HOW TO DO EPOXY FLOORING

Source:www.stonediamondtool.com Date:2019/12/13 Read:303

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Epoxy coating is one of the toughest and most durable surfaces to have on your floor. Epoxy coating is most popular for garages, but it can be used on driveways as well. First, you will need to ensure that epoxy is a good fit for your floor. After this, you can clean and prime your floor, select and purchase the appropriate epoxy product, and mix and apply the epoxy. This is a moderately difficult project, but it can be accomplished if you are dedicated and mindful.

1. Making Sure Epoxy is Suitable for Your Floor

Test your floor for moisture. Lay a plastic garbage bag down on your garage floor and secure it with duct tape on all 4 sides. Wait 24 hours. Gently lift up the corner of the bag to check for moisture accumulation. If it is dry underneath, you can proceed with your floor coating. If there is moisture, your floor is not suitable for epoxy and you should select a different floor coating

2. Check for concrete sealer. Pour 1–2 cups (240–470 ml) of water onto the surface of your garage floor. If the water immediately beads up, this means that a concrete sealer has been used on this floor in the past. If this is the case, it is best to forego the epoxy project, since these products are incompatible.

3. Wait at least 28 days before applying epoxy to a new slab. If you’re dealing with a newly installed slab, it is important to wait at least 28 days, but preferably 2 months, before applying epoxy. This gives the floor time to cure and dry thoroughly prior to coating

4. Remove floor paint, if necessary. Epoxy coating will not work properly if it is applied over polyurethane or latex floor paints. If your floor is covered in one of these materials, you will need to strip your floor before you can begin the epoxy process.For a large area, you might try soda blasting the paint.

· Rent a blasting unit (also called a pot blaster) for a local hardware store.

· Purchase special special sodium bicarbonate (make sure you get the right kind for your blaster).

· Following the manufacturer’s instructions, add the sodium bicarbonate to the blaster.

· Use the machine to “blast” the floor. It works very similar to a power washer.

· Rinse the floor thoroughly with clean water.

· After the floor dries, use an industrial vacuum to remove any remaining powder or debris.