Epoxy garage floor prep can I have a bit of help please?
Discussion
Well guys, a week on and an update!
Unfortunately, the curse of this thread has not been lifted. - I AM DISAPPOINTED! The floor has left me feeling really let down. It scratches easier then your average domestic wall paint, not the £120+/can 'Heavy duty industry' floor paint i expected.
With heavy pressure I can mark it with my finger nails(!), let alone something you would expect to stand up to the use & abuse of a garage floor.
I just don't understand WHY? I followed the instructions to the letter, mixed well, used the right base + activator combination. I spoke at great length with Johnstone's Paint on the process, did the three thin layers with a roller as recommended, diluted first coat down exactly 10% etc etc. The only miner diversion I did was allowing it 21 hours between coats instead of 24 hours - but with 25+ Degree heat, warm nights and a breeze with a double garage door left open for a week - I don't see how this could this have caused it?
Why is it 7 days on the surface is still soft? I am genuinely dreading using my car on it come the weekend (8 days of curing) as so far it is no better then the £20/tin one part garage floor paint I spent the best part of 30+ hours grinding off.
f
king stuff. 
Unfortunately, the curse of this thread has not been lifted. - I AM DISAPPOINTED! The floor has left me feeling really let down. It scratches easier then your average domestic wall paint, not the £120+/can 'Heavy duty industry' floor paint i expected.
With heavy pressure I can mark it with my finger nails(!), let alone something you would expect to stand up to the use & abuse of a garage floor.
I just don't understand WHY? I followed the instructions to the letter, mixed well, used the right base + activator combination. I spoke at great length with Johnstone's Paint on the process, did the three thin layers with a roller as recommended, diluted first coat down exactly 10% etc etc. The only miner diversion I did was allowing it 21 hours between coats instead of 24 hours - but with 25+ Degree heat, warm nights and a breeze with a double garage door left open for a week - I don't see how this could this have caused it?
Why is it 7 days on the surface is still soft? I am genuinely dreading using my car on it come the weekend (8 days of curing) as so far it is no better then the £20/tin one part garage floor paint I spent the best part of 30+ hours grinding off.
f
king stuff. Edited by Andehh on Thursday 12th July 18:52
Just spoke to their tech team, who didn't seem to think it was a problem. She was adamant heavy-duty it is, but scratch proof it isnt!?
She used the anology of car body paint being scratchable and that paint being as durable as it gets.
She explained the paint is heavy duty in the sense of it not lifting, peeling, flaking etc but scratching it with a finger nail was normal. No where do they advertise it as scratch resistant.
I'm gunna give it an hour or two and try calling them again for a second opinion.
She used the anology of car body paint being scratchable and that paint being as durable as it gets.
She explained the paint is heavy duty in the sense of it not lifting, peeling, flaking etc but scratching it with a finger nail was normal. No where do they advertise it as scratch resistant.
I'm gunna give it an hour or two and try calling them again for a second opinion.
Andehh said:
Just spoke to their tech team, who didn't seem to think it was a problem. She was adamant heavy-duty it is, but scratch proof it isnt!?
She explained the paint is heavy duty in the sense of it not lifting, peeling, flaking etc but scratching it with a finger nail was normal. No where do they advertise it as scratch resistant.
Perhaps they should mix it with the Regal paint I used which is very hard and you'd struggle to scratch it with a screwdriver - but it's lifted under my tyres She explained the paint is heavy duty in the sense of it not lifting, peeling, flaking etc but scratching it with a finger nail was normal. No where do they advertise it as scratch resistant.
V8RX7 said:
Perhaps they should mix it with the Regal paint I used which is very hard and you'd struggle to scratch it with a screwdriver - but it's lifted under my tyres
Could be? Admittedly I will have a good future supply of the paint through family, if it does last, but scratches, I can always do a wash down, dry and add a fresh layer on to keep it looking smart each year. Rang the supplier for a third time. First two times they said the surface is not scratch resistant & are not too surprised I am able to scratch it (as per above posts). Third time I rang the chap i spoke to was less certain that I should be able to scratch it with heavy pressure + my finger nail. He was of the opinion it should cure pretty hard.
He couldn't fault my process installing it though, so couldnt offer any suggestions beyond the 'give it a few more days and it might cure harder' (...i struggled not to bite my tongue off with skepticism at this)
The only concerning memory I have of the process is when i cleaned up after the third coating, the activator has maybe 50ml left in it, from the residue on the sides of the tin which wouldnt pour out Obviously sat in an open tin in the heat of the day the residue pooled at the bottom. However, when i first mixed base + activator I held the activator tin upside down for 15 seconds to get every drip out that I could - I doubt anyone could reasonably expect any more to be got out of the tin during the initial pour.
So, i am at a loss. I think I can only expect this might be a 'quirk' of my floor - its reasonably easy to scratch. I just hope that the damn tyres dont lift the surface, but all three of their tech people I spoke to confirmed i shouldn't have an issue. - we will see & i will update after 5 days of parking my car in there.
For future users - I wouldn't recommend this product at the £120+ / tin cost of it (co around £250 for two coats in a double garage). Not with the scratch-ability of it I am finding.
See how it goes.
It's got a matte finish, so it might even by the scratch is actually a mark, your finger nail coming off on the paint.
They are painting the floor at my new work with what looks very like your paint, but I've only seen the finished job not the tins.
I got a quote for 'an industrial unit's the size of a triple garage from Gallagher flooring last week just for interested. Quote came out at I think about £3800. Can post more details tonight, but certainly eye watering really.
Daniel
It's got a matte finish, so it might even by the scratch is actually a mark, your finger nail coming off on the paint.
They are painting the floor at my new work with what looks very like your paint, but I've only seen the finished job not the tins.
I got a quote for 'an industrial unit's the size of a triple garage from Gallagher flooring last week just for interested. Quote came out at I think about £3800. Can post more details tonight, but certainly eye watering really.
Daniel
Well, nearly 2 weeks of regular use and I can update!
Ultimately, I am ''OK'' with the floor. It doesn't lift with the car tyres & washes down easily, it dos also look smart. However - it is still very easy to scratch. Dragging anything vaguely hard/weight will leave surface scuffs, things like dragging the pressure washer sideways, mark it. Very disappointed with this, but I have a spare tin so can always just wash, rinse, dry & apply a fresh coat once a year to tart it up easily enough.
For the retail price (i paid about 10%...) I would not recommend it, as it would have been £140+ /tin, and I used three tins. (they recommend two minimum). For the sake of £300+ I would save up more & go for something at 30%+ the price like OP's proper resin 'paint' and guarantee you will never need to touch it again.
When I remember ill take some pics of it and post them up here.
Paint I used:
Johnstones two 2 park epoxy floor paint
https://www.johnstonestrade.com/getmedia/6255C4A8-...
Ultimately, I am ''OK'' with the floor. It doesn't lift with the car tyres & washes down easily, it dos also look smart. However - it is still very easy to scratch. Dragging anything vaguely hard/weight will leave surface scuffs, things like dragging the pressure washer sideways, mark it. Very disappointed with this, but I have a spare tin so can always just wash, rinse, dry & apply a fresh coat once a year to tart it up easily enough.
For the retail price (i paid about 10%...) I would not recommend it, as it would have been £140+ /tin, and I used three tins. (they recommend two minimum). For the sake of £300+ I would save up more & go for something at 30%+ the price like OP's proper resin 'paint' and guarantee you will never need to touch it again.
When I remember ill take some pics of it and post them up here.
Paint I used:
Johnstones two 2 park epoxy floor paint
https://www.johnstonestrade.com/getmedia/6255C4A8-...
Just to bump this thread & say - several months on & the floor is looking fine. It does still scratch easier then I expected, but over time these all just blend together and became a non-issue. I will recoat it this summer as well.
ANNOYINGLY - weekend just gone I did my parents garage with the same stuff, but forgot to dilute the first layer 10% - will have to wait & see over the coming weeks & months how much difference it makes.
My own stupid fault for rushing into it & not reminding myself of the instructions 
As per OP's original horror story - READ THE INSTRUCTIONS AT EVER STEP!
ANNOYINGLY - weekend just gone I did my parents garage with the same stuff, but forgot to dilute the first layer 10% - will have to wait & see over the coming weeks & months how much difference it makes.
My own stupid fault for rushing into it & not reminding myself of the instructions As per OP's original horror story - READ THE INSTRUCTIONS AT EVER STEP!
Andeh1 said:
Just to bump this thread & say - several months on & the floor is looking fine. It does still scratch easier then I expected, but over time these all just blend together and became a non-issue. I will recoat it this summer as well.
That's good news. Slightly disappointing at the time, mainly I guess given the slow prep done, but sounds like it has given a good finish to the garage for a lot less cost than a 100% solids industrial spec epoxy coating.Daniel
dhutch said:
That's good news. Slightly disappointing at the time, mainly I guess given the slow prep done, but sounds like it has given a good finish to the garage for a lot less cost than a 100% solids industrial spec epoxy coating.
Daniel
Yeah, I don't know why the machine I had was so ineffective. I ended up piling bricks on it to add weight to the grinding. I think the thick sDaniel
tty cheap garage floor paint that was on (couple layers) probably acted as a lubricant and just greased the floor limiting the effect of the grinder. Some form of industrial scrapper would have probably been more effective. My pressure washer also worked well at blasting the paint up, but several hours of it did end up killing it off the early I think.
The moto of the story is do it once & do it properly!!!
I wish I had seen this post sooner. I am doing my garage up due to COVID and doing a Resincoat floor. Similar experience to OP but was doing smaller 55m2 so 12 tins of paint, hardener, rollers gloves etc. The hardener is in different shaped bottles, the 5kg primer hardener is in the same shaped bottles as the 2.5kg paint hardener. After doing the first coat of primer it seemed to take ages to harden. It was a lovely afternoon so I sat in the garden having some beer with a neighborr. After lots of beer, I had convinced myself I had put the wrong size hardener in the primer as it was still sticky after eight hours. Didn't sleep very well that night. I sobered up about two in the morning and went down to check, luckily the 2.5kg hardener was in the same shape as the 5kg bottle.
I am doing the final coat tomorrow and have three tins left 1Kg 2.5kg and 5kg. I was going to mix 6kg but think I will cut in with the final 1kg and mix the 5 and 2.5 for a thick final cover. I only have a roller so I will just make sure it's a thicker coat. It's looking nice I need to do the final coat in the morning. Would be interested in how everyone else's projects are holding up? I Will try and post some pics.
That's just the paint. I have already applied the 6 tins of resin.
[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/AFH4YWh1[/url]
[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/nVfm8Er7[/url]
I am doing the final coat tomorrow and have three tins left 1Kg 2.5kg and 5kg. I was going to mix 6kg but think I will cut in with the final 1kg and mix the 5 and 2.5 for a thick final cover. I only have a roller so I will just make sure it's a thicker coat. It's looking nice I need to do the final coat in the morning. Would be interested in how everyone else's projects are holding up? I Will try and post some pics.
That's just the paint. I have already applied the 6 tins of resin.
[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/AFH4YWh1[/url][url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/nVfm8Er7[/url]Edited by Jer_1974 on Wednesday 10th June 00:28
Edited by Jer_1974 on Wednesday 10th June 00:37
Edited by Jer_1974 on Wednesday 10th June 00:42
Edited by Jer_1974 on Wednesday 10th June 00:47
Many years ago I used Watco ( https://www.watco.co.uk/ ) on a garage floor. It was used by the company I worked for workshop floors and was bulletproof. We could buy it from the company for the price they paid for it, so it was a good deal.
robinessex said:
Many years ago I used Watco ( https://www.watco.co.uk/ ) on a garage floor. It was used by the company I worked for workshop floors and was bulletproof. We could buy it from the company for the price they paid for it, so it was a good deal.
Everything Watco sells is massively overpriced, unless you are getting huge discounts I'd look elsewhereJer_1974 said:
I wish I had seen this post sooner. I am doing my garage up due to COVID and doing a Resincoat floor. Similar experience to OP but was doing smaller 55m2 so 12 tins of paint, hardener, rollers gloves etc. The hardener is in different shaped bottles, the 5kg primer hardener is in the same shaped bottles as the 2.5kg paint hardener. After doing the first coat of primer it seemed to take ages to harden. It was a lovely afternoon so I sat in the garden having some beer with a neighborr. After lots of beer, I had convinced myself I had put the wrong size hardener in the primer as it was still sticky after eight hours. Didn't sleep very well that night. I sobered up about two in the morning and went down to check, luckily the 2.5kg hardener was in the same shape as the 5kg bottle.
I am doing the final coat tomorrow and have three tins left 1Kg 2.5kg and 5kg. I was going to mix 6kg but think I will cut in with the final 1kg and mix the 5 and 2.5 for a thick final cover. I only have a roller so I will just make sure it's a thicker coat. It's looking nice I need to do the final coat in the morning. Would be interested in how everyone else's projects are holding up? I Will try and post some pics.
That's just the paint. I have already applied the 6 tins of resin.
Looks great. Good work.I am doing the final coat tomorrow and have three tins left 1Kg 2.5kg and 5kg. I was going to mix 6kg but think I will cut in with the final 1kg and mix the 5 and 2.5 for a thick final cover. I only have a roller so I will just make sure it's a thicker coat. It's looking nice I need to do the final coat in the morning. Would be interested in how everyone else's projects are holding up? I Will try and post some pics.
That's just the paint. I have already applied the 6 tins of resin.
Do you mind if we ask what that set you back?
Did you have to do much prep to the floor or was it basically clean and sound?
Daniel
V8RX7 said:
robinessex said:
Many years ago I used Watco ( https://www.watco.co.uk/ ) on a garage floor. It was used by the company I worked for workshop floors and was bulletproof. We could buy it from the company for the price they paid for it, so it was a good deal.
Everything Watco sells is massively overpriced, unless you are getting huge discounts I'd look elsewheredhutch said:
Looks great. Good work.
Do you mind if we ask what that set you back?
Did you have to do much prep to the floor or was it basically clean and sound?
Daniel
The floor was sound but had some oil stains so I opted for the large garage pack with the oil-resistant primer. I also purchased 10 liters of acid etch and a cut in pack to do the breezeblock upstand and edges. The pack came with rollers, paintbrushes and gloves and was £450.00. It's quite quick to put down but takes 12 hours to dry. I left each coat for a day and left the floor to dry for a week after rinsing the acid etching so the wife's going a bit mental about the garage contents in the house. If I did it again after reading this thread I would probably fill the larger imperfections with filler and purchase 10kg more epoxy for a thicker coat.Do you mind if we ask what that set you back?
Did you have to do much prep to the floor or was it basically clean and sound?
Daniel
Final coat done this morning
Edited by Jer_1974 on Wednesday 10th June 14:02
Jer_1974 said:
The floor was sound but had some oil stains so I opted for the large garage pack with the oil-resistant primer. I also purchased 10 liters of acid etch and a cut in pack to do the breezeblock upstand and edges. The pack came with rollers, paintbrushes and gloves and was £450.00. It's quite quick to put down but takes 12 hours to dry. I left each coat for a day and left the floor to dry for a week after rinsing the acid etching so the wife's going a bit mental about the garage contents in the house. If I did it again after reading this thread I would probably fill the larger imperfections with filler and purchase 10kg more epoxy for a thicker coat.
Final coat done this morning
Cant fault that.Final coat done this morning
Looks amazing really, and a very reasonable price in the grand scheme assuming it lasts 10-20years which it should with ease.
Daniel
To update this thread, with how I am getting on a couple of years later - it's been brilliant!
It does scratch easier then expected, but no Tyre lifting, hot soapy water returns it look 'like new' and each year I just give it another coat (because I get it so cheap it'd be rude not to) and each year it looks better and better as I build up the layers over time.
Really very pleased with it, but that first prep was hard work indeed!
It does scratch easier then expected, but no Tyre lifting, hot soapy water returns it look 'like new' and each year I just give it another coat (because I get it so cheap it'd be rude not to) and each year it looks better and better as I build up the layers over time.
Really very pleased with it, but that first prep was hard work indeed!
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