy-coat been for scratch and scuff resistance? Do you have a clear coat also and which type if so? thx - Paul

 

[CreteCoater]

To Paul's defense, I only recently discovered his website, and while I also think it could use some updates, the knowledge and information there is just top notch and helped me tremendously on my first epoxy floor project. Paul is top notch too. So do take a look at that terrible website and go through each page, if you can find them! It is worth it ! - Paul

I am an installer so that is probably why I find it so comical. I'm sure there may be some useful home owner info there. I normally stay out of the epoxy threads. They remind me of the old Yahoo chatrooms where one girl had a webcam and 40 guys were trying to woo her.

 

[Cobra6]

Hey Cobra, how has the epoxy-coat been for scratch and scuff resistance? Do you have a clear coat also and which type if so? thx - Paul

I used Epoxy-Coat gray with their clear coat - I had a friend here close who did the same - he put the plain epoxy floor down, but after looking at it decided to add the clear. I also used the Legacy Industrial primer

I have dropped a 2 lb hammer on the floor two or three times and it didn't do anything. I have used a floor jack moved around table saws, etc., and rolled scaffolding around finishing the ceiling and have not noticed any scuffing or scratches except where I dropped the vise trying to mount it to my workbench and the corner knocked a dent in the floor.

 

[pauls_workshop]

I used Epoxy-Coat gray with their clear coat - I had a friend here close who did the same - he put the plain epoxy floor down, but after looking at it decided to add the clear. I also used the Legacy Industrial primer

I have dropped a 2 lb hammer on the floor two or three times and it didn't do anything. I have used a floor jack moved around table saws, etc., and rolled scaffolding around finishing the ceiling and have not noticed any scuffing or scratches except where I dropped the vise trying to mount it to my workbench and the corner knocked a dent in the floor.

Cobra, many thanks. This is the kind of experience with clears I've been hoping to hear from people. Just one more question though - epoxy coat has an epoxy clear and a urethane clear. The epoxy clear is what you get through lowes, which I just did. The urethane clear is only through them directly. To confirm, do you have the epoxy clear? I'm trying to get a feel for my woodshop if I should STOP with the epoxy clear and maybe just wax the top of it to minimize scuff/scratches or if I really ought to go with a more resistant clear on top, like a urethane or something else. Clears are extremely confusing to the newbie like me. My woodshop might be 10 hours a week at the most traffic, and I'm going to put wheels on the bottom of all my tools I move around, but dropping stuff is inevitable (hopefully no vices though! But my wife tells me I have many vices so that may happen too!) - Paul

 

[pauls_workshop]

I am an installer so that is probably why I find it so comical. I'm sure there may be some useful home owner info there. I normally stay out of the epoxy threads. They remind me of the old Yahoo chatrooms where one girl had a webcam and 40 guys were trying to woo her.

Hey CreteCoater, the way to make these threads less like on-line dating, is for the experts like you to provide your experience and knowledge to help people. The installers bring a key needed "sanity check" to just about whatever else is said here from real life experience of what works. Then it is alot less like on-line dating where each manufacturer is mainly trying to sell their stuff over the others (there is certainly that here on the forums, but most of these do have really good products and the manufacturer support and integrity on these threads to help people is of very high quality, so I'm just fine with that. Without the support of the installers, manufacturers, etc., the forums just wouldn't be anywhere near as useful here. It is a great community at garagejournal I find.)

By the way, don't knock that on-line dating too much! I met my wife on match.com about 9 years back! And that was without a photo of her on line or even a very good description! I tell people I met her on ebay, just to confuse the issue a bit further for them! Not a terrible way to meet people when you find yourself in a new town where you don't know anyone! I'd like to see some installers and some manufacturers get together after spending time together on garagejournal threads, myself ! It could happen! - Paul

 

[retfr8flyr]

Paul, one thing you need to remember is that installers like to come on the forum and help some but they don't really want to help too much. Installers don't really want people to do their own floors, or it would put them out of business. The companies that sell the DIY products will help all they can, in the hope you will buy their products but for installers it's a double edged sword giving advice.

I am new on the forum and I am planning on doing a complete redo of my garage starting next month. For my floor I had decided on doing flexible tile, instead of epoxy but after receiving some samples, that the companies were kind enough to send, I changed my mind. I have decided, with the planned usage in my garage, that epoxy would be best for my floor. The info I have been able to gather from this forum has been invaluable and I hope the installers will continue to contribute their knowledge for us DIY guys.


Earl

 

[pauls_workshop]

Paul, one thing you need to remember is that installers like to come on the forum and help some but they don't really want to help too much. Installers don't really want people to do their own floors, or it would put them out of business. The companies that sell the DIY products will help all they can, in the hope you will buy their products but for installers it's a double edged sword giving advice.

I am new on the forum and I am planning on doing a complete redo of my garage starting next month. For my floor I had decided on doing flexible tile, instead of epoxy but after receiving some samples, that the companies were kind enough to send, I changed my mind. I have decided, with the planned usage in my garage, that epoxy would be best for my floor. The info I have been able to gather from this forum has been invaluable and I hope the installers will continue to contribute their knowledge for us DIY guys.


Earl

Hey Earl, well, I think it all depends on the particular humans involved. I know people who are super knowledgable about some things but just refuse to help anyone or share their knowledge. They are not much fun to be around and I don't care for types like that. I know others who go out of their way to try to help others learn. I'm a pay it forward type myself and love to share whatever I can with others to help them, thinking usually rightfully that they will also do the same for me sometime or someone else will. It is a philosophy and works for me most of the time. I think forums like this need everyone's input to maximize the benefits to all. Each element of the process has things to add here. All should be welcome and encouraged. Even for the do it yourselfers, I do see real needs for the pro installers. There are some real challenging scenarios our there that only pro installers could do well. So I don't view it as competition really. All do it yourselfers have limits in capability. Cheers - Paul

 

[bdamico]

Hey Earl, well, I think it all depends on the particular humans involved. I know people who are super knowledgable about some things but just refuse to help anyone or share their knowledge. They are not much fun to be around and I don't care for types like that. I know others who go out of their way to try to help others learn. I'm a pay it forward type myself and love to share whatever I can with others to help them, thinking usually rightfully that they will also do the same for me sometime or someone else will. It is a philosophy and works for me most of the time. I think forums like this need everyone's input to maximize the benefits to all. Each element of the process has things to add here. All should be welcome and encouraged. Even for the do it yourselfers, I do see real needs for the pro installers. There are some real challenging scenarios our there that only pro installers could do well. So I don't view it as competition really. All do it yourselfers have limits in capability. Cheers - Paul

I think all the info is here and has been provided by knowledgeable people from the industry helping out. There are epoxy installers, epoxy manufacturers, resellers, tile guys, etc. etc. And they take a lot of time to help others here. I, for one, am grateful and I think it really makes this site special.

I think a problem is that people don't want to take the time to read the threads that are already there and want an answer to their question instead. I think plenty of people here "pay it forward" as you put it. But the diy guy has to take some responsibility for finding the info. How much time should the pro installer take to answer the same question 50 times? Shouldn't a few times be enough and then it is up to the guy who needs the info to take some initiative to help himself?

 

[Cobra6]

Cobra, many thanks. This is the kind of experience with clears I've been hoping to hear from people. Just one more question though - epoxy coat has an epoxy clear and a urethane clear. The epoxy clear is what you get through lowes, which I just did. The urethane clear is only through them directly. To confirm, do you have the epoxy clear? I'm trying to get a feel for my woodshop if I should STOP with the epoxy clear and maybe just wax the top of it to minimize scuff/scratches or if I really ought to go with a more resistant clear on top, like a urethane or something else. Clears are extremely confusing to the newbie like me. My woodshop might be 10 hours a week at the most traffic, and I'm going to put wheels on the bottom of all my tools I move around, but dropping stuff is inevitable (hopefully no vices though! But my wife tells me I have many vices so that may happen too!) - Paul

I am putting wheels on all my workbenches, blast cabinet, etc., and I have not had any scuffs on the clear. I am running a drywall hoist around on it right now. I am pretty sure I have the epoxy clear - I ordered the kit directly from Epoxy-Coat and I got the clear that would not be exposed to the sun (my shop is all walls downstairs with windows in the attic). I think the urethane coat from them is for surfaces exposed to more sunlight?
It was a part A and B just like the gray base coat. I still need to coat the 6" strip that is exposed to the sun outside of my pull down doors - I may get some concrete stain or something for that.
I did put a little aluminum oxide nonskid close to the man door entrance for wet feet.

 

[CreteCoater]

I don't mind sharing info at all. I would rather see someone do a project right than set themselves up for failure. I do more commercial work than garages so guys doing their own makes little difference to me.

What I meant by the comment was that I come here for the cool garages and tool threads. After doing epoxy all day the last thing I usually want to do is talk about it some more haha. I do chime in once in a while if I'm bored.

Hell some day I might even have enough time to work on my building and update my thread!

 

[pauls_workshop]

Hey Bdamico:

"I think a problem is that people don't want to take the time to read the threads that are already there "

Well, there certainly is alot of that. As a newbie, I've found though that finding answers to particular questions may not be covered in all those threads. And finding answers in the existing threads is really tough sometimes. There are many great threads here from the past. I've read most of them, but not all yet after hanging out here about 6 weeks. It would be good if the forum could come up with a way to permanently place certain threads with high value content in different categories. For instance, if there were a "favorites thread" category of "epoxy concrete grinding prep" and put key threads there on that topic, and "epoxy acid wash prep" as another, and "which clear coat to use?" as another, and "My epoxy project" as another, etc. This might make it easier for people to find what they need to know when considering a project. As it is, you have to go through everything to try to find what you need, and really, at least 75% of the threads end up repeating things that were said already elsewhere. Take those 25% of the best threads and save them somewhere special, organized better, and people could go there more easily. - Paul