Epoxy Install Midwest Floorguard Products

majerus · Feb 19, 2017

For awhile now I have been trying to figure out what flooring product to go with in my garage. After getting a couple Racedeck type samples from various companies, and thinking long and hard about what to do i went with epoxy. I like the idea of plastic tiles as I am not really planning at staying at my current home for very long but decided ultimately given the shape of my concrete and the weird slopes it has by the interior door way that epoxy was the way to go.

Some of the before shots. Its kinda hard to see but the concrete had a few cracks in it, old paint and herculiner stuck to it and overall looked like ****.

The black stuff is the herculiner, lasted longer in the garage then it did on my trailer project sadly...

Cleaning out the garage completely *****..

Install day...

After grinding..

Fix the cracks

Putting the Epoxy Base on..

Flakes and color

Clear is on..

Found a bug..

The results..

Overall there was one spot that doesnt look good I have the option of having the installer fixing it or just live with it not sure what i am going to do yet.

Overall I am pretty happy with the results, I guess we will see how it holds up over time. The project took a single guy about 4 hours the first day, and 3 hours the following day to complete.

Antoddio · Feb 19, 2017

Looks pretty good. No primer? What topcoat?

majerus · Feb 19, 2017

I dont think primer was used, hope that doesnt turn into a problem down the road. I took a couple pics of the random cans that were around. One thing I noticed reading the datasheet it says its 95% solids, the guy who sold it said it was 100% i guess they just round up?

http://www.floorguardproducts.com/shop/images/technical_data_eb5150.docx

Antoddio · Feb 19, 2017

Well, I guess that is like a primer and basecoat in one. Not the most solid floor, but you could be alright if you aren't too hard on it. A ~50% solids primer and then 100% solids basecoat should have been used. How much did this guy charge?

majerus · Feb 19, 2017

$1500 for 700sqft, that was after talking him down from $2500.

Thinking about this after finding out its 95% solids, instead of the 100% I was told was it would be. Should I bring this up to the installer and what will I notice because it is 95%? Will it just be 5% less mills then what it was when it was laid down or is there going to be a long term issue with the floor?

Antoddio · Feb 20, 2017

Well, the 95% solids isn't the issue. The problem is your overall coating is likely really thin and they didn't use an appropriate primer. That price is just really cheap for epoxy. Too cheap. You can bring it up if you want but it won't be worth your time. Any decent installer wouldn't touch a job for that price. I just got into the business and could barely get materials for that cost. That being said if you don't intend to use the floor very much or expose it to salt or anything you might be okay. Situations like this is why epoxy gets a bad name so often.

Shea · Feb 20, 2017

There is very little difference between 95% and 100% solids. The missing 5% is replaced with solvents. It actually makes it easier to apply with no measurable difference in thickness. It also helps with penetration into the concrete when a primer is not used. Primer is not a requirement, but it is highly recommended for high solids epoxy.

$1500 for 700 square feet is cheap and a reflection of only two coats of material total being used. I'm guessing the top coat was epoxy as well and not a polyurethane or polyurea? The going rate is a minimum of $4 a square foot for a professionally installed coating with a primer, high solids base coat, and high performance clear top coat.

majerus · Feb 20, 2017

Ill ask the guy what type of top coat was used, I remember it being stated in the contract but I cannot find that at the moment. One interesting thing is that I have a camera in the garage and just watched the footage for the install, it went like this.

Grind the floor, and vacuum sweep vacuum.

Repair the cracks.

Then poured grey material down and moved it around with a squeegee and a roller brush.

Threw chips on everything.

The next day vacuum up the left over chips, then laid down the top coat by pouring it out of a bucket and moving it with a roller.

I guess there are only 2 coat right? The bottom coat, and the top coat? Do the chips not count as a coat?

Checked into the top coat he used epoxy.

majerus · Feb 17, 2019

Well almost 2 years to the day since this was installed and its holding up great. No chipping, no yellowing and still super easy to clean.

Blueline · Mar 1, 2019

Thanks for the update, I have been researching floor coverings. Glad it has worked out for you.

hammer294 · Jul 5, 2019

majerus said:
Well almost 2 years to the day since this was installed and its holding up great. No chipping, no yellowing and still super easy to clean.

Thank you for the 2 year follow up. I have a Floorguard rep near me scheduled for an install at my house soon. We have been looking at a darker floor color of Basalt. But I am thinking little would look sharp. How has you Floor color been with noticing dirt and all?

majerus · Apr 20, 2020

Year 3.. The floor looks great still, cleans up well and has taken some abuse with projects I have been working on. If you get the right light you can see just a bit of yellowing however its very minor and no one notices besides me. Its been really scratch resistant, and so far held up to welding sparks without a problem.

majerus · Feb 24, 2021

Well 4 years later, looks the same still holding up great.

majerus · May 4, 2022

Year 5 update, looks great still no problems.

CombatNinja · May 6, 2022

I love how all the experts chimed in telling you that your job was done too cheaply and it would never hold up/too few coats/wrong topcoat, etc. And here you are 5 years later and you are still happy with a floor that is holding up well. I am of the mind that nobody actually understands how epoxy works and it is all luck of the draw. Glad it worked out for you.

tncatadjuster · May 7, 2022

I’m an expert and I did not say that, and I have not built my business on the luck of the draw.

Epoxy Install Midwest Floorguard Products

majerus

Well-known member

Antoddio

Well-known member

majerus

Well-known member

Antoddio

Well-known member

majerus

Well-known member

Antoddio

Well-known member

Shea

Well-known member

majerus

Well-known member

majerus

Well-known member

Blueline

Active member

hammer294

Member

majerus

Well-known member

majerus

Well-known member

majerus

Well-known member

CombatNinja

Well-known member

tncatadjuster

Well-known member