ResistanceForm
New member
- Joined
- Mar 18, 2017
- Messages
- 2
TL;DR: Aluminum Oxide shards too sharp, wanting to correct it somehow. Needing ideas.
Hello all!
New user and garage rookie. I have been up and down the flooring section to try and devise a solution for my problem. But I think Im just lost in the variety of them. Thus, I thought I would pose a question with my specific issue. Here goes...
Recently installed epoxy flooring with 1/8" chip @ 80% broadcast, polyurethane top coat. I asked my contractor to add some sort of non-slip, and to err on the side of higher texture versus glassy smooth (i wash a fair amount of cars and wanted to not bite the dust regularly). He informed me that he "dislikes" non-skid, and gave several reasons, but I pushed him to it. We came up with a solution he thought would work well for my needs. He added a fairly large sized aluminum oxide to the top coat (i think he broadcasted it, rather than mixed it), and after walking barefoot, and putting hands and knees on it (I also intend to crawl under cars and such), I found it is way too "sharp" and prickly feeling. I really underestimated how sharp this stuff would feel to bare skin. I take responsibility for this judgement and am trying to come up with solutions to help repair it? Any ideas?
Here's a list of goals for me at this point:
- remove the prickly projections caused by the aluminum oxide.
- get the surface texture as close to the boards you showed me in the car with the 1/8" 80% chip systems, maybe slightly grittier.
- I still want as close to the natural texture from the chips to be felt through the top coat, and the top coat not being overly smooth (due to super thickness).
- I understand that the floor will feel smoother and more prone to slipping. I can find some mat solutions in traffic areas or when working in wet conditions.
Ideas for correction:
- Sand existing top coat to remove most of the aluminum oxide pieces.
- Re-spread the polyurethane top coat, with a Shark grip (~60 grit) mixed in (not broadcasted) with the liquid coating.
This will provide a top coat with a less aggressive non-skid that will give some texture without having the sharp projections from the larger aluminum oxide. This will hopefully also allow the chips to still have the desired effect. All while still looking good and performing well long term.
Hello all!
New user and garage rookie. I have been up and down the flooring section to try and devise a solution for my problem. But I think Im just lost in the variety of them. Thus, I thought I would pose a question with my specific issue. Here goes...
Recently installed epoxy flooring with 1/8" chip @ 80% broadcast, polyurethane top coat. I asked my contractor to add some sort of non-slip, and to err on the side of higher texture versus glassy smooth (i wash a fair amount of cars and wanted to not bite the dust regularly). He informed me that he "dislikes" non-skid, and gave several reasons, but I pushed him to it. We came up with a solution he thought would work well for my needs. He added a fairly large sized aluminum oxide to the top coat (i think he broadcasted it, rather than mixed it), and after walking barefoot, and putting hands and knees on it (I also intend to crawl under cars and such), I found it is way too "sharp" and prickly feeling. I really underestimated how sharp this stuff would feel to bare skin. I take responsibility for this judgement and am trying to come up with solutions to help repair it? Any ideas?
Here's a list of goals for me at this point:
- remove the prickly projections caused by the aluminum oxide.
- get the surface texture as close to the boards you showed me in the car with the 1/8" 80% chip systems, maybe slightly grittier.
- I still want as close to the natural texture from the chips to be felt through the top coat, and the top coat not being overly smooth (due to super thickness).
- I understand that the floor will feel smoother and more prone to slipping. I can find some mat solutions in traffic areas or when working in wet conditions.
Ideas for correction:
- Sand existing top coat to remove most of the aluminum oxide pieces.
- Re-spread the polyurethane top coat, with a Shark grip (~60 grit) mixed in (not broadcasted) with the liquid coating.
This will provide a top coat with a less aggressive non-skid that will give some texture without having the sharp projections from the larger aluminum oxide. This will hopefully also allow the chips to still have the desired effect. All while still looking good and performing well long term.

