Epoxy flooring is a good option for garage floors since they are tough, durable and easy to clean. The epoxy coating is applied in layers onto a concrete surface to eventually end up with a sparkling and long lasting flooring.
Epoxy flooring is protective against oil, grease, and other contaminants and makes a good choice for your garage. Keep in mind that not all floor surfaces can hold an epoxy coating.
Before applying an epoxy coating, Concrete Fusion will help to assess the status of the concrete surface. A concrete surface that produces moisture severely inhibits the ability of the epoxy coating to bond and hence it is not suitable.
A concrete floor that has concrete sealer is not suitable for epoxy coating. The application of epoxy on a new concrete slab should wait for about a month until the floor is thoroughly dry. Finally, a painted floor should be completely stripped off the old paint before the application of epoxy.
Air temperature in the garage is yet another factor to be considered before the application of the epoxy coating. Optimal epoxy drying is achieved at air temperatures between 60 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit whereas the minimum concrete temperature should be 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
Planning and Prework have a far-reaching impact on the outcome of the epoxy flooring. Prework entails tasks such as floor cleaning, oil spots removal, degreasing, floor etching with a mild acid, floor scrubbing, vacuuming, and rinsing. Cracks on the floors must be filled before the application of the first layer of epoxy. Otherwise, a floor without cracks is immediately coated with the first layer of epoxy. The first layer is left to set for a day before the second layer of epoxy is applied.
Types of Epoxy
Epoxy floor coatings are basically tough resins. You should make a decision on which type of epoxy is best suited for use on the garage floor. There are three categories of epoxy:
- 100 Percent Solids – this is the purest form of epoxy. Due to the lack of solvent, it dries up very fasy which makes it difficult to handle. The 100 percent solids should be applied by experts.
- Solvent-Based Epoxy – this type of epoxy has a 40/60 ratio with the 60 being solid. It is preferred by Concrete Fusion as well as other experts since it is able to penetrated and adhere very well. The solvent-based epoxies are available in a wide range of colors.
Caution is advised when using this type of epoxy since it is hazardous. It should be used in the well-ventilated garage and you must use a properly fitted respirator when handling this epoxy.
- Water-Based Epoxies – these also have a 40/60 ratio just like the solvent-based epoxies. The water-based epoxies are widely available and are not hazardous.
Both the solvent-based and water-based epoxies are applied in two layers to increase their lifespan and durability. For epoxy flooring installation in Ottawa, pay a visit to Concrete Fusion for professional services and a floor that will handle chemicals, grease, and scraping.
