High gloss top coat

[HowzGarage]

Newbie here.... can't believe I found a forum on garages... this is great!

Anyway, I just finished my garage floor (taupe base coat w/ a full broadcast of dessert sand color chips). I used the Urethane HPU 747 top coat. The floor looks great. However, I didn't really get the result I was looking for on the top coat. There isn't much of a shine and it doesn't look much different than it did when I completed the base coat (just a little darker).

Would another coat of Urethane 747 give it a smoother and glossier look or should I try another product?

 

[TheBanker]

Welcome HowzGarage, its great to have you. Rule #1!!!!!! You MUST post pictures. Ok ok well you don't have to but.........

I think with your floor you probably should have used a two part clear epoxy then covered with Urethane. More educated guys will chime in soon.

 

[HowzGarage]

I used a 2-part epoxy base coat (before the color chips). Is that what you're referring to? However, it was taupe not clear.

I also put down a clear primer before the base coat. Ironically, the primer was much more glossy than the 747 top coat.

The 747 is expensive stuff. I'm just wandering if it would be worth it to order another kid and put down a 2nd coat. Also, I rolled the first coat. If I do a 2nd coat, I'd probably squeegee and then back roll.

 

[AlphaGarage]

Did you use a clear coat after the chips were broadcast?

If the finish isn't glossy enough because the substrate texture is printing through, then more of the same product MAY result in a higher gloss finish, but it's unlikely. Odds are the top coat just won't give you the high gloss you want. Try a polyurethane clear coat.

 

[mogley1]

what was the humidity like when you applied the top coat?

 

[HowzGarage]

Excuse my ignorance, as this is a new subject for me. But isn't a top coat and clear coat the same thing? The HPU 747 is advertised as a "polyurethane clear coat".

Here is the description from the supplier:

Original Color Chips High Performance Urethane (HPU 747 VOC) is a clear two component polyester/aliphatic polyurethane floor sealer that exhibits excellent characteristics for abrasion resistance, chemical resistance, flexibility, weathering and UV stability.

As for the humidity, it was pretty low today so I don't think that would be it.

I'll try to post some pics of the floor.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[HowzGarage]

Hopefully, I uploaded the pictures correctly.

 

[Tomwall]

It looks to me that you didnt put the clear on thick enough. I just used that clear coat and it is very shiny. It can be hard to see the material when you put it down because the color coat is also very shinny. It you get the lighting right and look at it at the right angle you will more easily be able to see where you topcoated. I will post a close up picture of my floor with the hpu747

 

[HowzGarage]

It looks to me that you didnt put the clear on thick enough. I just used that clear coat and it is very shiny. It can be hard to see the material when you put it down because the color coat is also very shinny. It you get the lighting right and look at it at the right angle you will more easily be able to see where you topcoated. I will post a close up picture of my floor with the hpu747

I used every last drop. In fact, the last section was very thin, as I was running out. It was enough for 500 sq. feet and I only have about 420 sq ft. Did you squeegee it on or just roll it on?

 

[Tomwall]

I poured small amounts on the floor and then rolled it out. Maybee if you have a heavy broadcast the clear is being sucked up by voids made by the flakes. Were the flakes in the color coat or were they sticking up. I used 2 1/4 gallons on 700 sq ft. and had about a quart left over when I was done.

 

[gabeancounter]

I agree with Tom. The urethane is much thinner than a high build epoxy. It appears you used a really heavy flake and the urethane does not have enough build (thickness) to cover the heavy flake.

The thing I noticed with flake is that the smaller flake 1/16 chips versus 1/4 chips lays down much smoother. My thought is that if you use a really heavy flake then you need to use a high build epoxy clear coat followed by a polyurethane clear coat to get a glass like surface.

I think applying another layer will help, but how much? A little sanding and applying another coat will get you closer to the glassy surface but may not get enough thickness to make the floor totally smooth. Good luck.

 

[AlphaGarage]

Smaller flakes can appear to lay down smoother, 'cause they're smaller and don't poke up as much. But they can have a lot more "void" area and soak up more coating. That's one reason why you really need to aggressively scrape off any loos flakes before coating them, really lean into that scraper, any part of a flake that isn't in direct contact with epoxy should come off.

BTW I discourage using less than 1/4" flakes because generally the smaller flakes are harder to work with.

OP, how much clear coat did you use?

"Top coat" can be a confusing term, sorry I used it. In the industry the Top coat is generally the pigmented main coat, and the final coat, the one actually on top, is the clear coat. I usually refer to the layers as (from bottom up) Primer - Body - Clear.

 

[Irondrive]

Did you scrape the floor prior to applying the polyurethane? The good news is with the next coat you'll get about double the coverage.

 

[HowzGarage]

Thanks for all of the responses. AG, to answer your question, I used 1.5 gallons of clear. I probably needed 2 gallons.

Irondrive, I did not scrape prior to applying the clear. Had I found this site last week, I would've known. Oh well, what's done is done.

I just spoke to the folks at Norkan (who have been great, by the way) and they are sending another 1.5 gallon kit of the polyurethane clear coat, for cost. So, hopefully this kit will go a lot further since it shouldn't soak it up too much.

They also said I'll need to use a degreaser or solvent over the current clear coat so that the next coat will bond easier.

 

[thegarageguy]

What you attempted was a full broadcast of 1/8 or 1/16 inch chip. First, urethanes aren't meant to seal chip, especially a full broadcast. Urethanes are meant to spread thin or theyll turn brittle and fail. You needed to seal with 100% solids, then urethane. You are past that point, so what to do now?

Well, if your floor is still gritty, which I'm sure it is, you can just go over it with a 100% solids, then urethane it like it was supposed to be in the first place.

Btw, finer chip systems never shine like 1/4 or 1/2 inch chip. The surface of the chip is too small for good light reflection. It'll always look semi gloss unless you flood it with epoxy.

 

[Ruddy]

Hopefully, I uploaded the pictures correctly.

You might have accidentally done the right thing in terms of future enjoyment. The glossy finish really shows every dirt, smudge and scratch. Your surface looks nice and forgiving.

 

[iceman536]

I think the floor looks beautiful as is.

 

[HowzGarage]

Applied the 2nd coat of clear this morning and it made a huge difference. Got the shiny glossy look I was hoping for.... Even had some clear left over this time. Will post some pics later.

Now, with this nice floor, I need some new lighting options!