Grind this year, epoxy next year?

[imgn tht]

Every winter I get excited to redo my garage floor the following summer. It has an older store bought epoxy that has seen better days. But unexpected expenses always come up that puts the "want" of a new garage floor on the back burner.

So I got to wondering how I could spread the costs out. Would there be any downside to grinding down the existing epoxy and repairing cracks this year. Then next year doing a cleaning and epoxy/clear coat?

 

[Dig Doug]

rat hole some $100 bills or buy a money order one year and then do it all at once

you don’t want the fresh grind or prep to get dirty/ seasoned

you could have issues and then no warranty

 

[Sumboodie]

How big is the floor?

I did a ~1200 sq ft for around $250. Held up well to commercial use for the cost.

 

[rjacobs]

How much do you think the grinding prep is going to cost you?

Its like 100-150 a day to rent an Edco diamond grinder. Maybe another few hundred for whatever crack filler is recommended...

A drop in the bucket in the grand scheme of a 1500-2000+ dollar project...

 

[rsanter]

Disadvantage
the floor will never be cleaner than after a grind

 

[Shea]

Don't spread the work out. The freshly ground floor will absorb liquids, dirt, and grime much more easily. You will have a dirty upper layer that would probably be easier to grind again than try to clean when you are ready a year later.

 

[dcg9381]

It has an older store bought epoxy that has seen better days. But unexpected expenses always come up that puts the "want" of a new garage floor on the back burner.

Store bought epoxy, non-catalytic (single part) generally ***** in my experience.

So I got to wondering how I could spread the costs out. Would there be any downside to grinding down the existing epoxy and repairing cracks this year. Then next year doing a cleaning and epoxy/clear coat?

So I messed up a epoxy job (polyurea). I applied it to new concrete without properly grinding or acid wash. Looked great, but eventually the tire hot spots came up. I've done a few patch jobs of grinding out the portions coming up, but to fix it, I'm going to have to grind it all down. I agree with others, leave it there (better protection than none), grind it out, and then use a quality catalytic epoxy... IMHO, polyurea is just as good, less expensive, easier to apply....

 

[imgn tht]

How big is the floor?

I did a ~1200 sq ft for around $250. Held up well to commercial use for the cost.

400 sq ft. Basic suburban garage. I'm not doing store bought this time. Planning to go with a multi step polyurea or 100% solids with Polyurea clear. Possibly heavy flake. Looking at over $1000 for just the epoxy. Add in the grinding rental and spot crack repair too. I'm doing it all myself.

 

[imgn tht]

How much do you think the grinding prep is going to cost you?

Its like 100-150 a day to rent an Edco diamond grinder. Maybe another few hundred for whatever crack filler is recommended...

A drop in the bucket in the grand scheme of a 1500-2000+ dollar project...

Good point.

 

[imgn tht]

Thanks all. Got my answer and will stay the course to do it all at once. What's another year at this point.

 

[dcg9381]

Thanks all. Got my answer and will stay the course to do it all at once. What's another year at this point.

We have great vendors here. Do the time grinding it an apply a decent product. You'll never have to deal with it again.

 

[Sumboodie]

400 sq ft. Basic suburban garage. I'm not doing store bought this time. Planning to go with a multi step polyurea or 100% solids with Polyurea clear. Possibly heavy flake. Looking at over $1000 for just the epoxy. Add in the grinding rental and spot crack repair too. I'm doing it all myself.

I've had great luck with a decent prep and oil based floor paint.

Spending $1000 on paint for a 400 sq ft floor... I'd be afraid to walk in it after, nevermind do garage things!

 

[imgn tht]

I've had great luck with a decent prep and oil based floor paint.

Spending $1000 on paint for a 400 sq ft floor... I'd be afraid to walk in it after, nevermind do garage things!

I prefer a low/no VOC and higher mil grade this time around. Not planning to be redoing this again in a few years. Primer/base/UV resistant clear is the preferred direction for me.

 

[Sumboodie]

How many years have you been waiting on this fancy pants expensive paint vs using affordable one?

 

[imgn tht]

How many years have you been waiting on this fancy pants expensive paint vs using affordable one?

I've been wanting a new floor option for a few years now. Was originally planning to try interlocking freeflow tiles and this past winter changed my mind to epoxy.

You seem offended that I'm not interested in your approach to this project. Not sure why, everyone has different tastes and budget. I can afford to use the so called "fancy pants" epoxy, but it may have to wait another year as I am prioritizing other things that are important to me. That's why I said in my first post that this is a "want" and not a need.