Garage Floor Epoxy
Epoxy coating will not only enhance the look of your garage floor, but also it will prevent oil stains, tire marks due to wear and heat and the moisture to make it clean. You can also boost its look by color chips and paint colors to cover up depressing flaws in the floor.
There are three common types of garage floor epxoy coating systems:
Water Based Systems are less costly. Their durability is low. These are quite users friendly and less toxic.
Solvent-based systems mostly contain 40- 50 % solids. These are more toxic in comparison with water-based epoxy. These are available as two parts systems and must be mixed together properly. As they are toxic, you have to be careful when using them.
Solid epoxy systems are the most effective epoxy systems. They are tough and have maximum durability. They have maximum resistance to wear and chemicals. Epoxy coatings are most toxic and you must take professional help to install them.
A 100% solids Cycloaliphatic epoxy can be the best coating for any garage floor. The percentage signifies the volume of solids in an epoxy system that will deposit after its drying. The thickness of the deposit will differ according to percentage of solids present in it.
100% solids Cycloaliphatic epoxy can achieve the best thickness suitable for utmost durability and a highest abrasion resistance, but it is the costliest garage floor epxoy.
How to get Best Garage floor epxoy Coating:
The moisture in the cement can prevent epoxy from bonding to cement floor. In case a vapor barrier was not used below the cement layer, there are some products available to be used to reduce moisture in the cement. These chemicals work to clog the pores in the cement at its bottom and stop moisture from rising.
Using an epoxy primer can enhance the performance of an epoxy coating and gives it a long life. The primer is usually water or solvent based thinned epoxy. The primer soaks into the cement and provides a better adhesion to the top coat. This way, the chances of peel off are eliminated.
In commercial establishments, the floor is generally shot blasted to make a rough and clean surface for the adhesion of the epoxy coating. Some homeowners also use this process for preparation of the floor.
The water based epoxy can be also used as a primer coating. You can also use a 15 % thinned epoxy solvent as a primer coat.
Mainly, the primer will also help in reducing the air bubbles that emit out from the floor and are trapped under the garage floor epxoy coating, if there is direct sunlight or the temperature shoots up.
Two coats of a solvent free floor epoxy should be applied for best results. Colored chips and anti-slip grits can be added to the top main coat. A final extra clear coat is applied over the chips or sand.
Generally, the commercial garage floor epxoy systems use a clear polyurethane top coat as the normal coating may turn pale or lose its gloss under the sunlight. The better systems use a number of top coats. The clear coats are solvent based and these are very thin. You can apply two clear coats.