Concrete ginding for epoxy prep question.

[roger55]

My brother lives about 200 miles from me and has asked me to help him to do his 1,200 sq ft garage floor in epoxy. (100% solids Epoxy-Coat).

I told him to reserve a diamond concrete grinder at the rental store so that would be ready to go when I got there.

Just talked to my brother and the rental place didn't have diamond grinding machine but does have a stone grinding machine. The guy assured him it would be perfect for what he needed.

Would a stone machine work fine for this? I'd never heard of that before and I'm skeptical. When I did my floor I used a diamond grinder.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Will glaze over within minutes.
Does a poor job.

 

[brownbagg]

why do you need to grind the floor for epoxy

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Epoxy needs to get "locked" into the floor.
Apply over smooth concrete and risk delamination.

The grinder opens the surface allowing the material to soak in and "lock".

The diamonds work well as they are much harder than the surface.
The stones require a crazy amount of weight and aggravation to cut the surface and they barely do it when everything is perfect.

 

[roger55]

Thanks for the info.

I'll advise my brother to call some place else.
He wanted to use this place because it was close and the others make him have drive into the city (probably only 20 or 30 miles though).

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Call all your local Home Depots. Ask them if they rent the Diamabrush head on a floor buffer/maintainer machine.

This is a very easy and effective method of preparing a floor.
We sell the heads.

 

[roger55]

Thanks for the advice. He just emailed me and is doing that today.

 

[roger55]

Good news.

My brother called a couple of Home Depots and found one that's fairly conveniently located that has a machine with the Diamabrush head. $100 per day.
He says he will get it and do that portion before I come down to help lay the epoxy.

Thanks a bunch. I think you saved us some big headaches.

 

[roger55]

Scotty,

I've got a couple of follow-up questions. Time is getting closer for me to travel to my brother's place and help him with this job.

How long approximately does it take to grind a 1,200 sqft floor with the Home Depot machine with the Diamabrush?

Then, can the floor just be swept and blown out with a weed blower? Or, should it be squirted out with a water hose?

If water is the appropriate way, is drying overnight enough before the application of the epoxy?

Thanks,
Roger

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Either or for the water/vac. Use water and you need for it to completely dry, could take a few days or a week depending on where you are temp, humidity, etc...

I would sweep, then vac.

1200 sq ft should take a few hours, depending on surface condition, coatings, raw concrete, etc....

 

[roger55]

Either or for the water/vac. Use water and you need for it to completely dry, could take a few days or a week depending on where you are temp, humidity, etc...I would sweep, then vac.
1200 sq ft should take a few hours, depending on surface condition, coatings, raw concrete, etc....

Thanks!

Will use a vacuum so we don't have a worry about the drying time.

The house is brand new and were doing this before he moves in. So, the concrete surface is smooth. The slab was poured last September so it should be plenty cured.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

You will be done quickly .
Wear a dust mask and keep the vac going.

 

[bullnerd]

Roger ,if you get time could you keep us updated on your progress? This is about the size of my shop and would like to see how it looks.

 

[roger55]

Roger ,if you get time could you keep us updated on your progress? This is about the size of my shop and would like to see how it looks.

Sure, I'll take some photos too.