How many batches?

[jaggudada]

I bought one full epoxy-coat kit from Lowes to do my 2 car garage. They say have you have 15 mins before it would harden off the epoxy. When you did your 2 car garage, how many batches did you make? trying to get an estimate so I don't run out of time. This is my first time applying epoxy coating and want to do it right.

Instructions say you need to mix part A for 3 mins and then A and B for 2 mins which is total of say 6 mins. If you divide 1 full kit into 5 to 6 batches to make sure you have enough time, will you see lines or it all blends in nicely?

 

[Garage Flooring]

WOW! That epoxy has a very short working time!!!

Justin Krauss
Managing Member
Garage Flooring LLC

 

[mrobins297aaa]

I don't know but I'll tell you after this Sunday when I put down my epoxy coat.
I would stick with the instruction and just mix one small batch at a time and pour it on the floor immediately.......I have did some epoxy before and if there is one thing you want to do is make sure you mix A and B very thorough.

 

[srode]

I used 4 batches - if you use the shorter marks on the stick it will make 4, if you use the larger marks on the stick it will make 2 batches I believe. Most slabs have a saw cut or expansion joint in the middle of the garage, I would use 2 on each side cutting each side in half so you have 4 equal sized sections.

I would also suggest making a notch in the stick or duplicating the marks on 3 more stir sticks before you start. That way you have something to use for measuring after you have mixed your first batch if they get covered with the Epoxy coat or you wipe them off. Also, get 3 more rollers - the one supplied in the kit may get too hard to do any good before you get to roll the later sections. Mine did and I ended up taking one out of the 2nd kit I bought, then had to run up to Lowes before doing the last section because the 2nd one was too hard also.

I think you are supposed to mix a and b for 3 minutes, but could be wrong - like was said, follow the instructions and measure precisely

 

[mrobins297aaa]

I used 4 batches - if you use the shorter marks on the stick it will make 4, if you use the larger marks on the stick it will make 2 batches I believe. Most slabs have a saw cut or expansion joint in the middle of the garage, I would use 2 on each side cutting each side in half so you have 4 equal sized sections.

I would also suggest making a notch in the stick or duplicating the marks on 3 more stir sticks before you start. That way you have something to use for measuring after you have mixed your first batch if they get covered with the Epoxy coat or you wipe them off. Also, get 3 more rollers - the one supplied in the kit may get too hard to do any good before you get to roll the later sections. Mine did and I ended up taking one out of the 2nd kit I bought, then had to run up to Lowes before doing the last section because the 2nd one was too hard also.

another good idea, I got some extra sticks and also have one roller for each section, I got 9 sections to do on sunday

 

[mrobins297aaa]

by the way I stop in and met Christine (ruger lady) and picked up 5 full kits. very nice lady. Of course i don't have to tell all you guys that, you already know that by the way she conducts herself on this site.

 

[Ferrino]

I assume you have to broadcast the flakes immediately after you've finished rolling each section? i.e. you need to divide the bag of flakes into smaller amounts, for each section?

 

[srode]

I waited until I had 2 sections backrolled the second time and the broadcasted the flakes on those sections. Seemed to work well to help uniform distribution without a pattern change where the 2 sections joined. Also used zip lock sandwich bags to divide the flakes in to 4 equal portions for the 4 sections.

 

[jaggudada]

What type of roller do you use for this purpose? or any regular paint roller would do the job?

 

[srode]

Use one with a short nap - I picked the ones at Lowes that matched the appearance of the one in the kit.

 

[rugerlady]

Each full kit will make 4 single batches. Each batch will cover up to 125 SF. You actually have 45 minutes working time for each batch. You have 15 minutes to do the cutting in and spread it out with the squeegee. You then have about another 30 minutes to do the roll, back roll then flake. I would also reccomend flaking each section as you go. I hope I have covered everything, if not let me know.

 

[jaggudada]

I would also reccomend flaking each section as you go.

I thought the instructions say to Squeeze, then backroll a section, go to next section and then come back to the first one after about 10 mins, backroll and then spread flakes.

Did you meant to say after you backroll a section then spread the flakes? if that's what you meant then you won't be back rolling twice. correct?

Also could you reply on the type of roll to use?

Say you make four batches from one full kit, do you spread the entire batch right after you mix? or since you have 15 mins to spread, spread as needed but make sure the mixed batch doesn't stay inside the mixing bucket more than 15 mins.

Can you please clarify?

 

[csp]

Don't mix any more than you intend on spreading. Spread it immediately after mixing or it may become harder to pour out of the bucket.

If a batch covers 125 sq ft, that's a 10' x 12.5' section. That's not a very big area to be spreading out the batch on, so do the entire section at once.

Divide your garage evenly into sections as close to 125 sq. ft. as possible and work it one section/batch at a time, start to finish. Spread the flakes so that that they don't go all the way to the edge of the section because you'll want to roll the next section partway into the one that's done and you don't want flakes in your roller.