Removing Sealer, Putting Down Epoxy

[rores28]

Hi,

I've got a one car garage that I want to epoxy, using an all in one Quickrete epoxy kit

I put water on the floor and its beading up, and the floor has a vaguely smooth look to it. I tried using a power sander with 50 grit on the floor and while its removed something, water still beads up on the floor.

So I need a way to take the sealer off. I know there are chemical ways and also using a diamond grinder.

Pros Cons of these two methods?

How long would it take to grind a one car garage?

I'm a little hesitant of the chemical removers because of the strong fumes and all the warnings about flammability, plus I don't know which one to get that would work for this job. Can anyone recommend a specific product?


Anyway thanks a lot in advance.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

You came to the right place.
We have seen posts of DIY using a hand held grinder on one and two car garages.
It can be done.

The trick is to open the concrete without digging a hole.

I would recommend a hand-held grinder (variable speed), dust shroud, shop vac and either a diamond cup or a Diamabrush hand tool.

If you don't have these items or don't want to have them, you might check your local rental house to see if they have something that will work. Many carry the "Edco" grinder and THD just started carrying a buffer/diamabrush (full sized) combo which works really well and much easier to use than the "EDCO" machine. This is the THD rental stores.

Also... if you haven't purchased your coatings yet, consider using a 100% solids product from a real coatings outfit. You will spend the same time and effort on your prep, be a shame to have to repeat this in a few years because your materials were lacking.

Hope this helps and keep us posted on your progress.

 

[dtam]

This is what I used to remove sealer from my concrete floor 2 weekends ago. The diamabrush 16" concrete prep tool was $55, and buffer was $42 for a day. I spent 6 hrs grinding, and the final surface felt like 150grit sandpaper (definitely not 100 grit). HD also has a diamabrush 16" mastric removal tool - not sure if this is more aggressive, and thus leave a rougher surface.

Also, if you plan on getting your epoxy online, order it early before you start prepping your concrete because it takes a long time to ship.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

This is what I used to remove sealer from my concrete floor 2 weekends ago. The diamabrush 16" concrete prep tool was $55, and buffer was $42 for a day. I spent 6 hrs grinding, and the final surface felt like 150grit sandpaper (definitely not 100 grit). HD also has a diamabrush 16" mastric removal tool - not sure if this is more aggressive, and thus leave a rougher surface.

Also, if you plan on getting your epoxy online, order it early before you start prepping your concrete because it takes a long time to ship.

The mastic removal tool is definitely more aggressive.
If you have no visible sealer on the floor the 100 grit prep tool will do it.

If you do go with the 25 grit, keep it moving.