Poly Top Coat Mess Up

[Lucas21]

Just finished my epoxy floor. It was a ton of work and I loved how the epoxy turned out. But, when it came time for the poly top coat I struggled with this product in getting it to even out. It was really hard to see where you last rolled and so some spots got too much and some not as much. That said, is this something I need to live with, or would it not be too much to buff it out somehow and re apply aiming for a more even top coat without ruining the epoxy?

The product used was PPG Pitt thane ultra high gloss poly. It's a 2-part coat. One last question: can you spray this poly or thin it out for easier application and smoothness? I see some videos and the poly seems very reduced or diluted like a paint making it easier to apply. Thanks!

 

[Garage Flooring]

Just finished my epoxy floor. It was a ton of work and I loved how the epoxy turned out. But, when it came time for the poly top coat I struggled with this product in getting it to even out. It was really hard to see where you last rolled and so some spots got too much and some not as much. That said, is this something I need to live with, or would it not be too much to buff it out somehow and re apply aiming for a more even top coat without ruining the epoxy?

The product used was PPG Pitt thane ultra high gloss poly. It's a 2-part coat. One last question: can you spray this poly or thin it out for easier application and smoothness? I see some videos and the poly seems very reduced or diluted like a paint making it easier to apply. Thanks!

I cannot see much from this picture. How long ago did you finish applying and what is the recoat time? I would double check with them but worst case you should be able to lightly sand, wipe and recoat. If you just finished you may not need to. Check the specs.

Many urethanes can be sprayed with the right equipment, knowledge and obviously product. ***BUT*** It is not something you do with any urethane and when you do do it you need high end equipment and the skill to do it right. In almost every case for our residential customers rolling makes more sense. What roller covers did you use?

 

[bigjon]

It looks good in your pic. I'm also using PPG products, different to yours though, and they both (epoxy and poly clear coat) can accept thinners if required. I only thinned my primer epoxy coat and don't plan on thinning my clear coat which goes on today. They can also both be applied by air spray, but that's out of my league.

Look up with technical data sheet and see what it says. Thinners requirements (type & volume) vary from product to product.

 

[Lucas21]

Thanks for the follow up! I used 1/4" nap roller designed for poly and adhesives it said. Then I switched to a 3/8" for a second coat to try to make it better. unfortunately it just made some spots higher instead of leveling it out.

It's been 5 days since I applied the poly. I guess spraying is out after what you said. But I think I could roll much better a second time. I'd be fine rolling again especially if I could thin the product or reduce its thickness to a large extent. What is the best way to inexpensively do this? If I spend too much more the wife might send divorce papers.

Oh, I also used like 4-5 gallons of this stuff when the manufacturer claims it will cover 300-400 sq ft a gallon. My garage is 650 square ft so clearly I used too much?

 

[Lucas21]

You think it looks good and I'm just being a perfectionist here?

 

[jeepermat]

I think its all upside down!

 

[Lucas21]

Ha, I need to fix this pic. My fault, first time posting

 

[Lassen Forge]

Call the company you got your coating from, and ask them PPG is pretty cool about giving you answers you need (I use their stuff almost exclusively) and since they know the product, they can answer those questions a lot easier than many... and they rely on you having a satisfactory result.


They can also likely tell you if an application went wonky, how it went wonky, and if it's possible to correct it. You spent some good money on that covering, and part of that was to have access to their customer support!

I do know - if you put the wrong product on the wrong product you can get disastrous results. But they might be able to save you even then.


Contact info from their Support Site...

PPG Paints™ representatives are ready to deliver extensive knowledge. Contact us today for expert guidance and service to help you achieve success.
• For technical service, please call 1-800-441-9695

 

[Lucas21]

I just called PPG tech support. They said you have up to two week to apply the product over existing top coat without sanding. However, he did say to sand and make it even then since I have a lot of product on there already, I can just go over it again and thin it down 15% to go further and give me more time to work with it.

What are the options to sand or buff the floor with that will just take off a little of the urethane and not any chips or epoxy? Has anyone done this with success and not making a large mess.

Thanks.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Yes, we have.
A Mal-Grit brush will scuff the floor with the chips in place.
Have to keep it moving.

https://www.instagram.com/p/0N2qOKFjXY/?taken-by=legacyindustrial

https://www.instagram.com/p/0N3fQjFjZG/?taken-by=legacyindustrial

http://www.legacyindustrial.net/products/buff-pads-screens/malish-rotary-grit-brush.html

 

[NitroShark]

If this is truly a polyurethane… 5 gallons for 650sq/ft sounds Way to thick (DFT) Check the product data sheets. Normally it’s 400-600 sq/ft per gal.

You sure you don’t have just “clear epoxy” ?

 

[Lucas21]

I attached a pic of the specs for the product. It is a urethane, 70% solids I think. I just applied way too thick as you said. I applied it in a similar fashion as I did the epoxy which is wrong. Yeah i wasted a lot of product and now will need more to even it out if I want to.

Is the mal-grit brush tough enough to get up the high spots of urethane? Also, does Home Depot rent these? Thanks again for the great advice, I feel like there's hope now.

 

[Lucas21]

Oops, Here is the spec sheet for the urathane:

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

I attached a pic of the specs for the product. It is a urethane, 70% solids I think. I just applied way too thick as you said. I applied it in a similar fashion as I did the epoxy which is wrong. Yeah i wasted a lot of product and now will need more to even it out if I want to.

Is the mal-grit brush tough enough to get up the high spots of urethane? Also, does Home Depot rent these? Thanks again for the great advice, I feel like there's hope now.

No it is not. Grinding high spots is a different bag of apples and urethane is the toughest material to grind down. This tool will scuff the floor only.
No, not rentable.

 

[NitroShark]

Oops, Here is the spec sheet for the urathane:

Thanks but, image is too small and not readable....

 

[bigjon]

Is this what you used?
http://buyat.ppg.com/rep_pafpainttools_files/Pghpaints/tdb/95-812.pdf

I used a similar PPG product and had the same issue, which was applicator error. My second coat rectified the misses and I'm happy with it.

How many coats have you applied? If only 1, give 2 a go since your in the re-coat window.