Epoxy coated garage floor

[XcYZ]

Anyone have epoxy coating on their garage/shop floor? I'd like to do it, but I'd like to hear some feedback from those that have done it already... brands liked/disliked, durability, etc...

[Rubes]

I got this stuff (http://www.precisionepoxy.com/) (the web site sux). It was rather expensive ($2000 for 850sqft) and I even installed it myself. "installation" took about a week with four different processes. It didnt layuout as nice as I would have liked, but I could have messed up in the application. As for durability, its going on 12 years with no major issues. weld spatter does leave marks. and of course if the concrete cracks, it transferes thru the coating and it cracks too :mad: . I did also get some stains from brake fluid that sat on it for a few years. But as for normal wear/tear it has been great. No lifting or peeling from hot tires or anything. Just DONT wax it!!! I did, and it looked terrible after a few weeks. stripped it off and it still shines like the day I installed it 12 years ago.

Rubes

[69Lt4]

I put down some industrial stuff (not UCoat-It or the stuff from Home Depot/Lowe's) I got with my friend when they were doing their shop floor. I had to mix and add the sand. I put it down on new cement which I believe made a big difference. Unfortunately, the stuff I used doesn't hold up to welding. I have little black spots where I have welded. As for the sand. They recommended mixing it in with the product. Which when applied didn't come out even. I just threw the sand over the first coat and went over. Came out more even and the floor doesn't look like grit.
Most of the floors I have seen peel, is where the material was put over older cement.
Kevin

[old school]

I got Muscle Gloss. I am pleased overall with it. I did have some problems with the coating bubbling up while it dryed. They said I either mixed the epoxy to fast or I applied it to fast with the roller. I got the red, and it looks pretty killer with the flecks. I'm glad I got the flecks, it would be slick big time if I didn't.

[XcYZ]

I've seen the Muscle stuff online.

Your red floor looks great!

[Musclerodz]

Ask Charley about his new floor. I don't think I have heard anything bad about U-Coat-It except for price.

Mike

[groovyjay]

I used epoxy to paint my home 2-car carage. I has been on for 3 months now, it has seen oil, gas, coolant, some brake fluid and cars coming and going. It's still good as new, if I just had the enrgy to clean up every now and then.

http://finnshark.com/images/zoom/MYTXWH/cara1.jpg

http://finnshark.com/images/zoom/MYTXWH/cara2.jpg

:thumbsup:

[hotwheels]

how in the heck to you guy's do those checker board floors with epoxy? Is it actual tiles with an epoxy cover or is it epoxy paint?

[radrambler]

concrete coatings was once how i made a living....
scott, just get a two part epoxy from a paint store (sherwin williams) or something like that....it has to be a two part coating......the biggest thing is the prep..ITS JUST LIKE A PAINT JOB ON YOUR CAR ...PREP IS EVERYTHING.
IN THE SOUTH WE ACID ETCH THE FLOOR. MURATIC ACID MIXED WITH WATER IN A PUMP SPRAYER....ABOUT 1/4 MURATIC ACID AND THE REST WATER . spray it on and let it fizzel.....then rinse with water..then neutralize it with baking soda and water with a shop broom then rinse again........(DON LET ANY ANIMALS AROUND WHILE DOING THIS)......let the floor dry for at least a day or two....then your ready.....thats how we do it down here.....
hope that helps

radrambler

[907rs]

Scott, Talk to some of the paint stores in your area that deal with industrial finishes. My favorite is Sherwin Williams, they'll hook you up.

[Streetking]

Scored, stained, cleared..

SW


http://www.fototime.com/5B05CED80147D07/orig.jpg
http://www.fototime.com/CFFC1576944E494/orig.jpg

[MODO Innovations]

I have it in my garage. It was done by a previous owner. Who ever did it didn't do a very good job, because I still sweep up chunks of it all the time.
Someone told me that if the concrete isn't sealed it will sweat and cause a seperation between it and the coating. I don't know if that is true or not, but the floor in my shop sweats alot in the spring and if that's the case I can see why you would need to seal it prior to coating it. It also seems to be the concrete that is plained (smoothed) that sweats not the brushed.
My 2 pennies worth.

[DRJDVM's '69]

I used the BEHR stuff from Home Depot. It looked great for quite awhile but I did have quite a bit peel up under the cars tires. Its now stained pretty good too.

I prepped the living hell out of the floor too with all the recommended products and steps from the manufacturer. It just didnt hold up that well. Its still way above the "average" garage and I still get plenty of comments from other car guys on how nice it looks compared to theirs, but if I had to do it over again, it go with a professional product.

I had considered doing a pattern but figured that when/if I ever sell the house, it may back fire. You get a car guy looking and its a huge selling point. Not a car guy and they may really hate it. I wouldnt do anyhting too radical.

[groovyjay]

how in the heck to you guy's do those checker board floors with epoxy? Is it actual tiles with an epoxy cover or is it epoxy paint?


Here's how I did mine:

http://c3-r.com/shocheindex.htm

[shanekennedy]

rustoleum makes a product called epoxy shield. i did a search on this subject a couple of months ago & found it highly recommended. home depot carries their garage version. there is also a commercial/industrial version that's oil based instead of water based. home depot can special order it. either the commercial version is cheaper or home depot buggered up my bill, but i paid less than the garage version. haven't installed it yet. waiting to get roof up. trusses for garage come in friday.

[XcYZ]

Good stuff, thanks for all the replies.

SW, how do you choose which car to drive? lol

[Derek69SS]

SW, how do you choose which car to drive? lol
With a garage that sweet, I don't know if I'd ever leave, so that decision isn't necessary :D
http://www.fototime.com/CFFC1576944E494/orig.jpg
No, I'm not jealous at all :_paranoid :unibrow: :hail:

[Rubes]

I've been considering these tiles (http://www.jnkproducts.com/dynotile-garage-flooring.htm) for my other garage. the concrete is all stained and ugly, so prep for painting would be difficult. But then again welding is going to be a problem with the tiles I assume. but you could aslo replace a t ile if it gets damaged. I'm starting to think this is a better solution than epoxy. :willy:

[hotwheels]

groovyjay, thanks for the picture's and the inspiration. I am going to do that now to my garage floor. I have a question though, is that paint the 2 part epoxy? 1 set for the white and then 1 set for the black? or did you put clear epoxy over the paint?

Thanks, hotwheels

[ohcbird]

I did the same as groovyjay, but used 24" squares. It's an epoxy-paint that cleans up well. I also added [i]griptex[/] near the threshold of the door and initial entry areas under the garage door.

http://www.pontiacohc6.com/images/old-JulGarage04010a.jpg

[ViperBlue68]

concrete coatings was once how i made a living....
scott, just get a two part epoxy from a paint store (sherwin williams) or something like that....it has to be a two part coating......the biggest thing is the prep..ITS JUST LIKE A PAINT JOB ON YOUR CAR ...PREP IS EVERYTHING.
IN THE SOUTH WE ACID ETCH THE FLOOR. MURATIC ACID MIXED WITH WATER IN A PUMP SPRAYER....ABOUT 1/4 MURATIC ACID AND THE REST WATER . spray it on and let it fizzel.....then rinse with water..then neutralize it with baking soda and water with a shop broom then rinse again........(DON LET ANY ANIMALS AROUND WHILE DOING THIS)......let the floor dry for at least a day or two....then your ready.....thats how we do it down here.....
hope that helps

radrambler

That is what they are doin on my 3 car garage this weekend....

[KAA]

Scott,

I used Rustoleum's garage floor paint system. Got it at Menard's. So far so good. My concrete was fresh and clean though. Just don't drop anything on it. Like tools. It chips easily.