To finish preparing an uncoated concrete floor, you must etch, acid wash or grind the floor, since a smooth floor will not allow the epoxy to adhere well. You can rent a sandblaster or diamond grinder and roughen the surface. Or you can etch or acid wash the floor with a product designed to prepare concrete floors. The absolute first step before applying the epoxy coating is to prepare the floor.
It is essential that you clean the floor thoroughly. If you're working on a concrete base, fill in any cracks or patches in areas that need care before you start cleaning. Once the damage has been repaired, if any, it's time to clean it up. Be sure to cover any areas that you might overlook while preparing the epoxy layer.
It will be necessary to remove oil stains and degrease the floor. The floor is cleaned properly and you'll want to be sure to vacuum thoroughly to remove any remaining dust and dirt. The preferred method for preparing the concrete surface in most cases is the grinding of all horizontal surfaces. Shot blasting is another good method for mechanically wearing down concrete so that it receives a coating and is generally recommended for epoxy mortars or heavier urethane cement systems.
Chemical preparation, although acceptable and commonly used, is a less desirable method of surface preparation because of the possibility of insufficient recovery of cleaning solutions and that the surface does not erode. Grinding a concrete substrate is by far the most efficient surface preparation technique available, both economically and environmentally. Before you start, make sure you have eye protection and chemical-resistant gloves. All dirt, grease and grime should have been removed with a detergent solution.
Mix 12 ounces of Etch with a gallon of warm water. Mechanical preparation is the best way to prepare the floor and open the pores so that the coating adheres, however, on new slabs you will have no problem using acid etching. There are many factors that can affect the adhesion and bonding capabilities of an epoxy floor coating system to the substrate. It's best to use a crack filler or patch kit instead of an epoxy to fill gaps, holes and dents in the floor.
Every brewery is different, so there's no “best system”, but if you're looking for the strongest and most durable coating system, a quartz or mortar floor would be best. However, a general rule of thumb is that if there is already a coating on the floor, prepare it by diamond polishing with a 40-50 grit diamond head. Epoxy coatings adhere firmly to concrete, making them resistant to moisture, grease, scratches and chemicals. If you wanted to create more than one cove from floor to wall, then using a whitewashing mortar product like this will work well, or you can use a product called Easy Cove and Coat right over it.
A thick layer of epoxy (or several layers) should cover the floor, but if a very aggressive diamond plate was used (. I have a floor that is stained with concrete but is very damaged right now. I'm looking at an epoxy floor.
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