DIY Epoxy Flooring Solutions

The beautiful impacts of Epoxy Flooring cannot be ignored if what you crave is a perfect glossy finishing in your residential apartments, mechanical or industrial sites, garages, manufacturing facilities, etc.  Epoxy flooring systems provide an excellent floor coating that will cover up any interior concrete surface, it also has anti-slip properties, resistance to flames and water, and can also improve the brightness of a room.

Even with the poorest of finishing touches, this system will provide a way to have the look and feel of decorative concrete where the traditional materials will not work; it also won’t sacrifice the hardness of industrial needs.

There is nothing difficult about applying epoxy floor coatings – it is almost as simple as you rolling paint on a wall or across a porch floor. However, before you begin, you need to make sure you have a perfect grasp of how to go about it.

Types of Epoxy Flooring Solutions

  • Metallic epoxy flooring:

This is quite a simple low yellowing epoxy with a metallic pigment mixed within. These pigments are mixed into a transparent epoxy resin and then poured onto the floor.. When these pigments become agitated with a paintbrush or roller, they gather, separate, twist and turn to reflect light at different angles. The epoxy hardens, and metallic pigments are locked into place and give a three-dimensional, swirly look.

These coatings are not only aesthetically pleasing, but also have many other advantages; metallic epoxy floor coatings can be customized to be extremely durable, low yellowing, seamless, antimicrobial, slip resistant, and chemical resistant. Not only will these floors look beautiful, but they will meet all of your performance needs. They are great for places like waiting rooms, showrooms, restaurants, galleries and more

  • Epoxy mortar floors:

This is the strongest of all epoxy floor system available, this high-build, seamless system is made with 100% solids epoxy and graded sand or quartz sand and then troweled into place. Mortar systems are highly impacted and chemical-resistant, this system is also effective in repairing old floors because of its high-build process. It is best used in manufacturing plants, mechanical rooms, warehouses, commercial kitchens, restaurants, garages, and service areas where heavy equipment such as forklift are used.

  • Quartz-Filled Epoxy Floors

This system combines high-performance epoxy polymer resin with colored quartz grains; the result is a multi-functional floor that’s decorative, sanitary, slip-resistant, and exceptionally durable. It is mostly used in locker rooms, restrooms, schools, cafeterias, showrooms, light manufacturing, lobbies, offices and more.

  • Epoxy Flake Floors

Flake floor systems are made when colored chips or flakes are placed within the epoxy to create vibrant, multi-hued, seamless, resilient surfaces. The chips are not only aesthetically pleasing, but their slightly rough surface reduces slips and falls.

The flakes are available in an endless variety of colors, styles, textures, and sizes and can be mixed into the combination of your choice. It can be used in commercial kitchens, locker rooms, sports venues, automotive showrooms, veterinarian clinics, and laundromats.

Step-By-Step Application of Epoxy Flooring Solution – DIY

Instruments

  • Two-part epoxy paint
  • Flat-edge shovel or scrapper
  • Shop vacuum
  • Garden hose
  • Power scrubber with a brush attachment or long-handled acid brush
  • Stiff-bristle brush
  • Rubber squeegee
  • Plastic sprinkler can
  • Drill with stirring bit
  • Paintbrushes
  • 9-inch medium-nap roller and roller pole
  • Duct tape
  • Plastic bag
  • Cleaning/degreasing solution
  • Rubber gloves
  • Respirator
  • 32-percent muriatic acid.
  • Step 1: Clean Concrete Surfaces

If necessary, use a flat-edged shovel or scraper to remove hardened debris. Then, vacuum the garage floor. Prepare a cleaning/degreasing solution according to manufacturer’s instructions. Wearing rubber gloves, use a stiff-bristle brush and the solution to scrub off any grease or oil stains.

  • Step 2: Wet Flooring

Use a hose to wet the entire floor with water. Working in 5-foot-square sections, use a power scrubber with a brush attachment and the degreaser to clean the entire floor. Use the stiff-bristle brush to scrub the corners and along the walls where the machine can’t reach.

After the floor is clean, use a rubber squeegee to pull soapy water into a central area. Remove the solution with a wet-dry vac. Check with your county’s environmental office to see if you are allowed to dispose of the solution by flushing it down the toilet.

  • Step 3: Prepare the Acid-Etching Mixture

Pour a gallon of water into a plastic sprinkler can. Wearing a vapor respirator, pour 12 ounces of 32-percent muriatic acid into 15 cups of water (for smaller or larger amounts, use 1-part acid to 10 parts water) in the sprinkler can. Mix the solution for a few seconds with a paint stirrer. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over a 10×10-foot area.

  • Step 4: Scrub and Etch

Power-scrub the 10×10-foot area for 10 minutes or use a long-handled acid brush (to save on equipment rental). Repeat the sprinkling/scrubbing process until the entire floor is acid etched. Rinse three times to flush acid residue. Let the floor dry overnight.

  • Step 5: Mix Epoxy Coating

Following manufacturer’s instructions, use a drill and stirring bit to mix the two epoxy solutions. To ensure complete blending, pour the mixture into a second bucket and power-mix the paint again.

  • Step 6: Apply Along Perimeter

Using duct tape, tape the area directly beneath the garage door, then brush a 4-inch strip of epoxy against the tape and along the garage walls.

  • Step 7: Roll on Epoxy

Use a 9-inch-wide roller with a medium nap to paint the floor. Attach the roller to a pole. Then, dip the roller into the bucket of epoxy, so only the bottom half of the roller is covered. (This loads the roller with the right amount of epoxy.) Working in a 4-foot-square area, apply epoxy to garage floor in a large “W” pattern.

Backroll to fill in the pattern and remove any roller marks. Make sure edges remain wet as you move from section to section to prevent noticeable seams from forming. Let the first coat dry per manufacturer’s instructions.

  • Step 8: Apply a Second Coat

If you don’t want a glossy floor (they are slippery when wet), add a non-skid floor coating into the epoxy for the second coat. Stir with the drill and stirring bit. Repeat Step 7. Want to add color flakes? Scatter them lightly while the area is still wet—add more flakes until you create your desired pattern.

  • Step 9: Finish

Mask off and paint the bottom 4 inches of garage or basement wall with the epoxy mix used on the floor. This border creates a cohesive look that also acts as a protective baseboard.

While doing it yourself may save you money and improve your skills, hiring a professional epoxy installation company, is a great idea. This is because certain types of epoxy installation may require the expertise and experience of a professional. If you are looking for a professional epoxy coating/flooring company, Epoxy Central has ample years of experience in the application of floor coating systems. Feel free to visit Epoxy Central to learn more.