Residential 2 car garage epoxy

[korvinas]

Hi guys. I'm planning on laying down epoxy in my 2 car garage. If memory serves me correctly, the total sq footage is around ~400 sq feet. I'm not a newbie to applying a 2 part epoxy. I previously used epoxy-coat in my last home and also in a 50 x 50 garage and had mixed results in that particular application.

My garage is purely for parking purposes. I wont be doing any heavy wrenching but I still want durability that epoxy offers. With that in mind I have some prep questions.

This time around I think I may try another epoxy brand that also comes with a primer. I've read different suggestions however if primer is needed. With epoxy coat no primer was needed. In reading threads it sounds like primer is only needed in order to achieve the desire epoxy color and not necessarily adhesion. Others say the primer will help with adhesion. Can anyone comment on the use and need for primer? If it indeed dos help with durability, it is something I want to do.

I also have expansion and contraction joints and have read differing opinions about filling them. The contraction joints are relatively deep and wide and would need foam backer rod if they are to be filled. They are doing their job and there is a fine crack that has developed in the joint. Whether I fill it completely or not, I suppose I will need to fill the crack just not sure what the best option is for long term durability.

The expansion joints have a cardboard type of material in them and that material is not even with the floor surface. I've read that the best option is to grind them down to make level but people have differing opinions on filling these or not. My thought is that these should be sealed to control moisture but I an not sure if sealing them is worth it.

Lastly, I plan on diamond grinding the floor which I did on my 50x50 build. Is it still recommended to acid etch if diamond grinding? Would you etch first or before?

Thanks in advanced.

 

[Garage Flooring]

Hi guys. I'm planning on laying down epoxy in my 2 car garage. If memory serves me correctly, the total sq footage is around ~400 sq feet. I'm not a newbie to applying a 2 part epoxy. I previously used epoxy-coat in my last home and also in a 50 x 50 garage and had mixed results in that particular application.

My garage is purely for parking purposes. I wont be doing any heavy wrenching but I still want durability that epoxy offers. With that in mind I have some prep questions.

This time around I think I may try another epoxy brand that also comes with a primer. I've read different suggestions however if primer is needed. With epoxy coat no primer was needed. In reading threads it sounds like primer is only needed in order to achieve the desire epoxy color and not necessarily adhesion. Others say the primer will help with adhesion. Can anyone comment on the use and need for primer? If it indeed dos help with durability, it is something I want to do.

I also have expansion and contraction joints and have read differing opinions about filling them. The contraction joints are relatively deep and wide and would need foam backer rod if they are to be filled. They are doing their job and there is a fine crack that has developed in the joint. Whether I fill it completely or not, I suppose I will need to fill the crack just not sure what the best option is for long term durability.

The expansion joints have a cardboard type of material in them and that material is not even with the floor surface. I've read that the best option is to grind them down to make level but people have differing opinions on filling these or not. My thought is that these should be sealed to control moisture but I an not sure if sealing them is worth it.

Lastly, I plan on diamond grinding the floor which I did on my 50x50 build. Is it still recommended to acid etch if diamond grinding? Would you etch first or before?

Thanks in advanced.

1. Grinding is sufficient. No need to etch as well.
2. Joints are a matter of opinion. If you do not have a pressing reason to fill them, I would leave them.
3. A primer and a good top coat is always a good idea.
4. Consider epoxy as well as Polyurea. Have an in-depth conversation about what you need from the floor.

 

[Armorpoxy]

Hi,
Etching is usually fine, but if you do decide to grind, then definitely prime as grinding makes the floor more porous, so if you don't prime and just apply epoxy it can come out with uneven sheen. Priming does help with adhesion and also helps the epoxy last longer as it 'sits up higher' on the floor since none of it can soak into the primed floor.

As for joints, sealing them is optional. If you do want to fill them, grind them out then coat the floor. After coating, fill joints with backer rod or sand and then apply a good flexible joint filler. The reason for this is that if you coat over filled joints when the slabs move the joints will crack since the epoxy has no give. Joint filler has give.