Should I grind my garage floor before epoxy?

Acid etching a garage floor is a great solution for those who are installing the floor themselves and do not have access to industrial grinders. However, for larger commercial jobs, older concrete, or worn floors we always recommend grinding before epoxy installation.

How do you prep a garage floor before epoxy?

Instructions

  1. Clean and Degrease the Floor. Use a broom and wet-dry vacuum to clean debris from the floor. …
  2. Etch the Concrete. Etch the concrete floor using the etching solution provided in the epoxy coating kit, following the manufacturer’s directions. …
  3. Prepare the Room. …
  4. Mix the Epoxy. …
  5. Apply the Epoxy. …
  6. Let the Garage Floor Dry.


Do you need to sand concrete before epoxy?

To finish preparing an uncoated concrete floor, you need to etch, acid wash or grind the floor, as a smooth floor will not allow the epoxy to adhere well. You can rent a sand blaster or diamond grinder and rough up the surface.

Can you epoxy over old concrete?

Do not attempt to apply epoxy over existing concrete sealers. These need to be removed first as epoxy will not adhere to them. Also, floor paint is not a good base for epoxy and needs to be removed as well.

What happens if you don’t etch concrete before epoxy?

New concrete must be etched before applying the epoxy. The smooth surface of unaltered concrete won’t bind with other materials, such as epoxy or paint. As a result, epoxy will peel and lift away, failing to adhere to the surface.

Do you have to acid wash concrete before epoxy?

Poor concrete prep is the leading cause to epoxy floor coating failure. Also known as concrete surface profiling (CSP), the process of acid etching opens the pores of the concrete and creates a rougher surface. This is needed due to the viscous nature of epoxy and other coatings.

How clean should floor be before epoxy?

Be sure to catch any areas you might overlook while preparing your epoxy coat. Oil spots will need to be removed and the floor will need to be degreased. Your floor is cleaned properly and you will want to make sure you vacuum thoroughly to rid of any remaining dust and debris.

How many coats of epoxy should you put on a garage floor?

two coats

For the best results, you should apply two coats of epoxy resin for garage floors. Before applying the first coat, make sure you put a primer on the floor first.

How do I prepare my garage floor for rustoleum epoxy?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: First. Next check your floor for any oil or grease spots. Clean. These areas with epoxy shield heavy duty degreaser. Use a scrub brush to remove any oil or grease spots on the floor. Scrub.

Can I epoxy an old garage floor?

Garage floors are known for being covered in oil and grease. Thick layers of these pesky substances can really build up after years of parking your car inside the garage. Now, you’re ready to undo some of the damage and improve the garage’s appearance with an epoxy coat.

Can you put epoxy over cracked concrete?

Epoxy coatings cannot withstand the stresses associated with concrete cracks due to settling, dry shrinkage or other factors. Don’t let the fear of cracks keep you from enjoying the benefits of epoxy; with a little prep and repair work, you can move forward with your epoxy project.

Can you epoxy coat an old garage floor?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: So just how dry do we need it before we put the epoxy. Down well the floor should be completely dry next step is we mix our epoxy. Together an epoxy comes in two parts a part a and a part b you need

What do you clean concrete with before epoxy?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Today we're going to show you how to prep your concrete floors before you apply an epoxy floor coating the first way I'm going to show you is with muriatic acid.

Do I need to prime concrete before epoxy?

There are numerous benefits in applying an epoxy floor primer prior to coating your flooring: Epoxy primers are thin, providing a better adhesion as it penetrated into the concrete substrate allowing a better bond. Primers provide a better chemical bond when using thicker epoxy base coats.

How do you seal concrete before epoxy?

Before an epoxy coating is applied to the floor, Jon-Don highly recommends considering the following:

  1. New slabs of concrete should be allowed to fully cure for 30-60 days before a coating is applied.
  2. If a sealer was previously used on the concrete (if water beads up on the surface), do not use epoxy.

How do you sand a concrete floor for epoxy?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: I started by connecting my shop back to the grinder. And began grinding the edge of the floor. Linear action for the edges is ok but for the inner portion i suggest doing so in little circles.

Can you epoxy rough concrete?

Epoxy is not suitable for leveling rough concrete slabs. 2. A common misconception is that by applying a high build epoxy coating (like a self leveling) on uneven concrete the floor will magically become smooth and level. THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN!

Does concrete have to be smooth to epoxy?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Because you applied epoxy on top so my answer is no do not use it if it's soft and powdery. Because you won't get the result you what you'll have is a full failure.

What is better than epoxy for garage floor?

Polyurea has a higher resistance to chemicals than epoxy and is U.V. stable. It’s better for garage floors and exterior spaces, and for protecting your floor against stains, damage, chemicals and wear. They are light reflective, easy to clean, and long-lasting.