New Guy, getting ready to Epoxy floor

[IMWalt]

Howdy. Found this board recently and I'm already glad I did. I was considering putting some flakes on my new floor, and I saw a guy post that I would then never find a fallen screw. Priceless advice. I'm a car guy, and always working on one of my street rods or family cars.

I have a 3-car garage that I painted 10 years ago with red epoxy from a company called Durall. It held up well, but is peeling in spots, and I want my floor to look perfect. I have some small pitting that I don't like, so I am going to grind off the old finish (I should have ground the floor 10 years ago) and re-do it.

Will probably use ArmorPoxy, as they seem to have the nicest gloss finish, and I want the Ultra Military topcoat, as I always have floor jacks, engine cranes, etc. rolling around on the floor. Going to go with Light gray color, I think, to make it easier to find dropped parts. I saw a post here that they offer 15% off to forum members, so I'll ask them about that.

Renting a commercial diamond grinder from my local rental shop. Bought a shroud and diamond cup thingie for my 4.5" grinder, will do the edges with that. Got a Dust Devil attachment for my shop vac to keep the dust down. Think I'll rent a PODS cube to keep thieves away from my tools while everything is out of the garage for about 10 days.

I had a quote of $4600 to have a flooring company come and do it, but figure I can save about 3 grand doing it myself. Leaves more money for

Am I missing anything? I'll post some pics when done.

Walt

 

[benwah]

When using your Shop-Vac attached to your grinder make sure you have 25 CFM for every inch of disc size. Get the fine dust bags, they're stronger and will hold up better to the abrasive concrete being sucked in.

Also you must use a respirator when grinding concrete. Go buy one if you dont have one, they sell the 3m ones for around $30-35.

Spiked shoes.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

When using your Shop-Vac attached to your grinder make sure you have 25 CFM for every inch of disc size. Get the fine dust bags, they're stronger and will hold up better to the abrasive concrete being sucked in.

Also you must use a respirator when grinding concrete. Go buy one if you dont have one, they sell the 3m ones for around $30-35.

Spiked shoes.

Spoken like a true concrete warrior!

 

[Armorpoxy]

Make sure to wear a particulate respirator, hand grinders even with vac attachments kick up a lot of dust!

 

[Kaizen]

for me its the dark blue of my floor thats the reason i can't find things i drop. it really is an abyss. A light flake color or a mix probably won't be an issue.
As a newb i premeasured mine in graduated buckets so i didnt screw it up. Also ordered some kitchen alarm clocks so i could make sure i was mixing exactly.

If you do use flakes get the big ones. i used small ones and it looks like salt on the floor. also i'm not looking to break a leg on a wet floor so i spread anti slip on the whole floor and double the amount around entrances and under the lift where fluids will be

 

[FJ4FUN]

Go with a light color base coat and a very light flake distribution. If you're really concerned with losing small parts then go with a single color flake. Lots of customers will go solid color, no flakes but this has it's own challenges. Due to the DIY application you will become intimately involved with every square inch of your floor and will be able to point out a fly wing in your finish coat at 200yds! Flakes, even a very light distribution, really help to mask minor imperfections.