Epoxy questions..

[NWP]

Hey guys I'm new to the forum. I have been planning to redo the garage for some time and since school is out for the summer I now have plenty of time. I want to do the floor first. I don't have any experience with epoxy so I have a few questions...

The concrete is around 30 years old with quite a few oil stains on it. What should I do to prep/clean the surface before putting down the epoxy? I won't be able to pressure wash it.

The concrete also has a few minor cracks here and there. What should I use to patch them?

What is the best quality brand/product of epoxy to go with? Which ones should I stay away from? I want it to last a long time and don't care if I have to pay more for a better product.

Thanks for the help!!

 

[AlphaGarage]

Use a good degreaser and lft them out as much as possible, TSP in hot water works well also. If they're real stubborn there are a few advanced methods, for example we carry a microbe that actually digests oil and grease.

When that's completed you'll need to "profile" the concrete, that can be done with chemicals or mechanically, i.e. grinding or shot blasting. Most jobs are done with muriatic acid, it's inexpensive, easily sourced, and usually effective.

You want the concrete to have a texture close to that of 100 grit sand paper.

Real small cracks will be filled with a good epoxy, slightly large ones are best handled with an epoxy filler, ideally on that remains a bit flexible so it will continue to work should there be further widening of the crack.

I recommend Wolverine epoxies, but since I'm their exclusive distributor for the residential and DIY market I admit that I'm a bit biased. So here are the unbiased reviews of a few Gaarge Journal members:

here are a few finished floor of other Garage Journal members:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=20542 – amazing floor with great tips

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=26308 – Roger’s retro gas station.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=23397 – floor with drain repairs

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=13347 – more fantastic tips and results

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=24559 – straight forward job


http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=24034 – nice colors - great job

 

[NWP]

AlphaGarage, thanks for the reply.

I'm a little confused though...

Use a good degreaser and lft them out as much as possible, TSP in hot water works well also.

What do you mean by "lift" them out. Do you just apply the deagreser with a mop, let it sit, and then wash it off? What does TSP stand for?

How do you apply the Muriatic Acid, with a mop or a sprayer? How do you get it to the texture of 100 grit sandpaper? Is it just by the chemical reaction?

None of the links worked for me..

 

[AlphaGarage]

By "lift" I ean that you want to try remove as much of the stain as possible. You probably won't be able to clean all of it, but most of the heavy surface grime should be gone.

Diferent degrease product have different directions; some need to be aggitated, while some should be left alone. Some take a few minutes, other need overnight to work. Directions vary a lot - check labels carefully.

TSP is Trisodium Phosphate, a coomn heavy duty cleaner, found in most hardware stores.

A good way to spread Muriatic acid is by using a common flower watering pail - don't use a metal one - muriatic acid is very corrosive. Usually 1 or 2 applications will result in 100 grit texture. But on some concrete it will take more.

Sorry 'bout the bad links, let's try again...
Here are a few links to Garage Journal members who chose Wolverine floor coatings. BTW they're good to read regardless of what brand you choose because they contain many great tips and pointers:

Great concept - fantastic execution! For Details - click here.

Attention to detail pays off. For Details - click here.

Works well with lift installs also... For Details - click here.

Here are some BondTite clear coats:

Nice finished look. For Details - click here.

With friend's help! (no, not the dog) For Details - click here.

A MUST READ just for the tips if nothing else. For Details - click here.

And one without any clear coat. For Details - click here.

If you'd like a material estimate for your floor, a copy of available colors, and an application guide, email your current floor condition details and floor size to [email protected]

(A big "Thank You!" to our clients who've generously taken the time to share their experiences and pictures!)

 

[wizardman]

NWP,

How did it go? What did you put down?