Well, $@#@!%$%#%@!!!!

[bobren4]

I did my floor tonight using the EpoxyGuard, same kit they sale at Costco.

I foollowed the instructions and used 2 kits for the 3-car garage. Well, 1/2 of the garage came fine. The other half was disaster, I ended up with 4-5 pretty bad roller marks. I can only think that the half with the problem was probably warmer than the 1st half so the epoxy cured faster.

Anyway, I am so dissapointed after spending so much time prepping the damn thing.

I need a drink now.

Will, post pics of the disaster tomorrow.

 

[thundercow]

...I keep telling people, don't use the bargain epoxy kits...Post the pictures here, you may be able to solve this with a clearcoat.

 

[awakeinAZ]

+1 to that...... didn't even prep the floor. Made a phone call contractor arrives, have had no issues.

 

[bmwpower]

Nothing a little orbital sander (to take down the roller marks) and some more epoxy (to coast the sanded marks) can't cure. Another coat on the floor won't harm things as long as the manufacturer recommends it...

I did the above a couple times after concrete fibers and roller material ended up on my floor.

All in all, I've come to realize it's a floor of a working garage so a little mess up here and there is par for the course.

 

[ron in sc]

Another coat on the floor won't harm things as long as the manufacturer recommends it...

I did the above a couple times after concrete fibers and roller material ended up on my floor.

I've got to put another coat of clear epoxy on my floor because I did not scrape the chips and I have quite a few sticking up. I though they were melted into the color coat. Well I was wrong. I want the floor to be smooth when finished.

I had my guy's sand around the perimeter by hand and I'm going to rent a buffer/ polisher and use 60 grit sanding screen to rough it up. That's what epoxy manufacturer, Wolverine Coatings, recommended. My experience has been that they have provided me with excellent technical support.

I just take the postition that the person who has never screwed anything up has never learned anything.

 

[premierguy]

Your almost there... good experience is just that.

 

[bobren4]

...I keep telling people, don't use the bargain epoxy kits...Post the pictures here, you may be able to solve this with a clearcoat.

Actually, I am not going to reserve my final thoughts on EpoxyGuard until I subject it to couple of months of use. So far, after 17 hours, I can tell you that I love the way it turn it out except for the few spots where I can see roller marks. This stuff goes on very thick and it appers to be super strong. I had to remove couple of drips from the surrounding concrete and I could not life it without pulling some concrete with it.

I screwed up by trying to do the entire 750 feet by myself. If I had a helper, I could have much better results.

Anyway, here are couple of pics. I will take more shots of the final look when the entire garage is put back together.

BEFORE SHOTS

AFTER

 

[Mlynch]

did you attempt the job by yourself?

after you mixed the epoxy did you leave it in the bucket or dump it out right away? A common mistake by diy guys is to apply it like paint as opposed to just dumping it out. If you dont dump it right away and spread the chemical reaction will heat it up if left in the bucket and it will exponetially decrease the pot life and cure much much faster.

These two reasons would probably be the main causes of running out of pot life...

 

[bobren4]

I followed the instructions. Stirred for 3 min and dumped it out of the bucket. I spent next 30 min spreading it out and finishing it with the roller. Unfortunately, I still ended up with the roller marks.

I've done 3 other epoxy floors in the past using the EpoxyShield or Quickrete and they came out smooth. This epoxy was way more thicker and finish is much nicer.

Again, all I can think of is that I applied it when the air temp was close to the hige limit.
Approx 75-80F and I did not have a helper so it probably took me 35-45 min to spread and even it.

 

[nissan_crawler]

...I keep telling people, don't use the bargain epoxy kits..

 

[700jfm]

It Looks dam good to me.

 

[goodfellow]

What are you complaining about? -- it looks absolutely great!!! Forget about the roller marks and start using the garage.

 

[Mlynch]

30-45 minutes is in all likelyhood too long... you ran out of pot life.

A helper and an 18 inch roller would help drastically to reduce the amount of time it takes to get it spread out.

 

[Vicegrip]

The mechanic with the cleanest clothes will do the least work. He will be be worried about getting dirty. Worry not about floor it will work just as well roller mark or not. I would be worried about scuffing up a $3000 floor that had a car paint like finish. I used to install epoxy coatings in health clubs in pump rooms. We chilled the materals prior to mixing to extend pot lift and also used a thick stainless mix potthatr was also chilled. The rooms were hot all the time and this would give me enough time to get each batch down. I did my shop floor in little time and the materla went down just fine and has protected the floor from many fluids and many projects.

 

[WolverineCoatings]

It looks like you have done a pretty good job. This might be one of those times where you're the only one who will notice it. If you're like me... well... then it will matter to you. But, typically the flakes will distract the eye to the degree that you may not notice that.

 

[Brickout]

I think it looks great and you did a good job.

Chances are, you're going to be the only one that notices it. In time, you won't even look at it anymore.

 

[larry4406]

Many will see - few will notice.

 

[3baysofplay]

Bobren4:

How did the dividing of the floor go with the two kits? Or did you mix both at the same time and put them both down. I too am considering using two kits from Costco for my floor, but in light grey with no flakes. I also have about 750 square feet in a 3 car garage. I was going to try to do half first with one kit, and then the other with the final kit. Any suggestions? What did you do for prep on your floor?

 

[04 Navi]

FWIW I was at Costco today and they had a sample put up on a piece of plywood. It was really rough. Is there a top coat that goes with it or is that it, because if that's it, then the floor will be tough to clean.

BTW it really is a battleship grey.

 

[bobren4]

Bobren4:

How did the dividing of the floor go with the two kits? Or did you mix both at the same time and put them both down. I too am considering using two kits from Costco for my floor, but in light grey with no flakes. I also have about 750 square feet in a 3 car garage. I was going to try to do half first with one kit, and then the other with the final kit. Any suggestions? What did you do for prep on your floor?

My garage is split on two levels so I used one kit for the top and the other for the bottom level. I strongly recommend you only do 1 kit at the time otherwise you will run out of the pot life. Unless you have 4-6 people working on it.

The floor was first grinded, cracks patched, acid etched and rinsed very well.

 

[bobren4]

FWIW I was at Costco today and they had a sample put up on a piece of plywood. It was really rough. Is there a top coat that goes with it or is that it, because if that's it, then the floor will be tough to clean.

BTW it really is a battleship grey.

Are you sure you saw EpoxyGuard at your costco? I am asking because here in bay area costco does carry epoxy but it is not the EpoxyGuard.

 

[04 Navi]

Well I was 100% until you asked, now I am not so sure. I guess that's why no one ever asks me to be a witness, because I can't remember jack.

 

[hideehoo]

The stuff at my local Costco was the H&C water based product

http://www.hcconcrete.com/product/shieldCrete.asp

Just ordered two of the Epoxy Guard kits off the Costco website (~890 sq ft garage), we'll see how that turns out...

 

[67pete300]

My garage is split on two levels so I used one kit for the top and the other for the bottom level. I strongly recommend you only do 1 kit at the time otherwise you will run out of the pot life. Unless you have 4-6 people working on it.

The floor was first grinded, cracks patched, acid etched and rinsed very well.

Why did you grind and then acid etch? Just wondering.

 

[SivlerBulletMike]

I think your floor came out fantastic! How long did you let it cure before you could drive on it? Is this a single coat product or 2 coats?

 

[Scoobydew31]

I think you worry to much. No one will notice except yourself. It looks great!

 

[fourfeathers]

Looks good to me. Especially if it is a working garage. Put a carpet runner down if you have company, lol.

 

[99E36M]

I can tell you are quite the perfectionist from your clean work benches and organized tools...but dude, your floor looks aweseme! I'm not a perfectionist, but I get pissed when I don't do thing right too, and I would probably be mad at those roller marks, but honestly, if you didn't point them out to me I wouldn't have seen them. It isn't a show room, it is a garage, way good enough!
________
Ecigarettes

 

[99E36M]

I do have a question for you. I see you painted the first few inches of the wall, how did that turn out? I have a concrete knee wall (about 4' tall) around my garage and I don't know what to do with it. Will the epoxy stick or just run down the wall? Should I maybe paint it with typical concrete paint prior to doing the floor?
________
PRILOSEC LAWSUITS

 

[bobren4]

I am sorry guys for my late reply. I just came back from vacation

First, thanks everyone on nice compliments on my garage. Yes I am perfectionist and that makes my life "interesting" at some times. I have learned to live with those roller marks and so far not many people noticed them.

To answer to the above post, I premixed small batch and painted 4" raised concrete edge with a big paint brush. Epoxy will not run down unless you apply way too much of it. It is really just like painting with any other color except this one is thicker and will cure fast.

 

[bobren4]

Why did you grind and then acid etch? Just wondering.

Just to make sure the surface is clean 100%. I guess I could have skipped that step but since the kit came with the etcher, I decided to give it a shot.

 

[bobren4]

I think your floor came out fantastic! How long did you let it cure before you could drive on it? Is this a single coat product or 2 coats?

Single coat. Waited 4 days before I moved my 2 SUVs into garage.

 

[99E36M]

How critical do you think the floor grinding is on a new pour (60 days old)? I was just going to use the etcher since I don't have any oil spills.

Also, I may epoxy the walls but since they are partly below grade do you guys think I should just DRYLOK them?
________
WASHINGTON MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARY

 

[thundercow]

Actually, I think that floor looks pretty fine. But, the roller marks might be more serious in person.

Where did you end up with this? Did you put a coat of clear over it? When and if you use a clear coat, try thinning it a bit with acetone (assuming it's not water-based). You'll get greater pot life, and the coating will flow and level better, creating a more uniform surface. Also, pick a cool morning to apply the coating, you'll get even better flow and leveling.

 

[Carman]

I can't wait to do my floor with all the stuff I am learning off this forum, this is GREAT information