I'm a newly-retired home co-owner with a newly-remodelled garage and storeroom. Our contractor put down a Quikrete epoxy color coat on the cement floor, I'm pretty sure just one coat, with flecks. I didn't know dilly at the time about epoxy garage floor paint, but I did notice the finish was uneven in places, with a few dull spots here and there, and in the very back, looks like they ran short because the concrete is visible through the paint (it will be under a storage unit, so no visual impact. After some reading (here and elsewhere, it sounds like maybe a clear coat would help even that out. (? - I'm open to correction on this point.) And that it's a good idea to have a clear wear layer in any case.
But, since we now have to scuff this floor - how much scuffing is enough? I don't see that spelled out anywhere. The floor has some texture from the paint coat, so a light scuffing leaves maybe between 20 and 30% dull on the high spots and the rest still fairly shiny. Is that good enough to hold the shiny coat? And what is the best grit to use? Suggestions seem to vary on that point. Will xylene work to de-gloss the low spots? (Ugh, bad stuff - but I'm familiar with respirators and protective gloves etc.) Thanks for any help!
But, since we now have to scuff this floor - how much scuffing is enough? I don't see that spelled out anywhere. The floor has some texture from the paint coat, so a light scuffing leaves maybe between 20 and 30% dull on the high spots and the rest still fairly shiny. Is that good enough to hold the shiny coat? And what is the best grit to use? Suggestions seem to vary on that point. Will xylene work to de-gloss the low spots? (Ugh, bad stuff - but I'm familiar with respirators and protective gloves etc.) Thanks for any help!