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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT QUIKRETE EPOXY GARAGE FLOOR

COATING

How Effective Is Quikrete Epoxy Floor Coating For Garages

Our homes take quite a beating from the elements, and the garage floor

is especially susceptible. Because of the nature of garage space and the

items stored in it , the floor is usually dingy and there is always a need to

repair it . Quikcrete epoxy garage floor coating, however, can be pretty

useful in garage repairs. Not only is it cheaper than other solutions; it is

also pretty easy to use, which is why it is the go-to coating for most DIY-

ers.

WHAT IS QUIKRETE EPOXY GARAGE FLOOR COATING?

It is an epoxy coating product for

garage floors that is created by

Quikrete. Quikrete Co. is the

leading manufacturer of cement

mixes and packaged concrete in

the USA and Canada. Quikrete

products are created and sold in

numerous branches not only in

America, but also in Canada, South

America, and Puerto Rico. Aside from the epoxy garage floor coating, the

company also makes floor underlayment, concrete mixes, concrete repair

products, mortar mixes, cements, stuccos, t i le setting systems,

waterproofing products, blacktop products, sand and aggregates, and

related items.

Quikrete epoxy garage floor coating comes in a kit . The package typically

includes the epoxy, cleaner, etcher and degreaser, st ir st ick, color flakes,

and a manual for application. 1 Car kit contains 3.55 liter pails that can

cover up to 250 square feet of floor.

WHAT IS EPOXY?

Epoxy is a liquid substance that hardens after processing. It is useful for

coatings because it is easy to apply yet strong and durable. It is

composed of epoxide resin and polyamine hardener – when these two

parts are combined, a chemical reaction results and causes the resin

molecules to bind to a surface.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF USING EPOXY COATING?

Epoxy lasts a long t ime and resists dirt and impacts. It can be formulated

to create thick layers on a surface. It is easy to apply and bonds perfectly

to a well-prepared surface. Epoxy is versatile and can be formulated

differently according to the following:

The kind of surface

The surface area of the floor

The desired thickness

The number of coatings required

Budget considerations

Aesthetic effect

Volatile organic compound guidelines

WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES OF EPOXY COATINGS AND HOWDO YOU WORK AROUND THEM?

Epoxy coating tends to become yellowish when exposed to direct

sunlight regularly. If your garage does not receive ample light, you need

not worry about this happening. Otherwise, you may add an anti-UV

coating or a polyurethane coating on top of it .

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF USING QUIKRETE EPOXYGARAGE FLOOR COATING?

It has the following features:

Ultra glossy finish

Heavy-duty durability

Tenacious and reliable

adhesion

Does not encourage t ire

tracking even with heated

wheels

Ready to use right after being

mixed

Resistant to scratches, stains, spills, dust, and grime

Thick and hides flaws on the floor

Comes with tools that make application easy and effective

Has a variety of hues, color flakes, and finishes

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO PREVENT THE QUIKRETE EPOXYCOATING FROM PEELING?

Here are some suggestions:

Follow the instructions printed on the manual that comes with the

product. An instructional DVD is also available. If you have lost these,

contact a Quikrete representative and ask for guidance.

Remove oil and grease before you begin the application. If you have used

a degreaser, get rid of that as well. These substances will prevent the

coating from bonding to the concrete. Check whether the surface is oily

by pouring water on it . If it does not become absorbed in the concrete, it

may be layered with a film of grease.

Make sure that the surface is free from cleaning residue. The chemicals

used for preparing and cleaning the floor must be totally removed before

applying the coating. Do not allow chemicals and liquids to remain there

for prolonged periods of t ime even if they dry up eventually. Quikrete has

cleaning and degreasing products.

Eliminate all old floor coatings and sealants. These need to be ground off

with a diamond grinder. You can tell whether there are sealants on the

garage floor if poured water turns to beads upon meeting the surface.

WHAT IS THE IDEAL GARAGE FLOOR FOR THIS COATING?

The best results are seen with garage floor with the following features:

Made of concrete that is cured for a month

Is slightly rough and not completely smooth

Not too damp

WHAT ARE THE IDEAL CONDITIONS FOR COATING A GARAGEFLOOR?

It is recommended to coat a floor in well-l it conditions with

environmental temperatures between 60 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

Warm, breezy weather will help in drying the coating quickly.

WHAT IS A QUIKRETE EPOXY GARAGE FLOOR COATING USEDFOR?

It is handy for:

Improving the appearance of the garage

Transforming a garage into a place that is fit to be seen

Repelling stains

Shielding the floor from humidity

Masking imperfections on the concrete such as cracks and holes

Keeping off dust

Protecting the floor from damages

Creating a smooth and shiny garage surface

Easy cleaning of road salts during winter

HOW TO APPLY QUIKRETE EPOXY GARAGE FLOOR COATING

Before anything, you need to have the following:

A clean, dry, and patched-up floor

Your materials

Safety gear

Good weather

Your floor must not be damp – check for moisture by taping a plastic bag

to the floor and lett ing it sit there for a whole day. Afterward, l ift the bag

and check if it has accumulated dewdrops under it . If it did, the floor is

moist and you can’t start coating. Water breaks the chemical bonds

between the epoxy and the floor surface.

IT ’S NOT ADVISABLE TO COAT DURING COLD AND DAMP WEATHER BECAUSE:

Moisture interferes with epoxy bonding

It ’s harder to dry your floor when the weather does not permit it

Cold and rainy weather conditions will force you to keep the garage

closed – which is bad for your health because a closed garage door

will trap fumes inside

It ’s best to wait until weather improves before going on with your

coating project. If you have no choice but to begin in bad weather, make

sure that you have a breathing mask, an electric fan, and absorbent

materials to facilitate floor drying.

PREPPING THE FLOOR

The garage floor surface must be prepared before applying the coating

to ensure that the coat will adhere to the material. The epoxy is

specifically designed to stick to the floor and not to other objects. You

must eliminate foreign objects from the surface or these will prevent the

coating from adhering properly.

First , remove everything that is on the garage floor – your cars, furniture,

equipment, storage boxes, l itter, etc. It ’s impractical to have these

around when you’re coating the floor.

Sweep or vacuum the floor. Epoxy application requires a well-cleaned

floor. The coating is supposed to bond with the surface so there

shouldn’t be anything in between them.

If your floor was previously coated, you need to scrape this off. Old coats

may prevent the new epoxy from sticking. You need a diamond grinder

for this. Otherwise, you can use a garden edger or a tool that can scrape

them off well. This goes the same with drywall and other material that

got stuck to the floor.

When the large objects and the coatings are taken care of, it ’s t ime to

deal with small dirt particles and oil. This is where chemicals come in.

The Quikrete garage floor epoxy kit contains a solution that is a cleaner,

etcher and degreaser rolled into one. The cleaner and degreaser removes

oil, residue, and dirt. The etcher creates grooves in the concrete so that it

will accept the coating and bond to it securely. Apply this to the entire

area that you intend to coat and leave it on for about a minute.

Use a bristle brush to completely scrub off residue that came loose after

applying the cleansing product. When the surface is thoroughly scrubbed,

rinse off the floor. You need to remove both the dirt and the cleanser

before using the epoxy.

DRYING THE FLOOR

Remember: wash the floor off and do not allow the cleaning material to

become dried on the floor. Use a hose or a bucket to move away the dirt

into an area that will not require coating. Wipe off the water with a clean

and absorbent material such as a towel, mop, or sponge. An electric fan

will help dry off the water.

PATCHING UP THE FLOOR

The epoxy may be capable of hiding small cracks and grooves on the

floor, but larger cracks may stil l reveal themselves. Aside from that, these

cracks will collect moisture that get trap under the coating – this will

eventually cause the epoxy to peel. You need to patch these up before you

can safely add epoxy to your floor. For this, you will need an epoxy crack

fil ler.

MIXING THE EPOXY

The Quikrete epoxy kit has 2 parts to allow the user to mix them

thoroughly. Combining these starts the thermosetting reaction. Wait for

30 minutes then start putting the epoxy on the floor. You must be

prepared to use the mixture immediately, so do not mix them unless

you’re ready. If in case you were not able to apply it within two hours, st ir

the epoxy to prevent it from hardening within the container.

APPLYING THE EPOXY

The application begins immediately after mixing the epoxy parts. Use a

small brush to put the coating along the trim of the room. Afterwards,

use a roller or a brush to coat the entire floor. Make sure that you coat

the epoxy evenly to prevent repeating the process.

Be warned that the coating is thick so it will take some effort to spread it

on the floor. Use a roller to make the job easier. Roll it on in a single

direction to prevent the epoxy from building up. If you intend to change

directions, do it at a 90 degree angle to keep the coating flat.

USING COLOR FLAKES

Color flakes add decoration to the

floor. You may choose to use these or

not; these flakes are not needed to

make the epoxy stick and they are

merely for artistry. The epoxy kit

contains these color flakes.

These color flakes are spread while

the epoxy is st il l sett ing, so it ’s best

to stop coating the epoxy when

you’re done with a small section of

the floor. Take note that flakes have

varying sizes, and bigger ones tend to rise to the top of the container. To

avoid spreading large flakes in one area of the garage and small flakes in

another, shake the container first. This will ensure that you will get

randomly sized flakes when you pour them out.

Although color flakes are optional, they are great for garage floors

because of the following reasons:

They camouflage imperfections in your floor

They add interest to an otherwise drab surface

They can be made to match design elements in other areas of your

home

They give a natural look that resembles small stones and pebbles on

flat soil

ADDING A CLEAR COAT

Like color flakes, a clear epoxy coat is also optional but quite useful. If

you have applied flakes previously, you need to seal them with an

additional coating because they are sitt ing on the epoxy layer instead of

sinking in it . If uncovered, the flakes will create a jagged surface. Being

exposed also increases the chance that they might come off.

Aside from protecting color flakes, a clear coat will also provide extra

shine to the epoxy coating. If you want an intensely glossy floor, add a

layer of transparent epoxy to your main coating.

Caution: Although clear coats are attractive, they can become slippery. If

you want a non-skid floor, do not apply a clear topcoat. You can increase

traction in your epoxy floor by pouring a non-skid additive over the

surface of the coating. Again, since color flakes require a clear coat, do

not use color flakes if you don’t want your floor to become slippery.

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