Getting ready to grind my concrete before I epoxy. Concrete is a little over a year old and not in bad shape with no major stains. Plan on giving it a good scrubbing with probably some powdered laundry detergent. Just trying to figure if I should do that before or after I grind the concrete.
Cleaning Concrete before or after Grind
- Thread starter scottiem
- Start date
Sounds good. I was planning on renting a buffer from HD with some scouring pads as don't think my elbow could take using a scrubbing brush for 900sqft of concrete.
LegacyIndustrial
ALLIANCE MEMBER
The scrubber would be good if you have major square feet to clean.
Yes, prior to the grind.
Yes, prior to the grind.
I think that's the way I'm going to go. I have 850 sqft to do and plan on doing grinding Saturday so want to save the elbow for that, what would be the best pad (color) to use. Plus it will only cost me about $25 more then if I was to buy a good scrubbing brush. Sent you an email in regards to the stuff I ordered.
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LegacyIndustrial
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Not sure on the pad, need to consult the people that rent the equipment.
Make sure this floor has plenty of time to dry or you will be looking at major craters.
Epoxy and water do not go.
I sent you an email on the products.
Make sure this floor has plenty of time to dry or you will be looking at major craters.
Epoxy and water do not go.
I sent you an email on the products.
What do you think would be better cleaning it with some powered laundry soap or TSP. What do you mean by major craters, The floor will be have 7-8 days to dry before epoxying. I was planning on grinding it Saturday, would that be to soon if I plan of scrubbing it tomorrow.
rsanter
Well-known member
I blasted the heck out of mine with a 3500# pressure washer. I did it 3 times and you would be amazed at how much **** and stains came out of the concrete
Clean it up before grinding. Once you have exposed fresh material it will be clean as long as you don't get old gunk from before on it
Bob
Clean it up before grinding. Once you have exposed fresh material it will be clean as long as you don't get old gunk from before on it
Bob
LegacyIndustrial
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Good, you had me thinking you were coating this weekend.
When solids epoxy and water meet, there can be a bubbling reaction, causing surface anomalies.
I like simple green or a good citrus based degreaser.
Well got the floor clean. Landed up renting a buffer from HD and used green scrubbing pads with some Zep Citrus degreaser. After scrubbing the floor took the power washer to it to insure it got a real good rinse. I'm glad I rented the buffer, granted it cost me $27 dollars more then if I bought a stiff 24" brush. It was worth it as it cut my time by at least half. Overall happy with the outcome. Granted the floor wasn't extremely dirty but wanted to make sure it was good and clean before grinding it this weekend. Thanks again to all for your info and inputs. I've attached a couple of before and after. The floor is still wet and damp in some areas in the after pics.
Attachments
Shea
Well-known member
Your floor looks great for the grind. Have fun!
Zeke
Well-known member
What will you use to grind it? Looks pretty damn nice now.
BigGMC
Well-known member
nice area.... Ilike the color scheme
Thanks, plan on using a 7" grinder with a shroud and diamond cup wheel. Gonna grind tomorrow so I can epoxy next weekend.
Thank You sir. I was going back and forth with that paint scheme but finally decided on it and gave it a try. Happy with the way it turned out. Should blend nicely with the Phazor Tan epoxy floor. Will post pics as it progresses.
Okay grinding is done, filled in my joints today and will regrind the joints tomorrow. I did a dry grind and vacuumed what dust was left over. There is still some light dust in the concrete. Planned on doing a light mop of the concrete to get what's left out. Don't want to power wash it as would like to epoxy coat it this weekend and don't want to soak the concrete. So I just use plain water or should I use something else.
Shea
Well-known member
Plain water is fine. Just rinse regularly so that you don't spread any dust back around.
Thanks Shea. I plan on changing out the bucket quite often. Do you think 2 days after doing a light mopping to get the dust out (no heavy saturation of the concrete) should be sufficient dry time to lay down my primer coat of epoxy. Daytime temps over the next 4 days should be in the mid 60's.
Scottie
Thanks for the info. I swept the floor, then vacuumed the floor to get any residual dust, ran my hand over the concrete in various areas with very little dust pulling up. I ran a well rung out mop over the concrete and changed the water out about every 100 sqft. I went out and bought a cheap electric leaf blower the other day just for this project and didn't want to chance any contaminants getting on the floor from my gas blower. Will blow out the garage tomorrow after I wipe down the walls then see how the floor is. I want to make sure that the floor is dust free before apply the primer coat. Overall this prep has been a pain in the **** but like they say in all avenues prep work is 80% of the job. Just hope the weather holds out this coming weekend so I can get it done.
Scottie!
NICE WORK!!!!! Prep work is 90 percent of the job! You are doing well my friend! My wife get's on me for sanding on body work on my jeep.....but it PAYS off in the end!
Some thoughts on my end as I will be doing my garage ASAP...
Open the garage doors/windows....
Start at the back and charge up your compressor....
SPRAY YOUR BACK WALL.....spray the hell out of it.....let the dust settle and spray the entire garage!
NEXT....SPRAY YOUR WALL AGAIN....hit the ceiling...hit the misc stuff you have....just spray.....(rationale: stuff finds its way into crevices and such).....
SPRAY EVERYTHING OUT......
Then "Lather, Rinse, Repeat"
Once done you should be good to go but a step I would add is to wet mop your surface once and let it dry.
From someone who is a "shade tree painter" you never know when **** will bite you in the ****.
Is it overkill.....certainly it is....but I would be kicking myself if I had a "problem" area that I could have fixed.
My FLAME hat is on but this is how I would approach it......and I am doing so soon with a 1200' garage area
NICE WORK!!!!! Prep work is 90 percent of the job! You are doing well my friend! My wife get's on me for sanding on body work on my jeep.....but it PAYS off in the end!
Some thoughts on my end as I will be doing my garage ASAP...
Open the garage doors/windows....
Start at the back and charge up your compressor....
SPRAY YOUR BACK WALL.....spray the hell out of it.....let the dust settle and spray the entire garage!
NEXT....SPRAY YOUR WALL AGAIN....hit the ceiling...hit the misc stuff you have....just spray.....(rationale: stuff finds its way into crevices and such).....
SPRAY EVERYTHING OUT......
Then "Lather, Rinse, Repeat"
Once done you should be good to go but a step I would add is to wet mop your surface once and let it dry.
From someone who is a "shade tree painter" you never know when **** will bite you in the ****.
Is it overkill.....certainly it is....but I would be kicking myself if I had a "problem" area that I could have fixed.
My FLAME hat is on but this is how I would approach it......and I am doing so soon with a 1200' garage area