Recoating an epoxy floor

[kincade]

I searched through the forum and didn't find an answer to my exact problem... Hope this isn't a repost.

About 3 years ago I coated my garage floor with a (solvent based) 2 part epoxy that turned out ok; however, instead of "adobe" I recieved a nice pink floor. I've learned to live with it but I don't like it much. I also neglected to fill in the expansion joints (makes it hard to roll around on a creeper), use flakes (would cover up the defects/scratches/etc) and use any grit (floor is awfully slippery in the winter).

I'm wondering if any of you can tell me what would be involved in recoating a floor that is already covered in epoxy? I'm worried that the cost of removing the existing coat would be so great that it would be cost prohibitive. And if it is, it might be worth just doing polished concrete or covering the epoxy with VCT (although the durability problems in a workshop give me pause).

I'm also wondering what the advantage is of 100% solids epoxy over the others?

This will be used in a garage where I grind and weld occasionally, bleed brakes almost weekly in the summer, and occasionally spill chemicals (oil, gasoline, grease, brake cleaner, etc) on the floor. Tools are occasionally dropped, floor jacks are rolled around, and jackstands are used.

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[premierguy]

Pink is cool, you just have to find your Feminine side.....

Take a Razor Scrapper to it and share whether or not it's the type that stinks up my earth. You can tell me how much it cost and I'll know the rest....

 

[kincade]

Pink is cool, you just have to find your Feminine side.....

Take a Razor Scrapper to it and share whether or not it's the type that stinks up my earth. You can tell me how much it cost and I'll know the rest....

Not sure what you mean... It was a 2 part solvent based, not water based epoxy. Can't remember what it cost, but it must have been around $4-500 to do a 600 square foot floor. Not 100% solids though.

 

[premierguy]

Well well.... where did you purchase the product? Some detective work is usually necessary...

 

[drivinhard]

bleed brakes almost weekly in the summer

You just be a track junkie

 

[kincade]

Well well.... where did you purchase the product? Some detective work is usually necessary...

Purchased it from a local professional paints store called Alta Paints...

 

[kincade]

You just be a track junkie

Yep! I live about 30 minutes away from Miller Motorsports Park; it would be a shame to live so close and not take advantage of it!

 

[Fuller]

If it's still stuck to the floor really well you should be able to sand it, wipe it with xylene and do a coat of 100% solids epoxy over it. Do a test patch first.

 

[kincade]

If it's still stuck to the floor really well you should be able to sand it, wipe it with xylene and do a coat of 100% solids epoxy over it. Do a test patch first.

Definitely still stuck well. Do you think that it will stick with just a coat of xylene, or would I need to sand it also?

 

[Vicegrip]

You just be a track junkie

I thought the same thing too. Most folks never change brake fluid. Some track rats change it more often than underwear

Scuffing the surface is good practice along with removing any oil or other contaminates and by all means do a test or use materials known to work. put some down wait a week and dig at it with malice. Some coatings do not stick well to some other coatings. Scuff sanding will go faster than you think if you have the right tools. I have used hand held dual action sanders before with good result. Pad your hands with foam to protect them from the vibrations or you will have tingly hands for a day.

 

[kincade]

Thanks; this is all great information. I doubt I'm going to be able to afford to have the floor shotblasted so I'm going to have to topcoat it...