Flakes, flakes and more flakes (we got 'em)

[mhoffm911]

Well, finally finished my Rustoleum Professional Epoxyshield floor on the last 60's degree day this week. It's now in the 40's...

I have to admit the fumes were getting to me after awhile - even though I had a mask on. I went with Epoxyshield Pro because I could go readily buy it from my local Anderson's store. With the cold weather moving it, I would not have been able to get it done before the cold temps were here.

Awhile back, I bought 4-5 pounds of extra flakes from one of the other forum members. I decided to mix them with the 4 bags that come in the kits. I went ahead and used them ALL. I would like to be able to get a clear coat on, but it simply won't be warm enough now within their window of time for re-coating. I only have a torpedo heater and they can't be used with the epoxy (or at least I am not willing to try it).

Here are some basic shots of my new floor. It's still growing on me. I have knocked it down slightly with the shop vac so there are no flakes sticking up out of the floor now. I went with tan as I wanted it to be a little brighter than gray. With the flakes I used, it's almost a camouflage color scheme (even though that's not exactly what I was going for).

 

[fotoflojoe]

Nice job.

 

[64auto]

looks great

 

[boiler7904]

Looks good. I did epoxyshield pro in tile red last year and wish that I had used more than one of the included bags of flakes. Scratches and dirt show up real easily. Your floor should overcome that problem.

 

[mhoffm911]

Thanks. I have a couple of spots that I back rolled and then re-flaked. I wish I would have just left them alone as now they show up as streaked patches in the top photo. I figure by the time I get everything put back up I won't notice it as much.

Still wish I could do the clear, but I can't afford to try it when the temps are in the 40's.

 

[GunMoto]

Looks awesome!! I dig how the extra flakes makes the floor appear like a granite floor.

I too am going to use Rustoleum's Epoxy Pro, whenever I get the free time to begin prepping the floor.

Is this an attached garage? If so, do you have the water heater positioned in the garage? Our water heater is in our garage and need to know if I need to shut it down while curing the epoxy.

boiler7904 - Any pics of the tile red?

 

[mhoffm911]

This is an attached 2-car garage. My water heater is in the basement. My understanding is that you do NOT want any sort of flame around the epoxy.

Steps I took:

1. Powerwashed with Simple Green
2. Patched with Epoxyshield patch repair kit & ground them smooth after curing
3. Acid etched with muriatic acid and rinsed
4. Power washed again
5. Acid etched with muriatic acid and rinsed again
6. Put down 2 pounds of baking soda to neutralize the acid
7. Rinsed and dried
8. Swept the floor with broom and then used shop-vac
9. Coated the floor and tossed the flake like I was feeding chickens

Note: my garage floor was not in all that bad of shape even though my house is 17 years old. I felt the texture after etching was rough enough to not warrant grinding it down any further (and I was working against the weather factor).

 

[Steve in Mi]

It looks great! You are probably the only one that will ever know where you back rolled - sure not jumping out in the photo. I think I'd be very careful with small steel wheeled trafic around the cuts/joints to keep the edges intact. Engine hoist comes to mind.

How will you treat the cement block or does it get covered with trim?

 

[mhoffm911]

I currently have OSB on 2 out of the 3 walls. The 3rd wall (going into house) has drywall. My plan is to drywall it all (putting the drywall on top of the OSB so in case I want to hang something up I have more to "bite" into).

Once the drywall is up, I plan on painting it with satin paint and trimming it out with Trex for the baseboard (thus covering the block). I plan on using the Trex (or some other "plastic" type of board) to keep any water from getting behind it. There will be silicone caulk on both the bottom and top of the trim to prevent any moisture from getting behind it. I have a hose tap in my garage so can wash the cars in the driveway already, so there's really no reason for water to be in the garage unless I go to hose it out in the future.

There will never be an engine hoist in my garage unless I am selling it at auction for someone else. I am not a mechanic (don't even change my own oil) and never will be. My father was a heavy equipment mechanic all of his life and I have tried to pursue less dirty jobs all of mine.

 

[awakeinAZ]

I'm have my Rustoleum floor installed tomorrow by one of thier corporate installers. He said no problem on water heaters with solvent based epoxy.

MHOffm - Is that solvent or water base?

 

[mhoffm911]

Mine is the Rustoleum Pro (Solvent based).

I am still debating on attempting the clear sealer. I have 42 bags of blow-in insulation sitting on my trailer ready to be installed. At least 20 of them are going in my garage attic this week. I am seriously thinking about trying the clear even though I would be outside of their window.

 

[awakeinAZ]

If you want, I can ask my installer guy tomorrow. How many days has it been?

 

[mhoffm911]

Yes, please ask him. It's been 4 days now. I looked at 1200 watt electric heaters at Sam's club earlier today and thought about putting 1 in to give it a try. I think that since I have such dense flakes that there would be enough for the clear to "grip".

I can get the solvent based clear here without a problem. I was also wondering about how floor wax would work on it.

It's my own fault for not getting it done earlier in the month but I had 2 large auctions to work on and could not spare the time to prep the floor.

 

[SC-Eric]

He said no problem on water heaters with solvent based epoxy.

Without a doubt... NO FLAMES around solvent based epoxy!!!! As far as electric water heaters are concerned, it's not a bad idea to flip the breaker on those as well but I've never heard of anyone blowing themselves up because of the use an electric water heater.

 

[awakeinAZ]

mhoffm911 - Sorry I did not see your reposnse come through even though I am subscribed to this thread. I would be happy to PM you his phone number in Phoenix, AZ if it's not to late.

 

[comp]

Hmmmmm something for Mythbusters

 

[RickP330]

Hey,
I totally reccomend the clear coat. That's what I did and it's awsome. Spills just wipe up. However now it's been too long. I thin you would need to abrade the floor with 120 grit paper or something to make sure the clear sticks. Not impossible, just extra work.
Regards,
RickP