Ruined Epoxy Finish - Help!

[Bill J]

Hello and Help! We had an epoxy coating put on our garage floor several months before we moved into our home. The garage floor is NOT new. The contractor that did the work said he did all the prep work, etc. Now that we are in the home, and using the garage the floor looks awful. Every tire track, every salt stain and drop of engine oil is on full display. None of it comes up with ammonia or simple green. Even dirt from shoes stains do not come up and the finish is extremely dull.

Not sure what product the contractor used. Not sure if he applied a top coat. At this point I just want the floor to look like what I had in visioned....clean and shiny.

What do you recommend I do to get the results that I want? I’m not opposed to redoing the floor myself - I think the existing finish is a total loss. I Just need to know how best to proceed now that there is already a finish of some type on the floor.

Thank you for your help

Bill J

 

[Maiku]

If it can’t be cleaned off my thought would be to rent a diamond grinder from a home improvement store, grind it off and start fresh. I would also get every penny back from the contractor.

 

[kd3pc]

you will need to know what the finishes are that were used. It is entirely possible that some shortcuts were made, how to move beyond that is one of two choices.

Get the contractor back out and have him redo it. This should be a do over from him, you have already paid for a proper installation.

DIY, grind, prep and primer and then one of the coatings available here in the forums.

Both courses will have their own issues and costs.

A properly installed product should last/hold up for years, if not decades in a casual use like we usually see here.

Pictures may help, if you have any during the install and prep phases.

 

[Shea]

you will need to know what the finishes are that were used. It is entirely possible that some shortcuts were made, how to move beyond that is one of two choices.

Get the contractor back out and have him redo it. This should be a do over from him, you have already paid for a proper installation.

DIY, grind, prep and primer and then one of the coatings available here in the forums.

Both courses will have their own issues and costs.

A properly installed product should last/hold up for years, if not decades in a casual use like we usually see here.

Pictures may help, if you have any during the install and prep phases.

Excellent advice. From the description of the mess on the surface, it sounds like concrete paint or a 1-part epoxy paint was applied and not a true 2-part epoxy coating. Building contractors are known for hiring "painters" to do garage floors. There is a big difference between painters who use paint and actual floor coating contractors.

 

[Lassen Forge]

Don't know how long ago you had this done, but it sounds like a failed coating. I'd call the contractor and try to get them to redo it. Most will whine about how it's not fair, it'll cost them money, etc... the only issue will be if they've taken the money and ran, or "went bankrupt", then it may be on you. (I find it amazing how many contractors seem to do that... not all, but quite a few of them.)

The good thing about this, even though it is the more expensive option, is you get the floor YOU want, and YOU know how it was installed. IF you can get the contractor to at least remove the failed finish 100%, it;s a start... but yeah, I'd be ready to do my own work.

Plus - you do it yourself, it gives you bragging rights.

 

[Armorpoxy]

Give it a light re prep and recoat it with our www.armorcladepoxy.com and 2 part military grade topcoat. It will be like new and you won’t have theses issues any longer.

 

[K13]

Lots of jumping to conclusions here. The OP has provided zero information to base an answer on. What did he contract to be done? Saying he got an epoxy floor is a pretty wide ranging generic answer that could result in a pretty wide range of products and quality being used. We have no idea what he asked for, what he paid to have it done etc. The contractor may very well be at fault but more information is needed before everyone jumps on the go after the contractor bandwagon.

 

[rjacobs]

yup, 1 post and never been back again. Last activity was when he posted this thread.