Epoxy Floors Install?

I have racedeck flooring tiles that are 18 x 18 in size. I prefer these over the epoxy coating.

 

The tile I used does not have a solid back, but rather a pattern of supporting tabs with a hollow back, allowing water (or melted snow) to go through the cracks between the tiles and then over the concrete to the drain or garage exterior. The only big negative of these tiles is that they expand and contract substantially in the sun / shade, so the edge will bow up about 3" when the sun hits it. The open web racedeck tiles would be a nightmare to get little parts out of, and I would imagine not too comfy to walk on either. I really don't see the advantage of them unless you want that open look.
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Don't do it... 5 years later its peeling like crazy...

Also, you can't use it for 6 months to a year on fresh concrete, as the moisture content is too high. I waited 2-3 months...major fail...

 

VERY attractive tan floor.

 

Not for me the last floor I did lasted over 7 years and was still going strong when I sold the house.

My garage in NM I did in 1996 and it still looks great to this day.

Both were applied 90 -100 days after the slab was poured.

 

I did my 24' x 24' 2 years ago with kit (actually 2 kits) from Lowes and no problems at all. As far as the flakes go, not hard at all.I believe i still have the DVD instructions that that came with the kit,if you want it,it's yours just pm me your address.Like most have said,prep is everything,the rest is just like rolling on paint.
B.

 

Before I applied epoxy to my floor I visited a few friends who had done theirs to get an idea. I saw one friend's who had the flakes in it and he commented how it camoflauged every nut and bolt he dropped. hexxman is right, those flakes aren't good if you have a working garage as you'll go crazy looking for small things that you drop.

The down side of not adding flakes is that they provide traction and when the finished epoxy gets wet it is very slippery. To alleviate this I went to Home Depot and got the Behr flooring powder additive. It adds traction but you can still find things against it and you can still sweep the floor without the raised granules trapping dirt.



PS - Thanks to chatters here, I found large flooring mats that I use over the epoxy paint for my daily drivers. When it rains (and it does where I live) these ribbed mats channel the water out of the garage. I don't use them on the areas where I jack cars up.
http://www.americangaragefloor.com/blt-garage-floor-ribbed.php

 

Seems to me that any 'coating' will eventually go south.

Though more uniform, a coating will not last like a stain.

Check it out...

http://www.scofield.com/concretestain_samples.html

If anybody has personal experience with stain - please share your thoughts.

Rgds,
Vincenzo

 

I am thinking about doing something in my garage and I agree that a coating seems like it may have some "issues" over time regarding flaking, peeling, etc.. but I am not sure. I have also though about paint but am afraid that will just peel as well.

However, I did acid stain my concrete BBQ Island top two years ago year and there has not been an issue in color change. In spite of it not being covered and we have had a horrible summer and rainy winter here in Texas so I am thinking about doing the same on my garage floor.

The process was extremely simple...pump sprayer, two or three times for the right color and then you can add a sealer.

 

What was the name of the product?

Thanks for the input,
Vincenzo

 

http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/in+your+garage/garage+flooring/tan+floor+paint%2C+1+gallon.do?search=basic&keyword=floor+paint&sortby=newArrivals&page=1

I used Griot's Floor paint (epoxy). They had a black color which I used. It was very easy to put on. I added sand to the paint to give the floor some traction when wet. I have a lift, and where the ramps meet the floor it's chipped a bit, but that's it. I actually touch it up with nail polish. It's been on for about 3 years now.
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You can rent a machine that shot peens the floor with steel BB's and give a great surface for the epoxy to adhere to. After seeing it done that way I'm convinced it's the only way to go.

 

you are 100% correct. i had my floors done and that was part of the prep process.

 

Matthew, that black floor coating looks great. Very nice!