How to get old WB epoxy off slab...

[Jaguar Fan]

Hi guys. My next project is to get rid of 10+ year old water based epoxy in my garage. I don't remember what brand it was, but it was cheap and I bought it at Home Depot and applied it about 10 years ago. I didn't know what I was doing at the time (as if I do now...) and at the time insofar as surface prep, I think I used a degreaser, but that's it. No grinding. No muriatic acid. Surprisingly, it has held up pretty well most everywhere but under the tires of the cars, and a few spots where I was a little too agressive with a power washer. The tires lifted all the epoxy off wherever they were parked.


Now, I'd like to put a good quality epoxy down (probably Wolverine). Of course, my first step is to get rid of the old water based stuff, and then do a proper floor prep.

I plan to use a floor scraper and power washer to remove it where I can.

Then, I need advice on what to do next.

I went to Home Depot tool rental, and looked at what they had, and talked to a guy there (I know, that's taking a chance).

They have 2 alternatives.

They have a 10" Blastrac floor grinder (gas engine) (pics follow). Do you think this would work?

The guy who worked there thought the Blastrac grinder with that diamond grinding disk wouldn't work very well -- he thought the epoxy would keep gumming it up.


He first suggested I use a scarifyer -- and he showed me where they had used it on the concrete slab there -- it really dug the sh*t out of the floor; I don't think that is the right tool for this application... so I asked what else he had.

Next he suggested using an electric 17" floor buffer with a disk designed to get coatings off. Pics follow.

with the following disk:

and

Do you think this would work to get the old water based epoxy off?

Or, should I try some more tool rental places & try to find something else? if so, what do you suggest to get rid of the old water based epoxy?

Thanks!

 

[Floorguy]

My first choice would be to shotblast the old stuff off. Should come up easily with a pretty light shotblast. Second choice would be the buffer with the coating removal bit.

If you agressively remove this coating it wll obvioulsy leave a texture on the floor. That is great for applying the next coating so it will adhere well, but only if you are using an epoxy that is going to leave a thick layer. Multiple coats can also work if using a thinner build product.

 

[Ranger1227]

Hey J Fan:

Look at the thread I started for my problems. I rented a rotary buffer from HD, without the diamond head attachment -- It was very hard to control. The other folks here suggested renting and Edco machine to grind the stubborn coating off. If I don't hire someone to do it, that's the way I will go.