How to Epoxy Garage Floor Systems
Epoxy is a great floor coating for garages. It is also durable and easy to clean. Before applying epoxy to your garage floor, it is important to properly prepare the surface. This includes cleaning the floor and removing any existing flooring layers.
1. Primer Coat
The primer coat is an important part of the garage floor painting process. It provides a protective barrier against dust, dirt and moisture, and helps ensure the paint adheres to the concrete. The primer also helps to seal the concrete from mold and mildew. It is also an effective way to prevent air bubbles and pinholes from forming in the epoxy coating.
Apply the primer in small sections at a time, using a roller to cover each area. Start at the border and paint over the floor, taking care not to get into corners.
If the garage floor is contaminated with oil, you may want to use an oil stop primer. These products are often solvent based and will seek out any oil contaminants embedded in the concrete.
Water based primers are also available and they can be used to coat bare drywall or new wood. They are also very good for filling in holes and cracks.
2. Base Coat
The base coat is the first layer of epoxy you will apply to your garage floor. This coat is essential to getting a long lasting garage floor coating that can last for years.
When applying this coat it is critical to do it properly. If you don’t, the epoxy coating won’t stick to your concrete floor, which will cause problems.
Once you have your base coat mixed, pour it out in 1″-2″ ribbons along the back border of its designated section. Continue working it out in this manner until you have covered the entire floor.
3. Top Coat
The top coat is an important part of a good epoxy garage floor system. It enhances the durability and strength of your floor, and it provides a beautiful high-gloss finish that will look great for years to come.
It also helps to make your floor easy to clean. This is a huge advantage because it can save you money in the long run.
A polyurethane topcoat offers chemical resistance, scratch and wear resistance, easy clean-ability, gloss retention, yellowing and slip resistance in addition to other benefits. Fine aggregate additives that come in the form of silica sand, aluminum oxide or spherical glass beads are added to some polyurethane topcoats for increased slip and wear-resistance.
A high performance aliphatic polyurethane floor sealer can be used as the final coat in a decorative epoxy flake system, as an exterior coating or even as a protective coating in automotive service centers, warehouses, computer rooms, laboratories and aircraft hangers.
4. Sealing Coat
A garage epoxy coating is a great way to protect your concrete and make it more durable. It also adds value to your home. Before you can apply an epoxy coat to your garage floor, it must be prepared properly. The surface must be free from rust, dirt, grime, and grease.
The surface must be degreased and etched with the right solution as directed by the manufacturer. Then the concrete must be thoroughly cleaned with a broom and a shop vac.
Depending on your situation, it may be necessary to repair small cracks or chips in the concrete. This will allow the epoxy to adhere better to the surface. You can also use a sealer to protect the concrete from oil and grease stains. It will help to prevent hot tire pick up and water stains as well.
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