Cleaning Expoxy floor

[rdvt4me]

I have a 3 car garage with a professionally installed epoxy floor covering. I have had it for a number of years and it is holding up extremely well.
I use a damp mop to clean the floor. It works OK but I always have a dull sheen to it.
My question...what do you guys use to clean your epoxy floor and not have a dull shine to it?

The floor was originally shiny when first installed.

 

[Shea]

Garage floor coatings can loose their shine for a number of reasons. Determining factors are type of product, quality, traffic, and cleaning methods to name a few. Using a damp mop is fine. For heavier cleaning,mixing a 8:1 ratio of hot water to Simple Green works great. One thing a lot of people do that can lead to a dull finish is cleaning with citrus cleaners. The mild acidic base can eventually degloss the finish.

We have a few cleaning and maintenance tips listed for garage floor coatings in general here.

 

[rdvt4me]

Great info, thanks!

 

[Big Barn]

I have a related question that you guys might be able to help me out with. My father in law had a great barn for his car collection. In the final years of his life, he had some difficulty maintaining the place. The rear portion of the building has an epoxy quartz floor top coated with a high gloss urethane. Over the years, dirt and various fluids (trans, oil, coolant etc) have left the floor in pretty bad shape. It looks like the high gloss top coat has worn out in some spots. I want to clean it up and restore it but honestly have no idea where to start.

He lived in a pretty small town and the company that installed it is out of business. I may have found a company that can help me out, but before I meet with them I thought I would toss it out here. Any suggestions on how to restore this type of floor? Is there a process to remove the top coat and clean the surface and re-coat?

The front portion of the building has a tile product (Polymers ceramic carpet??) that is in much better shape. A good scrubbing should do the trick there.

Any and all advise is greatly appreciated.

 

[Shea]

Clean the floor to remove all the dirt, sand the surface to roughen the finish and remove any remaining debris, then apply a fresh top coat or two of epoxy or polyurethane.

 

[NitroShark]

The manufacture I used (Tnemec) recommended an ammonium based cleaner for my epoxy coating system. I use a mop with ammonium and hot water.

http://www.tnemec.com/

Shawn

 

[Big Barn]

Shea, what would you recommend for cleaning the floor, and by that I mean what product and equip. Simply green? Power scrubber? Taking a sander to it would be somewhat terrifying!!

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Big Barn:

Naturally, I have had many epoxy/urethane floors over the years, a little detergent in a hot bucket of water once in a while is all I have ever used.

A low pressure wash would work as well.

Frankly, a good urethane topcoat acts like an armor glaze.

 

[Big Barn]

I have to figure out how to post pics here. It looks like the top coat is gone in some spots. I'm going out there this week and I will give the hot water and detergent a shot but I have a feeling it isn't going to do the job. Powerwashing presents a different kind of problem as the building is drywalled and has a lot of wood trim/panelling etc. There are floor drains throughout.

I really appreciate all the help guys. It's a pretty big building (36'x105'). The electrical and mechanical stuff is in great shape. The only pressing issue is getting the floor cleaned up.

 

[MikeSullivan]

Had a epoxy floor for 18 years I mop it with dawn dishwashing detergent mixed in water and rinse with clear water
Cleans oil and grease like a charm and leaves it sparkling clean

 

[jaye944]

sorry to hijack,

but does de-glossing, also mean it's less slippery when wet ?
or not significantly?

One thing a lot of people do that can lead to a dull finish is cleaning with citrus cleaners. The mild acidic base can eventually degloss the finish.

 

[Shea]

No, not really Jaye. It just loses the shine. Brand new epoxy floors can be like an ice rink when wet, but as the floor develops microscopic scratches from traffic and wear the initial slipperyness (is that a word?) does get much better.