I've started my garage floor...
- Thread starter TheBanker
- Start date
Thanks Rugerlady, I forgot about the Holiday's and waited to the last minute. But in my defense........I have been waiting for those 2nd samples of chips that I never did get. I am just hoping to get this stuff Monday at the latest. I moved my days off from thur and fri to Mon and tue. I was this close to calling Fred. (Light hearted)
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Well the floor is all ready, now hopefully the materials make it tommorrow. If not this thread may take us into May or June. Since it has been a couple weeks before I etched I almost etched it again yesterday since I had to clean it anyway. Well I didn't. I just hosed and swept it out. I hope all is good.
Ruddy
Well-known member
Banker, alright! Time to complete the cycle of _your _ thread! ;-)
What 2 or 3 other guys have started and finished since you first posted???
What 2 or 3 other guys have started and finished since you first posted???
Eddieb794
Well-known member
This is what I hate about UPS. They never deliver in my area till after 3pm.
Rudyjr
Well-known member
This is what makes some companies stand head and shoulders above other ones. The level of support is enough to make the decision to use this product an easy one!! I just wish that I could get some drywall finishing help so that I could proceed on my floor. I knew I should have finished the drywall twenty years ago when I built this damn thing!! Kudos Rugerlady, Jim
ok so the products came in from epoxy-coat and norkad (original chips). The color chips are not really what I wanted but I am not waiting anymore so I will use them as is. I unpacked everything, ran to home depot for a couple items and got started. I bought another larger squeege, 18" roller, mek, a couple more cheap brushes, hot dog roller and covers.
I have 480 sq ft. so I mixed four batches. Ok here's my screw ups. I didn't section off my 4 areas. I thought I would do the upper riser area first since it has all the **** to paint around. I ended up having the epoxy to thick on the riser and pretty much ran out on the most important part where the cars park. So its very thin, i mean very thin. It was also 82 degrees here today so it was drying very quickly.
If I were to start again, I would section off 4 areas including the riser and base areas together. I was to worried about flaking those verticle pieces which ended up being a pain to do anyway. I'm not sure of a good way to do it without using a lot of chips.
Another problem I had was with the squeege. I bought one of those regular rubber ones for windows. It may have been to short? When I would pull the epoxy down it would not flow smoothly and leave bare concrete areas. I ended up squeeging both directions then rolling. It was to difficult to roll and cover bare spots. (Due to my having to spread it to thin I guess).
I think I wasted a lot of flakes under shelves, cabinets and on the vert. pieces. I did run out but had enough to cover the area. I did a heavy broadcast almost to rejection. I would suggest either do a heavy broadcast with the tossing it in the air thing or do a broadcast to rejection where you just throw piles of it on the floor. Had I bought a few more pounds it would be nice and uniform. I can see where the flakes are not as dense because the floor is lighter. You may be able to see it in the pics. I am hoping that once it dries it will be less noticeable.
I don't know if this is good or bad but after i broadcast chips in an area I would just use the leaf blower to blow the extra chips away from the new area I am working.
By the time I got to the last (4th) batch it was very difficult to see the lines on the paint stirrer that they provided. The last batch was also a tad short on the A. The amount it was short was very small and probalby due to the amount that sticks to the container and maybe being a smidge over on the others. I think they were right on. But one thing about doing it that way is if you do accidently go over there is no going back. Maybe measuring cups would be better like Gabeancounter did.
So tonight it dries. Hell, I think its dried already. Tommorrow I will do the clear. Before I do the clear I am planning on scraping the chips a bit to get any of the ones sticking up off. Maybe that will help the color too.
My concerns are that where the cars park the epoxy is very thin. Full broadcast of chips covers it. If the clear goes on nice and thick I am thinking it will all be okay.
I wonder if I should do the whole floor with one batch of the clear?
I have 480 sq ft. so I mixed four batches. Ok here's my screw ups. I didn't section off my 4 areas. I thought I would do the upper riser area first since it has all the **** to paint around. I ended up having the epoxy to thick on the riser and pretty much ran out on the most important part where the cars park. So its very thin, i mean very thin. It was also 82 degrees here today so it was drying very quickly.
If I were to start again, I would section off 4 areas including the riser and base areas together. I was to worried about flaking those verticle pieces which ended up being a pain to do anyway. I'm not sure of a good way to do it without using a lot of chips.
Another problem I had was with the squeege. I bought one of those regular rubber ones for windows. It may have been to short? When I would pull the epoxy down it would not flow smoothly and leave bare concrete areas. I ended up squeeging both directions then rolling. It was to difficult to roll and cover bare spots. (Due to my having to spread it to thin I guess).
I think I wasted a lot of flakes under shelves, cabinets and on the vert. pieces. I did run out but had enough to cover the area. I did a heavy broadcast almost to rejection. I would suggest either do a heavy broadcast with the tossing it in the air thing or do a broadcast to rejection where you just throw piles of it on the floor. Had I bought a few more pounds it would be nice and uniform. I can see where the flakes are not as dense because the floor is lighter. You may be able to see it in the pics. I am hoping that once it dries it will be less noticeable.
I don't know if this is good or bad but after i broadcast chips in an area I would just use the leaf blower to blow the extra chips away from the new area I am working.
By the time I got to the last (4th) batch it was very difficult to see the lines on the paint stirrer that they provided. The last batch was also a tad short on the A. The amount it was short was very small and probalby due to the amount that sticks to the container and maybe being a smidge over on the others. I think they were right on. But one thing about doing it that way is if you do accidently go over there is no going back. Maybe measuring cups would be better like Gabeancounter did.
So tonight it dries. Hell, I think its dried already. Tommorrow I will do the clear. Before I do the clear I am planning on scraping the chips a bit to get any of the ones sticking up off. Maybe that will help the color too.
My concerns are that where the cars park the epoxy is very thin. Full broadcast of chips covers it. If the clear goes on nice and thick I am thinking it will all be okay.
I wonder if I should do the whole floor with one batch of the clear?
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Ruddy
Well-known member
Good job Banker and don't beat yourself up too much! It will look good.
Are you saying to mix the whole 500sqft batch at once? i wouldn't do anymore than the half batch mix, especially at your temp. I had trouble with the half batch of the color, but have been thinking it would be ok for the clear since so many have said it goes down much smoother/faster.
I won't be doing mine until Wednesday, so I will get to learn from you! ;-)
Are you saying to mix the whole 500sqft batch at once? i wouldn't do anymore than the half batch mix, especially at your temp. I had trouble with the half batch of the color, but have been thinking it would be ok for the clear since so many have said it goes down much smoother/faster.
I won't be doing mine until Wednesday, so I will get to learn from you! ;-)
gabeancounter
Well-known member
Hey Banker,
Floor looks good. I am with Rudy mix two batches. The clear does glide across the floor much easier than the base. My thoughts about it being thin is that 3 gallons over 500sqft is thinner than most people think. Not sure that it was so much your application as the amount of material.
Rustoleum pro is about 3-4 mils thick, add clear coat and your around 7. With EC you should end up with something around 15-17 mils. I know they say 20 but that is perfect application and not sure it considers the amount absorbed into the roller or the waste in the bucket etc. You will still end up being twice as thick as rusto.
My thoughts on all these 100% epoxies is that 125 sqft per gallon would be ideal. I read many brands and they all ranged from 100-165 per gallon. The 165 per gallon is streching the product.
Banker, do not worry, the clear seems to have a much great build up than the base. After laying the clear you will notice that it evens the surface out. The "shadows" of the area smooth out. Applying the flakes that heavy makes the floor seem uneven. Again it will finish out fine.
As far as flakes, I would not break out the scraper unless you have a bunch sticking up or something? Try your blower first to remove all the loose flakes and then feel the floor. It just worries me about using a sharp blade on the floor that is not totally cured, but I did not try it, so unsure?
Can't wait to see it finished! BC
Floor looks good. I am with Rudy mix two batches. The clear does glide across the floor much easier than the base. My thoughts about it being thin is that 3 gallons over 500sqft is thinner than most people think. Not sure that it was so much your application as the amount of material.
Rustoleum pro is about 3-4 mils thick, add clear coat and your around 7. With EC you should end up with something around 15-17 mils. I know they say 20 but that is perfect application and not sure it considers the amount absorbed into the roller or the waste in the bucket etc. You will still end up being twice as thick as rusto.
My thoughts on all these 100% epoxies is that 125 sqft per gallon would be ideal. I read many brands and they all ranged from 100-165 per gallon. The 165 per gallon is streching the product.
Banker, do not worry, the clear seems to have a much great build up than the base. After laying the clear you will notice that it evens the surface out. The "shadows" of the area smooth out. Applying the flakes that heavy makes the floor seem uneven. Again it will finish out fine.
As far as flakes, I would not break out the scraper unless you have a bunch sticking up or something? Try your blower first to remove all the loose flakes and then feel the floor. It just worries me about using a sharp blade on the floor that is not totally cured, but I did not try it, so unsure?
Can't wait to see it finished! BC
Ok, I will do two batches with the clear today. I will split the garage in half. You were right about having some help with the mixing Gabean. It was quite a bit of work to get it all done. This one time I was happy my garage was not bigger.
And so I am working on the last section and my wife gets home from work. She says "what is that? I told you I didn't like the flakes. You never listen to me. I hate that color. bla bla bla" LOL I just said, honey your right.
How long am I suppose to wait to put on the clear?
And so I am working on the last section and my wife gets home from work. She says "what is that? I told you I didn't like the flakes. You never listen to me. I hate that color. bla bla bla" LOL I just said, honey your right.
How long am I suppose to wait to put on the clear?
So I go out to the garage with the leaf blower, to blow all the flakes to one corner. I notice that it looks like the floor is moving. I take a closer look, its a puddle of water. I'm like WTF. I follow this trail of water, which btw is hard to see on this flooring, to the sink and water softner. The sink had sprung a leak. I can assume that at 2:00am when the water softner recharges, water leaked all over the floor. So how bad is this gonna be or not bad at all? Now I have the advantage of 82 degrees and the epoxy being fairly dry by then? I soaked up what I could with towels and have the blower on it.
Who else was talking about Murphy?
Who else was talking about Murphy?
nathank
Well-known member
The sink HAD to spring a leak during epoxy time!! What luck! I had a similar experience where I pulled the sink out of my bathroom. As I was rolling epoxy through the bathroom I bumped the hose where it was propped up and it fell and leaked all in the wet epoxy. I flipped out at the time, but it doesn't seem to have made a difference. I also sweat all in the epoxy as I rolled it out. lol
I agree with you on the measuring thing, I used gbc's method with the Lowe's measuring cups. They worked perfectly.
If I had used your driveway mixing setup I would have had epoxy all over the driveway. I got messy! I still have epoxy on my arms and legs from 3 days ago! I used a scrap piece of plywood in the middle of the backyard so I could get crazy with it
I agree with you on the measuring thing, I used gbc's method with the Lowe's measuring cups. They worked perfectly.
If I had used your driveway mixing setup I would have had epoxy all over the driveway. I got messy! I still have epoxy on my arms and legs from 3 days ago! I used a scrap piece of plywood in the middle of the backyard so I could get crazy with it
If I had used your driveway mixing setup I would have had epoxy all over the driveway. I got messy! I still have epoxy on my arms and legs from 3 days ago! I used a scrap piece of plywood in the middle of the backyard so I could get crazy with it
Last floor I did, I had to throw out a pair of Jeans, pair of shoes, and had epoxy all over me for days.
I do have a good story about a woman that was doing her garage by herself, tripped and fell in the wet epoxy (damn those spike shoes) and glued her **** together. Her boyfriend had to come over and use xylene to un-epoxy her ****.
Sorry, I am laughing about the hose leaking on the floor while you were doing the epoxy. I would have flipped out. Will we see that on the time lapse video? Thinking back I imagine it would have been quite entertaining to watch me trying to find a place to put the squeege while I am rolling, where to put the roller while I am using the squeege, where to put the smaller roller....LOL So Nathan, do you think it was harder or easier than you thought it would be? I found it to be more difficult than I thought. I was sweating like a pig.
I do have another question about the roller. By the time you get to the last section wouldn't the epoxy on the roller start drying making it more difficult to roll. The last section was very difficult to roll.
I do have another question about the roller. By the time you get to the last section wouldn't the epoxy on the roller start drying making it more difficult to roll. The last section was very difficult to roll.
Last floor I did, I had to throw out a pair of Jeans, pair of shoes, and had epoxy all over me for days.
I do have a good story about a woman that was doing her garage by herself, tripped and fell in the wet epoxy (damn those spike shoes) and glued her **** together. Her boyfriend had to come over and use xylene to un-epoxy her ****.
Now that is some funny stuff!
gabeancounter
Well-known member
Banker,
The chips will look totally different after the clear goes down. The clear seemed to really help that glittery look I was getting. It also kind of offsets the amount of flakes. Right after I put the chips down I thought ..damn I should have just left it with the base color but after the clear, thought it turned out well.
LOL..Yes I was sweating like a stuck pig. Rushing around trying to backroll toss chips and mix batches! When you put the clear down you will barely break a sweat using two batches.
The chips will look totally different after the clear goes down. The clear seemed to really help that glittery look I was getting. It also kind of offsets the amount of flakes. Right after I put the chips down I thought ..damn I should have just left it with the base color but after the clear, thought it turned out well.
LOL..Yes I was sweating like a stuck pig. Rushing around trying to backroll toss chips and mix batches! When you put the clear down you will barely break a sweat using two batches.
nathank
Well-known member
Lucky for me, no it was inside the bathroom so the camera didn't catch it. I was quite unhappy about this event. It's probably better left off camera.
TheBanker said:
lol this is so true. These are the things people don't talk about on the forums. The little issues along the way. I had the same dilemma and it hit me about the time I finished with the squeege on the first section. I had one of those "now what?" moments.
TheBanker said:
I would say it was definitely more difficult. Especially if you set your idea of the difficulty based on things like the Epoxy-Coat instructional video. lol Those people are calm, clean and having fun. This was nothing like my experience. Once I poured the first batch out of the bucket onto the floor I was like OH **** WHAT HAVE I DONE... lol Then I proceeded to freak out about spreading it around because in my mind I had to hurry, no matter how many people said there was plenty of working time, it still didn't set in my head. By the third batch I was calm though. I wish I could have practiced through the jitters on someone else's floor.
TheBanker said:
I never saw the epoxy even start to set up on the roller. Even much later as I was cleaning up it wasn't setting up.
Ruddy
Well-known member
And now you have collapsed into a huge satisfied sigh of relief of a person, barely able to grasp that bottle of Shiner!?
Ruddy
Well-known member
About that roller. I had some material come off mine in the first go around so i switched to one I bought. When i was done and cleaning up, I grabbed that first roller and it was hot!
About the mess. I did have a big piece of cardboard that i laid stuff out on. The plastic the rollers came in and used up gloves became the landing zone for squeegee/rollers. The only really smart thing I did, was to wipe off the measuring stick after parts A&B were poured .
So Banker, How you liking the look of the clear? I just washed mine out, vacuumed it up and toweled it off. Have the heaters going all night to warm up the floor and will apply the clear tomorrow. Next 3 days have temp of 63, 63 and 58, so i should be good.
About the mess. I did have a big piece of cardboard that i laid stuff out on. The plastic the rollers came in and used up gloves became the landing zone for squeegee/rollers. The only really smart thing I did, was to wipe off the measuring stick after parts A&B were poured .
So Banker, How you liking the look of the clear? I just washed mine out, vacuumed it up and toweled it off. Have the heaters going all night to warm up the floor and will apply the clear tomorrow. Next 3 days have temp of 63, 63 and 58, so i should be good.
Clear went on good, split the floor in half this time and did two batches. No problems. I still don't think I like my flake job but on well, I will live with it. LOL heres another thing I did. I failed to clean off my newly purchased adjustable 18" roller.....well its not adjustable any longer and it is not set to 18". Had to use my back up roller and it worked fine. And the thing with these kits....I am the type to want to save everything, reuse everything.....but i just threw it all in a bucket and tossed it. I really wanted those buckets but my garage is clean and organized now and no more room for ****. In the trash it all went.
gabeancounter
Well-known member
Banker,
Brighten up! When you get a chance post up the pics with the clear. It does not really look better until it cures. I bet this morning the floor is looking a lot different.
No saving those buckets after mixing everything. Lowes has some nice 5 gallon buckets for 2.89. I use 5's for storing everything. Most of mine came from the sheetrock work. I was able to keep my roller frame? Just used a little MEK on the mixer and the roller etc to clean up. MEK makes cleaning easy.
Atleast your mind does not have to think about the floor anymore and you can focus on school. ;0)
Brighten up! When you get a chance post up the pics with the clear. It does not really look better until it cures. I bet this morning the floor is looking a lot different.
No saving those buckets after mixing everything. Lowes has some nice 5 gallon buckets for 2.89. I use 5's for storing everything. Most of mine came from the sheetrock work. I was able to keep my roller frame? Just used a little MEK on the mixer and the roller etc to clean up. MEK makes cleaning easy.
Atleast your mind does not have to think about the floor anymore and you can focus on school. ;0)
Ok here are some final pics with the clear dry. I will wait one more day to park on it. It does look better with the clear and my wife said she did not notice the color difference in the flakes. Good enough for me but I can see it.
To show what to avoid on flakes I took pics of the two different shades to show why the color is different. Flake density.
Also is a pic of the verticle riser which is a pain to flake.
The last pic may not show anything but it includes a heavy dose of the anti-slip stuff. You can't see it but you can feel it. Only put on the side of my wifes car.
To show what to avoid on flakes I took pics of the two different shades to show why the color is different. Flake density.
Also is a pic of the verticle riser which is a pain to flake.
The last pic may not show anything but it includes a heavy dose of the anti-slip stuff. You can't see it but you can feel it. Only put on the side of my wifes car.
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Ruddy
Well-known member
Just curious, did you have any urges to go in the house and come clean with what you really thought of that kitchen floor she picked out???
nathank
Well-known member
Looks great with the clear. I think we will always notice things about our own floors that nobody else would. When you're the one doing the job you know every little thing about it. There are things about my floor that bother me, but nobody else has noticed until I point it out.
I am still thinking that maybe I sand it, put a thin clear, reflake, heavy clear. Just on the main portion. It just doesn't fit the pic in my head. I guess I could just fix my head and that would be much cheaper.
Oh and let me say, there is nothing wrong with the epoxy-coat product. It was my crappy flake throwing that I don't like.
Ruddy
Well-known member
So Banker, what paint / chip colors did you end up with? I see what your saying, the heavy chip areas kinda make their own color and the lighter areas let the paint show through. Actually it gives it a sort of artsy mosaic look. Like Nathank said, we are our own worst critics. When your family and friends first see it, they will be just blown away by how awesome it looks!
I'm also going to put down the anti-slip down where the wife will be getting out of her car. That is also the side that has the house door and the sink, so it makes sense anyway.