Help with my epoxy-coat!

[blueovalfan]

I'm ready to begin my garage floor epoxy project and had a question(s) for you experienced guys.

So far to date I have degreased with Home Depots degreaser, acid etched the floor and for good measure applied the good old mechanical diamond grinder to ensure a nice rough surface for the epoxy to bond to. The only reason why I did this was the floor was smooth as glass and the diamond grinder couldn't possible hit every little area on the floor.

I purchased a 100% solids epoxy from http://epoxy-coat.com/garage_paint_advantages.html I've been told from several folks including installers this is the best stuff money can buy. I hope this is true as I wouldn't know a hill of beans from this stuff.

My questions are:
1) Some folks apply an epoxy primer to the floor before the final epoxy? Wouldn't this limit the epoxy’s ability to adhere to the concrete floor? My product which I already purchased doesn't have an epoxy primer available--should I worry about this?

2) I would like to place a protective coating over the epoxy and chips. Some have suggested a urethane. However, the gal at epoxy coat suggested a coating of clear epoxy--isn't this overkill or is it bullet proof? Seams like it might make future repairs more difficult and harder to match?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Let me know what you think! Thanks in advance.

 

[mb190sl]

My floor has a clear epoxy coat directly on the concrete, a colored epoxy coat on the clear, and a colored urethane top coat. I think the key it so follow the manufacturers recomendations. If their epoxy is made to coat directly on top of the concrete, I would not worry about it. It sounds like you prepared the floor very wrll. I think that is one of the keys to a successful floor.

As I understand, the urethane top coat is more chemically, UV, and abrasive resistant than the straight epoxy. Make sure you check to see how much time can pass between coats for proper bonding.

 

[Rustyd02359]

No need for primer, diff brands do things differantly. The final clear coat on mine is much thicker than the colored. Rustoleo told me it will greatly increase the durability and life of the floor and coatings. I am not sure of compatability of diff clear coats, epxoy is heavy duty stuff w/ hvy duty solvents in it and just regular poly may not agree with it, might not even work. I have painted un matched things and have seen paint just bead up and not stick well. Use the epoxy clear and enjoy a job well done. Read my clear coating post though.

 

[blueovalfan]

My floor has a clear epoxy coat directly on the concrete, a colored epoxy coat on the clear, and a colored urethane top coat. I think the key it so follow the manufacturers recomendations. If their epoxy is made to coat directly on top of the concrete, I would not worry about it. It sounds like you prepared the floor very wrll. I think that is one of the keys to a successful floor.

As I understand, the urethane top coat is more chemically, UV, and abrasive resistant than the straight epoxy. Make sure you check to see how much time can pass between coats for proper bonding.

Just woundering why you would put the clear down first and then the color? I was thinking the color first than the clear...

 

[mb190sl]

The clear was an epoxy base coat made to penetrate and adhere to the bare concrete. It was not the same as a final clear coat on the surface. I ended up with two coats of epoxy and one urethane coat.

There are different coating systems available from various companies. That is why it is important so follow the manufacturers recommended coating materials and sequence.