Performance Epoxy -Epoxy coat project!

[gabeancounter]

THIS FLOOR FAILS AFTER 4 WEEKS . PLEASE READ ALL POST BEFORE PURCHASING ANY EPOXY COAT PRODUCTS


The project is almost done!
Floor before any prep. Lots of sheetrock mud and paint etc.

Floor after cleaning with pressure washer before etching

Floor etched and setup to start the floor

Flakes

Flooring with base coat but before clear!

 

[gabeancounter]

The base and flakes was put down this afternoon will add the clear in the morning.

I have around 800 sqft. After a lot of reading and coming to the conclusion that I wanted a quality floor but I could not justify the cost of most of the 100% solids. Came across performance epoxy - division of epoxy coat. It was the best value I could find for me. The kit I purchased had 15 gallons of product. 5 base color, 5 clear coat, 5 hardner.
This is a bulk purchase that comes with no tools. The kit covers 1250sqft but I am using the whole kit on 800. This should give me approx 31mils of epoxy.
Cost?
$450 for epoxy
$50 for 25lbs of flakes-bought from norkan off ebay
$100 misc ($15 spike shoes,$25 rollers$12 squeegees,$20 cleaning supp)
Total of $600 ! I would say this kit is perfect per 1000 sqft. 60 cent a sqft is awesome!

 

[TheBanker]

WOW!! looks good!! I am jealous. I did pressure washing and cleaning today. I didn't get started until late due to installing a new workbench top and some other things. I will etch tommorrow and hopefully I can epoxy next weekend.

 

[TheBanker]

Any problems, helpful tips or things I would do different?

 

[MxRider2637]

Thats a good price! could you post a link to where you bought that? Cuz im on there site but cant find the kit you bought

 

[MxRider2637]

and was that price including the clear coat?

 

[TheBanker]

MxRider,
I think he bought the 15 gal from performance epoxy, another epoxy-coat company. Try their website. Something like performance epoxy .com.

Beancounter,
What are you gonna do for baseboards? Anything?

 

[gabeancounter]

Got the clear down. All I can say is wow! I was really impressed with how well the floor looks after putting the top on. The epoxy is very glossy. All the paint on the walls is reflecting in the floor.

 

[gabeancounter]

Banker,
I wanted to wait on the base boards until the floor was done. I already have the base- just standard 3 1/2 base. Going to paint it white then put it down. Touch it up and be done.
You need to contact rugurlady to order this kit. Not on the website. Yes, the way I bought it comes with half the epoxy being clear half color base.

 

[TheBanker]

Man that looks awesome!

I finished cleaning and etching today. I was just wondering, how do you tell if its etched well enough? Some places still look a little smooth.

 

[gabeancounter]

Thanks Banker. Glad you made some progress. Etching just kind of takes the shine off. Not real rough just makes it a little gritty feeling. I would say if you have slick spots still then maybe you did not use enough acid? What strength did you use? How much fizzing?

 

[TheBanker]

About 4 to 1. Yes fizzing but some places I probably had to much water on the floor. I also started going much quicker. Ok, another question. Will the concrete fizz everytime you put new acid on it?

 

[ponjohn]

I didn't see any pricing on the website, I emailed them.

I have 1230 sf to cover. I'd like to stay around 1000-1200. VCT falls into this price range. I have priced other epoxy and it comes in at 2200 ++.

John

 

[Rocker]

Got the clear down. All I can say is wow! I was really impressed with how well the floor looks after putting the top on. The epoxy is very glossy. All the paint on the walls is reflecting in the floor.

Dude. That looks great! That clear coat is something else - did it go on pretty easily?

 

[gabeancounter]

ponjohn,
call christine @ the number on the wesite. She is also a member on this site "rugerlady". This amount of product -15 gallons is the exact rated coverage you are wanting 1250 sqft. If you use only one kit then you should be about the same amount I spent. My coverage was 800 sqft, but I was putting it on VERY heavy I know it would easily cover 1000 heavy. I am sure it would cover @ the recommended 19mils for the 1250.

Rockler,
Thanks. The clear goes on very easy. It slides across the base coat with ease! I applied the same volume of clear as base (7 1/2 gallons) but it seemed like there was much more clear than base. I guess it is because some of the base soaking into the concrete.

 

[TheBanker]

Did you scrape or sand the flakes before the clear?

 

[gabeancounter]

Banker
I used a fine flake combo with a little mixture of standard size flakes. I had just a few lose flakes that I swept off. The smaller flakes really laid down nice. No sanding. You have to apply the clear within 18-24 hours or you need to scuff up with a light sanding.

Yes, the acid will keep fizzing every application I believe. I would let it dry and run your hand over it to see if it is still slick. If not you should be good to go.

A few pointers for everybody that I think might help:
First - get spiked shoes period. Due to the extra volume I put down I needed to keep spreading the epoxy around a large area. I would put the spike shoes on as soon as I started putting it down.
Second - wait on putting base mold down. You can use a hotdog roller to spread all along the wall. Trying to spread the epoxy with a brush was difficult.
Third - If you don't but the kits with tools I would recommend buying a 18" roller. It was really nice. Covered a really large area quick.
Fourth - Get a small can of MEK. Its $10 at lowes for a small can but you will need it. Epoxy gets on stuff real easy. A few rags with some MEK makes clean up easy. Make sure you use a drop cloth under the epoxy while mixing.
It really helps to have an extra set of hands to mix up batches while you apply, but I did it by myself. Mixed 3 gallon batches and one 1 1/2 gallon batch.
Lastly the measuring buckets in the pictures from lowes worked perfect for mixing the parts correctly.

 

[Rudyjr]

Beancounter, That is one of the best looking garage floors I have seen on here, very professional job. I think you just helped me make up my mind on my floor.

 

[gabeancounter]

Thanks Rudy. Good luck!

 

[vwgtivw]

That's one sweet floor.

 

[TheBanker]

I'm looking at those pics again. Man I hope mine turns out that good.

 

[rugerlady]

To gabeancounter, Thanks for the nice write up! The floor looks great! You did a great job.

 

[gabeancounter]

Thanks. After speaking with Rugerlady, just ask for the "beancounter special" . This will be the same package I used in there standard colors. Includes free shipping for all GJ members. 5 gallons of clear, 5 gallons of base color, 5 gallons of hardner for $450.

 

[TheBanker]

wow, what a good deal but I could coat both my neighbors garages or maybe my driveway? I guess ponjohn would like that deal.

 

[nathank]

So what is the difference in Performance Epoxy and Epoxy Coat? Aside from Performance not having the base color I want!!

 

[rugerlady]

So what is the difference in Performance Epoxy and Epoxy Coat? Aside from Performance not having the base color I want!!

PM me and I can go over all the differences.

 

[Gstring120]

Gabeancounter: That is one nice looking floor!

 

[Ruddy]

Hey GABEANCOUNTER, what is the color of the base coat?

 

[Rudyjr]

Beancounter, Thanks for the info and the pictures. I will be getting in touch with Rugerlady about the Beancounter deal. Do you have any information on the supplier of the flakes you bought? Thanks, Jim

 

[gabeancounter]

Jim,
Below is the link to the guy on ebay I bought the flakes from. He has a best offer on many of his flake combos. The mix I used has a lot more "sparkle" i.e glitter in it than I was expecting. He is also the same person I purchased the 18" rollers 5.50 each, and a roller frame $12, spike shoes $15, mixing paddle $4- shipping $30- I was shipping 25 pounds of flakes. I think I might have 5 pounds left.

http://cgi.ebay.com/PAINT-CHIPS-COL...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2c50b87935


Got started on painting the base. Can't wait to see the base down for the finished look.

 

[gabeancounter]

Thanks Gstring I am really happy with it. The floor is tacking off real well. I say Thursday I will start putting the base down and install my laundry sink this weekend.

Banker, that would be a Really sweet deal if you could split the package with a neighbor.
Decisions decisions.

Jim,
Just seen the question on the color. My base is the standard gray w/ the chip combo above!

 

[Rudyjr]

Beancounter ,the color question is from a different member "Ruddy". I appreciate the link for the e-bay member on the flakes you bought. I am looking forward to giving this system a try on my floor this summer.Thanks, Jim

 

[gabeancounter]

Jim, Its fun and I think I am going to enjoy this floor for some time. Good luck on your project.

Ruddy- sorry about the mix up. You thinking about an epoxy floor?

 

[fergie_1977]

This is the exact floor I want to lay down in my 24x24 Man Den!! Looks sic.
Question: As glossy as it is...if it gets wet, is it as slippery as I think it might be?
I'm just thinking...laundry tub, garden hoses, snow off my tractor, dog dish slober etc...I can se me (or my 11 month old) doing a double hump back tripple cow sow if it's slippy.
Anybody able to comment?

 

[Ruddy]

Yep on the epoxy floor. Knew I always wanted one, but we have to get a PH conditioner installed in the garage for the well water, so that is pushing me to get this done before that goes in. I actually pulled the trigger today with epoxy-coat and 2 full kits with top coat. (I have 875 sq ft) I wasn't sure if that standard gray was dark enough, but it does look so good on your floor. I got the dark gray, which is a kind of battle ship gray and just the standard blue blend flakes. My wall color is a not so manly named "Bunny Gray" from Ben Moore. I like your wall transition, and it gives me the idea of the darker gray floor, then a medium gray wall,waist high, a blue line to match the flake then on to the Bunny!
Been reading about what to do with the expansion joints. Mine are already v-cut and since we have a log sided home, I have a LOT of left over backer rod. I went to the Ebay guy you suggested and got the spike shoes and some sitka leveling goop.
Glad I found this site or I would have just bought ucoat-it!

 

[gabeancounter]

Fergie,
I am sure my floor will be slicker than oil sh$# went it gets wet. In GA snow is rare at best. Couple times a year we get a dusting that last about a day. I was more concerned about it being really easy to clean so I skipped the anti-slip additive. They make many sizes of this grit to add to the floor. The more aggressive you get with the grit the harder it is to sweep the floor etc. Sounds like you need a bibb for that dog! lol.

Ruddy,
I really wish I had time to take a picture without any flake on the floor as the color was slightly darker. I have a really heavy flake down that changes the appreance. But when you are doing the job solo you kind of gotta get a move on! If you look at the box of flakes you can see how light the colors are. I was really thinking I wanted to go darker with the floor until I painted the walls. I picked one of the much lighter color grays and after putting it on the wall it seemed to be much darker than I was thinking. Atleast you was not buying a buggy full of manly "Ralph Lauran" paint for HD. It was on clearance plus they gave me an additional 20% off all my paint. That reminds me. Anybody that is going to buy paint @ HD- go during the week and take all your stuff down to the pro desk and ask for the pro discount on the job. Make up some job name- they gave me 20% off paint brushes tape etc!

 

[gsuhm]

Your floor looks great!

Did you get a chance to put the coat of quick crete topcoat on last weekend? If so, how did it work out?

 

[gabeancounter]

Gshum
I decided to wait on any clear glaze. Being that I was putting the epoxy on so thick I did not want to put something on the top of it that would keep it from hardening. The product that I am wanting to use is below. Should keep the epoxy in perfect shape for many years. Been doing a lot of research and this stuff seems to be pretty good. $50 for 400sqft coverage. Adds a lot of chemical resistance and UV protection. Plus a hard acrylic finish.
http://www.hcconcrete.com/products/shield-crete-epoxy/glaze/index.jsp

 

[TheBanker]

You mean you are putting another coat of clear? Is that something you just want to do or do you feel it is needed?

 

[fergie_1977]

Fergie,
I am sure my floor will be slicker than oil sh$# went it gets wet. In GA snow is rare at best. Couple times a year we get a dusting that last about a day. I was more concerned about it being really easy to clean so I skipped the anti-slip additive. They make many sizes of this grit to add to the floor. The more aggressive you get with the grit the harder it is to sweep the floor etc. Sounds like you need a bibb for that dog! lol.

Yes, I do need a bib on the pooch. Good old Labs...more water on the floor then in the mouth!
Do you know how tough the epoxy is when it comes to abuse?
i.e. skidding stuff around, lawn tractor with winter tire chains, floor hockey for the kids, etc?
Will this stuff take the abuse...or will I need to be careful so I don't chip it etc?