Epoxy Floor Coating (flooring, how much, Home Depot, pool)

[Epfloors87]

Which of the floor coating is better epoxy or urethane and what is the best reason for choosing one?

[K'ledgeBldr]

This is probably the best around-

Wolverine Coatings Corporation

Don't even think "big box" or brick&mortar paint stores- not worth it!

[sunsprit]

Originally Posted by Epfloors87

Which of the floor coating is better epoxy or urethane and what is the best reason for choosing one?

You need to define your installation requirements:

1) What is the substrate? present condition?

2) What are your performance requirements?

3) What are your cosmetic requirements?

4) What are your installation concerns? floor temperature?

5) What's your budget for installed cost psf?

6) What are your concerns for durability? Hot tire pick-up if vehicles are to be driven onto the surface?

7) What is your desired surface finish/texture? Chemical resistance?

8) What are your concerns re UV resistance/color fading/gloss retention?

9) How much mil thickness do you want/need for the performance of the system?

Nobody can give you a reasonable answer to a coating system without knowing at least these basic questions.

There are many concerns involved with specifying the "best" coating system. No manufacturer has a one-sized fits all best. Individual installers/contractors may have a track record of good experience with a particular system used across a wide variety of applications, but that doesn't mean that there aren't numerous other ways to accomplish what they've done ... at a wide range of installed costs and possible huge differences in the performance/cosmetics of what has been installed. What you have for a substrate and what you are willing to do to prepare it for installation, outage time, cure time available, are among the many factors in specifying a system.

The minimum system I typically do for a residential garage floor system is a 100% solids primer epoxy coat, an epoxy body coat, and a urethane top coat. The epoxy gives a mil thickness needed to resist hot tire pickup while the urethane provides chemical, UV, and abrasion resistance. If somebody wants a broadcast color chip floor, then a clear urethane (preferably two coats) is a good choice for a seal coat. There's a range of cost psf, depending upon the performance, durability, and cosmetics desired ... and the product choices.

If you're seeking to coat a space for uses other than a garage or workshop, then a wide range of options exist. A deck coating around a swimming pool or hot tub is different than a coating for a kitchen or laundry area or a rec room or bathroom or various commercial uses such as retail foot traffic or warehouse floors.

So, what have you got and what do you want to accomplish?

[Pruzhany]

Used in gray on new concrete floor:

Rust-Oleum EpoxyShield 2-gal. Tan High-Gloss 2-Part Epoxy Garage Floor Coating Kit-251871 at The Home Depot

Lasted around five years before it started chipping (not peeling). So I don't advise epoxy.

[Sherifftruman]

Whatever you choose, the longevity of the floor is all about the prep before hand. Don't skimp or rush it. If you do go with one of the home improvement store kits, don't even bother with the acid crystals they give you. Go to the concrete and masonry aisle and get muriatic acid. If there is a smallest hint of grease or oil on the slab now, you must get that totally clean with something like TSP before even doing the acid treatment,

[sunsprit]

Originally Posted by Pruzhany

Used in gray on new concrete floor:

Rust-Oleum EpoxyShield 2-gal. Tan High-Gloss 2-Part Epoxy Garage Floor Coating Kit-251871 at The Home Depot

Lasted around five years before it started chipping (not peeling). So I don't advise epoxy.

the kit at Home Depot is the cheapest of the cheap for quality and not representative of the products available in the industry. Not a good way to judge "epoxy" performance as a coating for a new concrete garage floor.

[sunsprit]

While muriatic acid will clean and etch a concrete floor, it's difficult to control to create a uniformly prepped surface.

I've seen so many jobs prepped by "professionals" this way that failed in short order in the areas where it didn't have enough time or concentration to do the job properly.

Plus, it's an environmental hazard around adjacent areas, landscaping, or down the drain, and difficult to completely neutralize.

My preference is to either BlastTrak or diamond grind a floor to a clean, open, porous, and accepting surface. Additional benefit is that it's a dry process where some epoxy systems are sensitive to substrate moisture content.

[Sherifftruman]

You are right, a ground or blasted surface is best, but for most do it yourself projects, that's not an option. But if you want a true epoxy coating that will last forever, a pro can do the correct prep and installation and it will last. But it will be more than the $75 kit!

[Epfloors87]

Thanks for replying to my question. And I am really sorry for the late reply. Actually I met with an accident and was hospitalized. Now, I am feeling better and in a good condition. I have changed my mind of installing epoxy flooring.

Thanks

[Electrician4you]

I went with this type of flooring. And you can take it with you if you move.


Race Deck Garage Flooring, Race Deck Garage Floor Tiles