With an epoxy garage floor, you'll want to add at least two layers. Allow to dry for at least 12 hours between coats and no longer than 48 hours. Although the floor will dry to the touch after a few hours, it will take a few days to dry properly. For best results, you should apply two coats of epoxy resin for garage floors.
Before applying the first coat, be sure to apply a primer to the floor first. In addition, epoxy coatings for garage floors do not self-level, so you will have to apply a self-leveler before applying the epoxy layers. Then mix the epoxy compound and apply the first coat; use a roller for optimal results. Be sure to carefully follow the manufacturer's individual instructions for the mixing and application processes and remember that epoxy dries quickly, so you will have a limited time to apply it.
To apply the second coat, make sure that the first coat has had at least 12 hours to dry and then apply the second coat the same way as the first. Epoxy coatings usually come in kits with everything you need. Once you choose one, determine if you'll need to order additional supplies. Manufacturers may suggest two coats of epoxy paint and a top coat, but most standard kits only supply enough for one coat.
If you choose to add colored flakes, which will help hide the imperfections inherent in concrete, determine how intensively you will spread them on the floor so as not to fall short. In addition, if the foundations of your garage are raised above ground level at the bottom of the walls, you may consider covering another few inches above the vertical surfaces to make it easier to clean the garage. Then decide if you want to include an anti-slip additive, granules that give the finished floor a surface similar to that of sandpaper. This can be a good option in rainy or ice-prone regions.
Sometimes it's as simple as if someone planned a multi-layer flooring system and waited too long between coats, leaving the epoxy to harden, before applying the next coat to obtain a chemical bond. You can apply two coats of epoxy to your garage floor, but you must wait for each layer to dry before applying the next one. As long as the old coating has adhered very well, the preparation is good and a new layer can be applied over it. Applying an epoxy coating to a concrete floor is as easy as painting walls, but as with paint, the success lies in the preparatory work.
As long as the existing garage floor covering is a 2-part resinous product, such as epoxy, polyurea, polyaspartic or polyurethane, then you can apply an additional layer of a compatible product without problems. Once you clean the floor with denatured alcohol, you're ready for a new layer of epoxy or floor covering of your choice. Colors tend to show through white and that is why it is usually required to apply a layer of white epoxy primer first, followed by a layer of white epoxy with a high solid content of solids, sometimes two. If your garage floor already has an epoxy layer, you can use new epoxy over it; however, if there are cracks in the existing layer, it is recommended to remove it first and start from scratch with new material.
If you want to apply epoxy to your garage floor yourself, plan to dedicate a weekend to the project. This means that if your garage floor covering takes more than 2 days to completely dry, you'll have some difficulty applying both layers to the garage floor without mixing them together or ruining the finish of the newly applied garage floor covering. Many epoxy resins for garage floors are extremely durable by providing resistance against heat, scratches, stains, UV rays and heavy shocks. If you have an old transparent coating that you want to renew, you will first need to use 80 to 100 grit sandpaper or a 60 to 80 grit sanding screen to remove a small layer of the coating.
The second coat should be applied before the first one dries, but not immediately after applying the first. If the coating is quite worn out and looks more concrete than epoxy, then you'll want to start from scratch by shredding the floor. .
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