Polyurethane top coat question.

[eetnoyer]

I have some Behr 2-part water based epoxy that is free to me (and can't be returned anyway). Yeah, I know it's pretty much junk, but I'm not really interested in a "show" garage, just something to make the worst of my messes easier to clean up. It's just a starter home. I promise, our next place will get a much nicer garage floor (done before I spill oil all over it).

What I want to know is whether adding a polyurethane top coat over it will help with it's longevity. Will it help reduce tire pick up?

Which kind of polyurethane (+ nonslip) do you guys recommend?

Thanks for any help.

 

[AlphaGarage]

Tire pick up is a failure at the point where the coating adheres (or doesn't adhere) to the substrate, in other words the bottom of the coating, so the uppermost clear coat will not have much of an affect on that plane of contact.

Your best bet would be to contact Behr and see if they have a compatible product or suggestion.

There are many types of anti-slip grit media - sand, aluminum oxides, steel, I like the engineered polymer grit. They aren't as aggressive or durable as some of the other products, but they are easier to clean because they won't shred mops or towels, they also will not shred your skin. And for most environments they're plenty aggressive and durable enough.

 

[eetnoyer]

Thanks, being a chemist, that's kind of what I figured. I just wasn't sure if the polyurethane, being more heat resistant/tougher in general, would reduce the effect at all. I was thinking that if the polyurethane doesn't liquify/melt and adhere to the tire like the epoxy does, it might not cause lift.

To give you a little bit of background, my parents did their garage with the same epoxy several years ago. Other than just being dull, it only has minor tire lift in a couple of spots (front wheels). Our backyard neighbor only put down polyurethane several years ago, and aside from where it has peeled a little around the edges and cracks, shows no signs of tire lift.

Thanks again.

 

[zed]

Try polyurea.