DIY Epoxy Flake Garage Floor Coatings (What Most People Don't Tell You)
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- čas přidán 18. 07. 2021
- #EverythingAboutConcrete #MikeDayConcrete
This is an epoxy flake garage floor coating we're installing for a customer.
The customer wanted 1/8" flake called "White Granite".
The first thing we do is prep the floor by grinding it. Most people on CZcams tell you to wash and etch the floor with some type of etching solution.
As a professional epoxy flake coating contractor, I'm telling you that's not what we do. EVER!
Acid etching the concrete will not create the proper surface profile for epoxy to adhere to long term. It might look good for a short while, but it will start to peel off the concrete, especially where you drive in and out every day (under the tires).
I'm showing you in the video the proper way to prep your concrete so the epoxy flooring will bond and last for a long time.
It's not quite as easy as it looks on most of the videos you see on YT.
There's some hard work to do this right and you need to know the proper sequence. There's some steps we do on all our epoxy garage floors that has worked for us and given us really good success.
I outlined all the steps in an easy to follow video training course below for those of you who want to ensure you're doing this right.
You can follow us on 3 different epoxy flake garage floor coatings as I break down each step, showing you what and how to do it.
I also tell you what products, tools, and equipment to use for the best results. Check out the course below!
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The one thing I wished you had shared, you missed: that wheeled seat, leaning over chest support thingy that was used to hand grind. :D
Where are you guys located??? Great vids. Very informative and a joy to watch
You have 2 courses for epoxy garage floors. Are they different? Thank you
You may want to teach your crew to put the cord over their shoulder when using the stand up grinder, buffer or sander.
How much$$ for a to car garage ? Please and thank you great job 👍👏
The real challenge is finding crews as professional as you guys. You can tell you have a lot of pride in the work.
I wanted to see a close-up of the finished floor...
I did my garage floor 19 years ago. I acid etched it, primer-ed it , and epoxied it with box store products. I have severely abused it and it has held up great. I do agree that prep is key to any project. Not everything in this world has to be "Contractor" grade. I think that is an overused word. A lot of box store products are great for the home owner.
Yes, I have done maybe 5-6 garages over the years with big box. I have never had any issues and they always turn out great. I agree this is the "right" way to do it, and better. But IMO this is just a step above. Is it worth it? It is a choice, but lots of folks dont want to spend $1000's verses $200.
@@kenstrain4366 I think that's the real question. Does the average homeowner garage really need this level of work at 10 times the cost.?
Yeah, I did my four car garage myself about 15 years ago with a big box product. It is still like new. I spent a whole day just cleaning and degreasing really well. Then one day to apply and a few days to dry just to be sure in the hot summer of course.
YOU, are also not a contractor. If YOUR epoxied floor has one tiny little issue after, you don’t have to deal with being called back out to do either a patch or complete re-do. Yes, plenty of homeowners who follow the directions on the box do get good lasting results, but when you are a contractor who does a job for a living and has to put your name on every single job that you are contracted to do, you go the extra mile to get a result that is 100% guaranteed to last
@@jacobiverson9724 I also don’t charge $5,000 to do a job like this. Also very few contractors care about doing a good job. I have seen poor jobs countless times by union workers also.
From somebody who does resinous flooring for a living in everything from factory’s,plants,hospitals,universities, and sometimes garages. It’s great to see someone explain to people the reason why a good floor cost what it cost. The proper surface preparation and proper products used are the most important aspect of a quality long lasting epoxy floor.
Can I do it on a wood flor
The problem with epoxy is that it doesn’t take heat.. one hot tire and it can fail.
@@krakenwoodfloorservicemcma5975 so whats the alternative that can withstand the tire?
@@krakenwoodfloorservicemcma5975 That depends on the product. The epoxy coatings we make where I work have HDTs over 350F, so they won't soften from a hot tire even for extended periods of time.
@@derekpayton910 Do some research on the coatings. there are tons of different options. Some companies offer Technical Data Sheets as well, which give more details on physical properties. Look for high temp resistance, higher HDT (heat deflection temp), etc. But honestly, any decent epoxy should take up to 200F no problem, especially if you have a solid top coat
I installed mine with Rustoleum's over the counter kit fifteen years ago on a floor that was already ten years old. The floor has been used heavily, including parking two cars and doing a lot of car maintenance with floor jacks, carpentry, etc. So, I spent $200, plus three days of my hard work and it lasted 15 years. No topcoat. Never yellowed. Garage faces south, and I live in sunny Southern California. I did not grind the floor, though I agree that's ideal. I am about to re-do the floor. The cost of product has gone up, but so have my skills. I expect that, with a top coat this time, my re-epoxied garage floor will outlast me. I can't afford to pay big bucks for someone else to do it, but I don't mind a bit of hard work.
Every time I watch a DIY garage floor video I become more convinced to just pay an expert to do it. It will get done right and in less time than it would take me to do it.
A wise man knows his limits, a fool knows none.
Not for the prices they quote, flat out gouging.
Surface prep is arduous and time consuming to do right. And if you don't, you're wasting your money.
I can tell by your comment you're not a business owner!
@@MikeDayConcrete actually just sold my business and retired in March
I don’t know I’m a pro painter and I just got a look the floor of a two car garage I did 12 years ago with Rustoleum epoxy and a clear top coat and etched it with muriatic acid while the top coat lost some of its sheen the floor as a whole it looks great no hot tire pickup. I wouldn’t put down big box store products cause it’s all about the prep the products are not that different.
It's amazing all the great products for protecting concrete. Overlays. Coatings. You name it, but one thing that doesn't change is a good prep.
You are top notch.💯
As in any job prep is key
Excellent video. I enjoy seeing "tricks of the trade" being revealed. I also appreciate, being very capable at many skills, seeing a video on a subject that makes me seriously consider hiring professionals, as opposed to doing it myself. It's nice to know what you may be getting yourself into, and the consequences of not knowing some of the ins and outs, that a retailers sub par products won't tell you.
I ran a floor buffer like that in the Army during training. They are surprisingly easy to use.
Great job Sir, like alway I like the time you guys put is on the prep and the small detail makes the result absolutely perfect. Never mind the negative comments or expertises. Thanks for the video
Wow.. U demonstrated it really well, the prep is crucial 👍👍
Had asked a question about etching and priming on another video but this video explained to me why etching isnt needed! Grind the floor and priming it is a much better solution.
I'm happy I saw this. My only experience with epoxy coated floors was the one where I worked, and I guess they didn't put it down right because it peeled up. So, I thought epoxy peels up and isn't worth it. Now that I know they can last much longer if applied correctly, I'll consider it for my next garage. Thanks for the info.
Thanks for taking the time to show how to do this. Really appreciate it
I did one concrete floor as an apprentice painter and decorator and even before I started I could tell there wasn’t enough so thank lord I had the presence of mind to not go past where one concrete section. Ended and the next one began, anyhoo nice work lads and lady
Looks great, would have loved a close up when finished. Thanks for the video!
I agree, I was so looking forward to seeing it up close. Have no idea what that flake looks like from this far way. And how awesome that clear coat looks as well. Next time.
Nice job Mike. Helpful to know your method vs the big box kits.
I could have went to Home Depot to do the heap DIY stuff that fails , but I didn’t I called in a professional, I have a 4 car garage and it wasn’t cheap but 5 years later it looks as good as the day they installed it. Get a professional is all I can recommend, my floor is a full broadcast with a clear coat , I think they used around 175 pounds of flake on mine , then two coats of clear …. They floor is thick. The product on mine is a poly as well. This is a great video to show the process and it seemed like a real good job.
Thank you!
Nicely done! You answered questions I’ve had over the big box products… I’ve seen charcoal pearlescent finishes that look beautiful, I’m hoping for that 👍🏻
Nice job. You really put the pro in professional.
Thank you for sharing this incredibly insightful video. You rock, Mike!
Thank you. I have heard of the DIY kits failing from those where unhappy.
This was a surprisngly oddly satisfying video to watch. Awesome job.
great post Mike. I need to try one of these floors. informative tips, nice demonstration, top quality. thanks. cheers.
Thank you Mike I just had someone ask me if i did this kinda work and I knew if I watched one of your videos I would understand better thank you for spreading your knowledge you don't realize how valuable this is thank you
Glad to help
very informative video and one of the better surface preparation videos i've seen. At my old house i installed a standard water-based epoxy kit from the hardware store on my own and just acid-etched the concrete on my own. Somehow it stayed down for 10+ years with no peeling, hot tire pickup, or other issues so i got very lucky. Installed several others for family members and no matter how much you clean floors it does NOT matter if you want quality long-lasting results. Surface grinding is by far best option to get a good solid coat down that is going to grab the concrete properly. Thanks for a great video showing how it should be done! If you want it done right, don't go cheap on garage floor coating preparation or materials.
Great job as always Mike & Team
Nice to see someone do the job properly 👍
Prep is where it's at. Guys doing it right. Good job. Great work doesn't cost, it pays.
Well said
Great informative video. It shows you do good work. Thanks for sharing. Love videos like this.
Concrete floor solutions has the most detailed epoxy floor videos I’ve seen.
1:55 Diamond in the rough piece of information there....
Amazing amount of information in this video. Master of your craft. Kudos
Mike, I don't know if you still check this, but your videos have really been a major help. Prepping to take two coats of paint off my mother's carport floor, and get it ready for repainting. Will probably do the angle grinder/diamond wheel method. Have looked on your tools page, and maybe I'm just not seeing it...but where could I get one of those wheeled, padded rests your guy is using when he's got the angle grinder? I'm a hair over six feet tall, and that looks very comfortable for what I imagine is going to be aggravating to my back if I'm on my knees the whole time. Thanks!!!
Fantastic job guys... thanks for this tutorial
What a great video and certainly a refreshing bit of information saying that the second house we owned before we moved out of Colorado I ended up doing the garage with an acid etch and now it’s clear to me why the Apoxsee came up later. One thing I wanted to add and it’s a deal that I might actually partake in is the part where the door comes down leaving it without flake can be a good idea in the aspect of creating a tighter seal on the ground when the door comes down and the rubber gasket meets the concrete. There’s also the argument of having those perforations from the flakes would potentially help with water drainage it’s really personal preference and per location or geographical region there might actually be a better method over another. Regardless I just wanted to say your videos are bad ass you guys do great work you make it simple but definitely not something that just anybody can come up and do a lot of folks don’t have the patience or the technical ability to work through these issues and so sharing this information is not putting you at a detriment for exposing your trade secrets because at the end of the day most people probably aren’t going to make the floor look as good as you guys did.
Very informative, thank you and I will be checking out your courses !
This is awesome, always get a professional. Some things you can buy at a big box store for a homeowner. Most homeowners don't have experience doing this.
Nice good job guys might be doing my garage floors here soon thanks for sharing my man
Nice restoration work Mike and team! What an upgrade! 👍🏽👍🏽
Awesome video Mike. You guys do some great work and very knowledgeable about product and process.
Thank you
funny thing about life is I was thinking about epoxying my garage floor, ended up finding 2 boxes of rock solid on discount, and a neighbour threw out an industrial floor buffer(working)... it's like do I even have a choice at this point?
This is why a good durable floor is worth the cost of a pro, especially that initial prep. Ours is 15 yrs old and still looks new.
very professional video on concrete garage floor epoxy finish
I did one garage myself with the big box kit - let it cure for 10 days before parking in it and have only one mark from a hot tire. Felt really good about it. Had a company do the second garage, now I’m not feeling so great about the first! Really amazing results when you let the pros do it right.
Btw, we omitted the flake from the apron on the outside of the door (base coat and topcoat only) and it looks wonderful. Having a strip of the flake that didn’t match the driveway was a no go, so just using the base coat for color makes a nice transition. .
Nice, thanks!
Fantastic video with detailed instructions. One little question , what would the materials cost to do a garage this size?
Great video, thanks for posting.
Thanks for the great video. Valuable information
I approve of this video. Of course, you are a pro and I'm a DIY'er but I can tell the folks your methods are sound. I'm not sure why you use so much fleck, but to each his own. I glad to see that you throw the fleck up in the air instead of dropping it on the floor. I tell people "think happy New Year" when flecking, not "feed the chickens.
The easiest way to tell if a pro did the work or a DIY'er did the work is look whether the fleck pattern looks random or has steaks and spots. Of course, the other way is to see how it holds up if there are adhesion problems then you are looking at a DIY job.
I've done 5 garage floors and two basement rooms and I've never had a tire peel up the epoxy. I use the Sherwin Williams epoxy kits - wait for their 40% off sales and yes figure no more than 200 sq ft per kit and buy one more kit than you think you'll need and take it back if you don't need it.
Great job and explanations, thanks.
When I went to Jackson State University, they didn’t teach me anything about epoxy coating a floor. Therefore, I will call the professionals.❤
This convinced me that I really don't want to do mine by myself. I'm getting a decent firm in to do it for me!
Exactly. That is my reaction to every single video like this.
I wouldn't be surprised if they are actually sponsored by the floor cost professionals.
Careful there are many shitty company's
I’m currently doing my floor and with 20-20 hindsight, I would say one should hire it done.
That looks fantastic!
I've done dozens if not over a hundred, and I've acid etched every one, including my own. The only call back was from a customer who spilled battery acid on it and tried to say it was my fault.
Very well done/ Finally someone that knows the trade. thx guys..
Should really be using respiratory PPE when grinding, especially if you do it for a living and are constantly exposed to fine silica particles, but at the end of the day it is a personal choice. I’m right in the middle of doing mine using the “color chips” brand and so far I like it. They do provide you with a good amount of chips but not enough to get full full coverage which is the only thing I don’t like. Tomorrow is the urethane coat and then it’s done. Really happy with how it’s turned out so far but we will see if it lasts. I did prep the floor quite well with a lot of grinding so hopefully it holds up.
Very well presented.
Very nice video! Thank you!
Solid work. This will help doing mine. Reminds me of when I redid my wood floors. Very similar process. Sans flake of course. ha ha
Very cool to see. Great job, guys and gals.
Professional job guys ..
That’s good to know. Before I was $700 into my garage doing it myself with the rust oleum stuff! Colors aren’t the same as I lay it, chips don’t stay down. Epoxy paint has large hard chunks in it. It’s a mess.
Thank you for this info…. I was close to doing my garage floor with the wrong stuff and the wrong technique….. I want things to last , especially when you’re putting that kind of time and money into it….. now I need to get info on what a fair bid will be because I’m going to hire mine out…
I wish home builders would include epoxy garage floors in homes they build. It would be a HUGE selling point.
And how many do you think would be done properly?
That was great and very informative , Ty
really good info, im looking into doing this to my garage soon and this helped alot👍🏽
Glad to hear it!
Very informative - thanks! You guys clearly do it properly! Prep is key as you say. About to do the same to my own garage. Grinding this weekend and then painting. Been recommended Rustoleum Pegakote ID400 (2-part epoxy) with two coats (no flakes). Heard it’s good - let’s hope so!
So it's been a year now. Can you give us an update ? Appearance ? Durability ? Problems ? If any....
@@jamestiscareno4387 Have to say, so far so good! No hot tyre pick up or peeling, it’s been wet, dirty, gritty and it still cleans up like new. Very impressed indeed. I waited to respond to see how it coped with the GT4 I picked up a couple of weeks ago. The tyres get very hot after a spirited drive (the last one being the hottest day on record in the UK!) and don’t cool down for ages given the proximity of the engine. But no issue at all!
Glad to see how you stress proper floor prep. CZcams is full of DIY people acid washing as prep. Professionals will typically diamond grind to floor prep, as your team did.
Loved this!!
Solid. What a good job doing it right.
good job looks awsome
Thanks for the video
My concrete was only 5 months old I acid washed it and used construction grade epoxy... it's been 5 years now and still looks perfect. I think it depends on how old the concrete is and if there's oil spilled all over or not. New construction, I think you're fine to use acid wash and then use really good epoxy.
Mike, I highly recommend P100 respirators to protect yourselves from silica exposure when grinding. HEPA vac doesn't get it all.
That stool with the wheels is awesome!
My garage floor is over 70 years old and was finished with a rough texture in the first place. Hell I'd be happy with a plain smooth surface like this one has at the start of the video, lol. Ever tried to roll a creeper over a rough finish floor? It's like trying to steer one down a gravel road 🤣😂
If you really care, you can have the floor diamond honed and can have it taken as flat and smooth as you would like.
That is specifically why I am watching this. I don't give a hoot about the epoxy/ flake look, I just want a smooth floor. The idiot who did my floor originally left a very course broom finish on it. It is horrible to sweep. You really can't and all it does is make epic dust. I just want it to be smooth and sweepable 🙁
I wish you are near me in Tampa FL. Excellent work!!
We do these systems, based in Ocala, Fl.
I find that shot blast gives you a better profile for adhesion. Are use the grinder for polishing, obviously progressively finer grit depending on the finish.
Cool demonstration, very informative. I live in New Mexico and hot tire are very real thing out here. I bought new construction and acid washed the garage first thing. Then used a 3M kit and no protective clear coat. I have had no blisters on the floor and the only stain I have had was from a antifreeze leak in the 15 years I have been here. From watching your CZcams video it sounds like I must have been very lucky. Any tips on cracks in the floor, mine are still sealed, but you can see them under the epoxy coating? They epoxy coating has yellowed near the door and I am thinking of redoing the lower section is why I ask. I will check your other videos and thanks for sharing this video, I think I now know I need rent the buffer and strip floor first. ( I was just going to paint over the old one.)
I love epoxy!!! Been working with it for 8 years just opened my own company about 2 years ago. Going great!!! It’s not that the box stores product is bad if prepped properly it can hold up for a while. But its 25% water and you use less product in a kit than our kits, use less flake, when it dries the water evaporates where when using 100% solid its stays exact how it was put down. My floor is about 75% thicker than the DIY system just because of the amount of product and the water evaporation. Not to mention the 1 pound of flake they give you, I use about 60lbs for a 450sf garage when they tell you 4-8lbs should do it haha. It ends up looking like a shiny paint when done, where a professional resin floor looks nothing like a paint, you can tell the difference as soon as you walk up to them and just look. One is shiny paint one is a flooring system. Stay safe all.
*The reason I hate epoxy garage flooring is I purchased a home that has it.*
It is a professional install job.
The truth is by the time they add enough grit flakes so you do not fall on a wet floor, its extremely difficult to sweep. Nah, that was not strong enough of a statement. Its impossible to sweep. I can wet mop, but within one mop cleaning of the floor, the mop is destroyed.
Currently thinking of grinding the epoxy off to get back to normal concrete.
My detached workshop has a concrete floor. I do not slip and fall plus I can easily sweep it clean. I love it.
Just use and enjoy your concrete garage floor.
Nice video. I bought that crap from Home Depot initially and it lasted about two years. Its only 1.5mm thick and hot car tires and salt remove it pretty quickly. Went to a local manufacturer of 100% epoxy and prepped the floor and spread it and its about 15 to 20MM thick. It cost me about $280 for the material. 6 years later no problems.
Thank you Mike for the tips you rock
You're welcome
Nice to see a pro at work
Thank you!
Wear a respirator! Anyone watching this will get the impression that it's perfectly safe to grind concrete and breath in the dust. Silicosis is incurable and 100% fatal.
Not bad advice, but the hand grinder was hooked up to a vacuum and the floor grinder has a sweep around it to knock the dust down immediately.
@Self Made Auto Go ahead tough guy...show us you grinding concrete without a respirator
@Self Made Auto lmao imagine thinking you're tough because you ignore safety shit xD I bet you don't even wear your seat belt either eh Bubba?
@Self Made Auto who hurt you?
I hate safety nazis.
2 questions. First, how do you deal with spalling. The previous owner of my house left his car leak oil which damaged the concrete, leaving a couple spots under the car that needed repair. I cleaned it out with 3 full strength treatments of TSP and a pressure washer. Then I put down Recap to level it. Came out pretty good. What do you do with such damage? Second, what is your typical cost for a 2 car garage? Thanks.
This was great info
Thanks Mike for the video, I almost went to Lowe's to do this. Definently want to do it correctly
Expect a 40% markup.
Wow thank you so much
How is the floor made before the coating is applied? I like this look so much! This is how I would like my living room to look like.
dude i love watching your videos. im concrete finisher from amryuland i work for few subs contractors. this is what we dont do. i wanna learn this asap. thanks for the video bro. if im ever back up maine ima give u a calll
Would this hold up to a floor Jack sliding around on it or a hammer or brake rotor falling onto it ? Is this something I would want for a working garage ? Or do you have a better suggestion ? If they all eventually fail, would the roll on stuff from Home Depot be best and re apply in the high traffic areas as needed ?
Great video & information. What prep work would you recommend regarding a new concrete slab that has a brush finish? Will the epoxy flake floor still work? Thanks in advance for your reply.
Good vid. Ton of work
Well done video!
Great video. A lot of pro's when they do these videos come off as condescending IMO. You don't and explain it very well and its easy to see you guys are pros and know what you are doing. Including the links to everything as well is great. Thanks!
I appreciate that!
Good job 👍🏼
Great job all. From NC.
Great video. Thank you. You mentioned in video that you get the epoxy thick. That much be how you mix it correct? Not putting numerous coats on the floor? In video there was just coat of epoxy down?