New Guy needs help!!!!

[five eight]

I'm going to try to fix the job our so called builder did to the garage floor before we moved into our new house. I didn't have time to do anything to the garage floor before we moved in so now that it's full I have a few questions. It looks like the floor is painted with some cheap flat paint and if I'm going to apply the Epoxy-Sheild Professional do I need to remove all the old paint? Another question, what do you do when your garage if full of stuff just move it to the drive way or could I move everything to one side and do half at a time? I've added some pictures to show you what I'm working with.

Garage 24x20

Thanks in advance

 

[Thomarann]

Another question, what do you do when your garage if full of stuff just move it to the drive way or could I move everything to one side and do half at a time?

Rent a Pod.

Marc

 

[gti16vman]

Pour out a little water and see if it beads up. If so, you have something on it that you need to remove. Most likely I would guess they put a sealant on it. Most people will either rent a grinder and grind it down or acid etch it (most common from what I have seen). As far as doing half, if you do this, it would be wise to mix all of the color together at first. This way the color should match. Also, if you did one side, you would have to rough up the edge so that you can overlap a little bit and hopefully blend it all in. Otherwise, as suggested, rent some kind of storage to keep it in for a week or so while you do it.

 

[five eight]

Thank for you reply gti16vman!!!

If you look at the picture you can see a seam in the concrete. Would it be ok the do the right side at the seam and then do the left after? I was thinking this would kind of hide doing one side at a time.

 

[gti16vman]

Well, everything that I know is from what I have read. I plan on epoxying mine in the next week or two. But from what I have read, if you mix all of the color part first, and then split it up, in theory, your color should match. Now I am not sure if there are other factors in the way the color dries (IE, heat/humidity), maybe someone with more experience will chime in. I would think that if you did plan on doing half at a time, that would be the ideal place to split it up.

 

[Hammerdown]

You can coat over it with some minor prep, but the question is do you WANT to? If the existing coating is sound- not lifting, peeling or failing, and it has had some time to prove its durability (1yr+), you could scuff sand the coating with an aggressive grit sand paper (60-80) to create a mechanical profile. Make sure to completely dull the surface this way, leaving no shiny/glossy spots. Then apply the product as per instructions. If it is just a regular floor paint than I wwould remove it prior to application of the new product. Remove it either chemically or mechanically.
Chemically- use a suitable paint stripping material, mop it down and cover it with plastic sheeting. This will allow the chemical to evaporate less quickly and keep re-attacking the coating. Let it set for about 8 hours or overnight and you should be able to use a razor scraper to remove it.
Mechanically- rent an EDCO floor grinder and upgrade to the diamond stones. Make several passes over the floor to grind the coating away. Not much to other than making sure to keep the machine moving so you don't grind away too much of the concrete.
You can apply it in sections. Just stop at a natural demarcation line like an expansion joint or a saw cut, or tape a straight edge. Mix only a proportionate amount of material to cover the space. The colors should match up well because all the material from the same order should be from the same batch number, although weather conditions, surface texture/porosity and roller technique all can have an effect on the colors.
Hope something here helps you out.
Just my duece. ($.02)

 

[five eight]

Great information

I think I will remove the paint on the floor. It will scrape up easy with a razor.