Epoxy Coating for Concrete

[Foozle]

I'm considering putting down an epoxy coating on at least part of my barn floor. Considering whether to do myself or hire out. Seems a bit complicated to get surface pretreated correctly and everything so that you won't have chipping, or problems later, but maybe I'm overstating the complexity. Need to do about 3000 sq feet of floor. Quotes are coming in around $3 per square foot (for pretreating floor, epoxy, flakes, additional sealer over epoxy to strengthen and add additional vapor barrier). Anyone have experience good/bad/otherwise they can share?

Thanks

 

[The Suburban Farmer]

I used the Rust-oleum Epoxy Shield product from The Depot on the garage floor of our last house. It actually worked somewhat better than I thought it would EXCEPT for spots where there had been some grease and oil. I had spent a LOT of time cleaning those spots, etching, etc., but it still evidently wasn't enough for the stuff to fully stick.

Having gone through it once -- with just "ok" results -- I would hire it out if I was going to do it again... especially if they give a 1 year warranty or something similar. My cracking/pealing started within the first few months (slight but noticeable enough to know it was going to be a problem long-term.) BUT the areas that had good adhesion were perfect -- no problems, and it loo ked great. But the prework, cleaning, etching, etc. was a pain since my floors weren't brand new. Might have better results with the do-it-yourself stuff on a relatively newer, "clean" floor, maybe?

I'm a die-hard DIY guy, but this is one of those unique areas where I will gladly outsource to someone that offers a warranty the next time.

 

[vtsnowedin]

I've watched them epoxy coat bridge backwalls sealing them from the road salt and used epoxy bonding agents to bond new concrete to old but for the life of me can't figure out why you would want an epoxy coating on a barn floor. It ain't the white house steps, its a barn floor.

 

[Foozle]

It would be for the workshop area. For the tractor/storage areas I'm leaving as is.

 

[Dr_Zinj]

An epoxy coating keeps out things that can soak, grow, or eat into concrete. Things like mold, mildew (that nasty smell can also trigger allergy attacks - and can spoil hay or other organics stored in direct contact with the concrete), oil and water can't soak into it (although water can soak UP from the concrete to be trapped under the epoxy (sometimes causing it to bubble upward until punctured), and of course keep salt or acid from eating into it.

I've had several automotive and equipment shops where we had it applied. The key is to do it before oil or grease get dropped on a new floor, or to THOROUGHLY clean an older floor. Frankly, I've never seen an older floor cleaned enough to not have bonding issues in several places; even with stripping the first inch off and pouring a new layer.

 

[Foozle]

Luckily the floor is brand new and I'm not going to put anything on it until I get the coating.

 

[The Suburban Farmer]

Once it's down, you'll love it. I have it on the floor of my shop (but not the garage) and its great -- much easier clean up and less dust. One pass with a push broom and it's clean as an operating room. Not sure it would be my FIRST expense if I was building a new shop, but it is definitely a nice-to-have.

 

[vtsnowedin]

Well there is a lot of difference in what people call barns. Some you put cows in and clean the floor with a skid steer and others are used to store antique tractors and Bentlee's in clean room conditions that rival a hospital. A clear case of "Have it your way" Carry on!

 

[Deere Dude]

I'm considering putting down an epoxy coating on at least part of my barn floor. Considering whether to do myself or hire out. Seems a bit complicated to get surface pretreated correctly and everything so that you won't have chipping, or problems later, but maybe I'm overstating the complexity. Need to do about 3000 sq feet of floor. Quotes are coming in around $3 per square foot (for pretreating floor, epoxy, flakes, additional sealer over epoxy to strengthen and add additional vapor barrier). Anyone have experience good/bad/otherwise they can share?

Thanks

For $9000, no way would I have anyone do mine, unless I cyphered your post wrong.

I did my 22 x 24 approx. garage with Rustoleum about 14 years ago and love it. I had a breathing mask for laying down the etching acid, which was just mopping it on, neutralizing with baking soda and rinsing it off. Study on the safety precautions first though. When it was dry I got a two foot roller for the epoxy because you need to move to keep a wet edge. I added a little sand so it wasn't slippery. I would consider putting two coats on, even though they advertise it as one coat coverage. There were quite a few lighter spots that didn't cover well. Then after the second coat which covers very well,you just stand back and throw flakes up in the to the ceiling where you generally want them and they will be dispersed quite well.

I can't believe it will cost over $1000 and will really look nice.

I would just do a corner with the sealer to try it out because you shouldn't need any with epoxy. An additional vapor barrier doesn't make sense to me; it's just sealer.

I just want to add, I did a 4 car garage but only put on one coat and the owner was happy, but if it was mine I would have put two coats on.

 

[grandall4]

Jump over to the Garage Journal forum on flooring. Lots of free advice and days of reading to educate yourself. If you have a new floor, you are ahead of the game and can DIY for much less.

I did my 24x24 garage 8 years ago with Sherwin Williams brand materials. All in cost of time and materials was $800. I didn't etch, I did a diamond grind with a hand held grinder. Next time I'll rent a machine from Home Depot and be done with prep much faster.

 

[truckdiagnostics]

I had somebody do it on the garage floor up at the house and I did the shop floor myself. Both new floors. Do it yourself especially if it is a new floor. I used the stuff from these guys. Floor Covering, Garage Flooring & Concrete Floor Paint | ArmorPoxy I actually think the shop floor came out better. Both floor been painted for over 15 years. Garage floor at the house looks brand new. Shop floor, just touched it up last year, looks brand new. Personally, I like the solid colors with no grit additive. Garage has the grit additive, don't like it. Shop, not that slippery and much easier to clean up. If your concrete has a sealer on it you have your work cut out for you. You have to grind that off. I rented a walk behind grinder. Then I etched the floor to give the paint something to bond too. Key here is neutralizing the acid, i used baking soda and a lot of water. Then I put down the primer then the paint, didn't use a clear. Worth every penny, make room brighter easier to clean. Stuff is real durable. Does not stand up to welding or torch sparks.

 

[JKR]

I did my 28 x30 garage with Sherwin Williams Epoxy paint. I waited 6 months before I painted the floor. The concrete had to be dry and then etch it with acid. Clean the floor and rolled the paint. It looked like glass when it was finish.
I should of add sand to the paint because when it's wet it becomes slippery.
Now 11 years later and a lot of work done in the garage. The floor paint still looks almost like new. Not as shinny and not as slippery but still slippery when wet.
Couldn't be happier with the paint.

 

[Bird]

I've no doubt that applying it to a new floor would be best, but this house was built in 1999, we bought it in 2005, and just applied the Rustoleum brand from Home Depot to the garage floor in 2012. In fact, in about 10 days, it'll be 3 years ago. There were some grease and oil spots in the floor, so I scrubbed the floor with Simple Green, rinsed that out, then my son-in-law came over and we finished the cleaning and etching in about an hour. We then waited until the next day to let it dry good, and he came back and helped me apply the epoxy and flakes. No problems at all in the 3 years since putting it down.

My only regret is that I didn't do the same thing to the 21' x 25' shop floor before I put everything in there.

 

[Foozle]

I decided to hire it out after getting some advice from the garage forum. Attaching finished product. I was very pleased with the outcome.

 

[truckdiagnostics]

Looks nice. I hired out our first garage. Then did some smaller spaces, then did the shop myself. That is a large space to do yourself the first time. It is a lot like concrete, when you mess up it is not good. And I have made mistakes. Thanks for updating.