apply epoxy coat in basement

[weicm3]

Anyone did epoxy on your basement floor? I want to do my basement first as a practice prior to my garage floor. I will be using cheaper solvent based product such as rust-oleum or quikcrete stuff in the basement as I don't need to worry about hot tire issue there and I don't have a shop down there. Just want to make it look nice and easier to clean.

In regards to the prep work, my basement floor has a thin layer of clear film(already yellowed and it looks like some type of sealer). Most of it is peeled but still need to get rid of it on several spots. What prep work would you recommend? grind the floor and power wash it?

Is acid wash needed? The only way to get water out of there is the sump pump. Will acid damage sump pump and PVC pipe?

Half wall there is painted concrete block. Can I directly apply epoxy on it? Or must I remove the paint?

 

[thegarageguy]

You have a couple issues going on here.

First, since there is a coating present, acid washing will not remove it. You need to diamond grind it.

Secondly, you obviously have moisture issues and regular epoxy will bubble, blister and fail. You need to waterproof first.

 

[bochnak]

I used the Behr 1 part acrylic-epoxy paint in my basement laundry room.

Do a google search on etching concrete in basements. The fumes and other effects led me not to etch the floor. The previous floor was the self stick vinyl tiles and they used the black adhesive in some areas. I tried to clean this stuff up with stripper, and was a PITA. I pretty much gave up....it's not a fun job.

In any case, I did a poor job prepping the floor, I used a OK product for a room that does not really matter to us, and it's holding up fine for the few months it has been down.

 

[weicm3]

You have a couple issues going on here.

First, since there is a coating present, acid washing will not remove it. You need to diamond grind it.

Secondly, you obviously have moisture issues and regular epoxy will bubble, blister and fail. You need to waterproof first.

Will diamond grinding the floor make it too smooth for epoxy to bond? What can I do to improve it?

If moisture test(tape and plastic) passed, is moisture still a concern for regular epoxy(solvent based)? How do I waterproof the floor? Can you recommend any product?

Or 100% solid epoxy is my only way out?

 

[rugerlady]

Diamond grinding is the preferred method of prepping the floor for epoxy application. If your floor passed the moisture test, it is not a concern for most solvent based epoxies.

 

[weicm3]

Thanks for all your inputs. How about the concrete block wall? It's already painted. (I believe those are typical basement wall paint. not sure if it's drylok) Can I apply epoxy on these walls directly?

Or is there any prep work required? Or should I just dump the idea applying epoxy on the wall?

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Dump the idea.
Go get some thoroseal or related product at Home Depot/Lowes.
You get moisture on the wall and whoooooeeeee what a mess.