Table of Contents
Instructions Clean and Degrease the Floor. Use a broom and wet-dry vacuum to clean debris from the floor. Etch the Concrete. Etch the concrete floor using the etching solution provided in the epoxy coating kit, following the manufacturer’s directions. Prepare the Room. Mix the Epoxy. Apply the Epoxy. Let the Garage Floor Dry.
How clean should concrete be before epoxy?
Before Applying Epoxy It is essential that you clean your floor thoroughly. If you’re working on a concrete base, fill in any cracks or patch areas that need care before you start to clean. Once the damages, if any, have been repaired, it’s time to clean.
Do I need to grind my garage floor before epoxy?
However, for larger commercial jobs, older concrete, or worn floors we always recommend grinding before epoxy installation. The concrete floor will fail if the coating doesn’t bond mechanically to the concrete floor, so the preparation is the most important part before applying any type of epoxy!Feb 18, 2019.
How do you clean floors before epoxy?
With a broom, sweep away any dirt or dust from the floor. Sticky material or thick mud should be removed with a metal putty knife. A course brush and a chemical degreasing agent should be used to scrub away greasy areas. Use a pressure washer (preferably) or a wet vacuum to thoroughly clean the floor.
What happens if you don’t etch concrete before epoxy?
In Closing. 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 prep new concrete for epoxy?
The short answer is: Yes, even new concrete needs to be etched before applying epoxy or a similar type of garage floor coating. Etching is part of the concrete preparation process. In fact, proper preparation of the concrete before a coating is applied is the most important part.
Do you need to sand concrete before epoxy?
The entire floor should be sanded until no gloss remains on the old coating. Then vacuum and wipe up any dust from the sanding process. 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.
How long does concrete take to dry before epoxy?
Standard specifications recommend a minimum 28 day cure period for “green concrete”, before an epoxy floor coating or other resinous system can be applied.
Can I put epoxy over sealed concrete?
For example, you cannot apply epoxy garage floor coverings over a concrete floor that has been sealed. Therefore, if your floor is sealed, epoxy coating or any other kind of paint cannot be applied to it because it will never stick and it will never be as effective as intended.
How do you clean a concrete garage floor before epoxy?
Pour enough muriatic acid solution to cover a 10-by-10 foot area of the floor. Scrub the area for five to 10 minutes with the floor scrubber. Move to a new section, sprinkle the solution and scrub the floor. Repeat this until you scrub the entire floor.
How do you prep for epoxy?
For good adhesion, epoxy bonding surfaces should be clean, dry and sanded. Epoxy bonding surfaces must be free of any contaminants such as grease, oil, wax or mold release. Clean contaminated surfaces with lacquer thinner, acetone or another appropriate solvent.
Can you sand concrete for epoxy?
Sanding concrete doesn’t remove laitance It won’t be bonded well and will probably peel off as soon as it’s put under any stress, such as a car parked on top of it. While preparing a new slab is generally a much easier task than a damaged, contaminated slab, you still need to do it properly.
Do it yourself epoxy floor coating?
Easy Do-It-Yourself Epoxy Flooring Installation Guide Floors Should Be Prepared. To install epoxy floor coating, you will need to prepare the surface of the room first. Remove Dust Particles. Apply Epoxy Primer. Apply Epoxy Grout for Cracks and Holes. First Coat Mixing. Use a Roller for Product Application. Apply Final Coat.
Can I sand concrete instead of etching?
Yes, you will need to grind in order to remove the sealer at the surface and provide a proper profile for the coating. You cannot acid etch. The reason is that the sealer prevents the acid from reacting with the minerals in the concrete since the concrete is sealed.
How much does it cost to acid etch concrete?
Stained Concrete Price Per Square Foot Level of Service Cost Per Square Foot Basic $2-$4 Intermediate $4-$10 Upgraded $8-$15 High-end $12-$25.
Does vinegar etch concrete?
Etching – Vinegar’s ability to dissolve CaCO3 will dull your marble, travertine, concrete and terrazzo surfaces. It may “clean” the surface but it is also dissolving pits into the finish and effectively dulling it. This will affect marble, travertine, concrete and concrete terrazzo surfaces.
Do you need to prime concrete before epoxy?
One of the most common questions I get with epoxy floors is if it is necessary to prime the floor before applying the epoxy floor coat. The right primer will guarantee better adhesion of your floor coats to the substrate. It will give your floor a longer life and will reduce the risk of the coat chipping or breaking.
How long after pressure washing concrete can you epoxy?
We highly suggest 45 or more days of curing (depending upon weather conditions). Faster curing concrete can be used, but discuss it with Stronghold Floors staff first.
How long should you leave a concrete floor to dry before painting?
It will take at least 72 hours for the floor to be dry enough to paint. It is laitence that causes a concrete floor to be dusty. Many paint failures on floors have laitence stuck to the back of the peeling paint.
