[roundel]

Temps of the substrate should be falling during application. Warming concrete exhales. If this is happening while your epoxy is curing, it will bubble and the bond will be hindered.

Try pouring a bit of water on uncoated concrete that is warming. You will hear hissing and see tiny bubbles.

[Vicegrip]

Originally Posted by Dave O

Thanks! Guess there is no short cut to grinding it all off.

What about a degreaser? And any of the pros can chime in too. ��

The "grind it off" came from "some tire lift". To degrease a sound but ugly floor I like sodium metasilicate (sp) You can get it straight up and add it to water or get a cleaner that uses it. If it says "Not for use on aluminum!" It might have the good stuff. It denatures oils via soaponification (sp) very well, washes away easily and is ok to run down the drain. I found that it did not cause changes in PH and in my limited experience no issues with adhesion. YMMV

I don't think you need to call in a pro for any garage floor. It is just not that important. RTFM. Going from memory from when I selected and installed the water born rusto stuff the instructions said can be re-coated down the road. This was one of the reasons I selected it. (who am I kidding, I am cheap, it was cheap and looked to be the least finicky of them all)

[Dave O]

Originally Posted by BlackTalon

Anywho, when you contacted a Rustoleum Technical Rep and told them you want to recoat over what is generally a sound, well-bonded application, of their system, what did they tell you was needed? A good cleaning and just a reapplication of top coat?

What? come again?

Oh, you didn't contact them yet, did you?


(a pro designer or applicator would likely check w/ the manufacturer of the existing coating system to see what they recommend. Have that info/ knowledge in-hand before deciding to recoat vs total removal an installation of a new system)

Got me there. I'll contact them too. 😀

[Dr K]

Originally Posted by BlackTalon

The pros say "Hire a pro!" so no help there.

Plenty of homeowners have DIY'd good coating applications, but there plenty that did not go so well. But I digress..

Anywho, when you contacted a Rustoleum Technical Rep and told them you want to recoat over what is generally a sound, well-bonded application, of their system, what did they tell you was needed? A good cleaning and just a reapplication of top coat?

What? come again?

Oh, you didn't contact them yet, did you?


(a pro designer or applicator would likely check w/ the manufacturer of the existing coating system to see what they recommend. Have that info/ knowledge in-hand before deciding to recoat vs total removal an installation of a new system)

10/10 for both snarky and helpful. That is difficult to do!

[Dave O]

Originally Posted by Dr K

10/10 for both snarky and helpful. That is difficult to do!

I've got a thick skin, and he did have some good points.

[cmartin]

FWIW the grinding wasnt bad at all. I rent the machine from HD with the fancy bit and it worked well. A little hard to get in/out of the truck alone, but I dont have a loader!

Hard part were the edges since the machine left a bad at the walls. The hand grinding was a bit tedious but not that bad either.

[Dave O]

Originally Posted by cmartin

FWIW the grinding wasnt bad at all. I rent the machine from HD with the fancy bit and it worked well. A little hard to get in/out of the truck alone, but I dont have a loader!

Hard part were the edges since the machine left a bad at the walls. The hand grinding was a bit tedious but not that bad either.

Schweeet!

[Vicegrip]

Sunbelt has good selection of latest format grinders that are designed run close to walls and be used by "less skilled operators".

[mlytle]

i did my first floor myself. lasted 14 years. i "called the guy" on this one.

Collins Concrete Coatings in Mannasas. great to work with. finish is called Spartacote with a grip additive.

[cmartin]

Originally Posted by Vicegrip

"less skilled operators".

I resemble that remark

mlylte - that looks great