Essential Preparations before Epoxy Flooring

Unlike other floor painting or installation, there are several important factors to consider before having epoxy floors. If it is your first time to apply an epoxy floor coating, this article will help you make the necessary preparations in order to save you lots of time, money, and of course, effort. You should know by now that Houston epoxy flooring is a big investment. It may require from your savings hundreds to thousands of dollars depending on the material and the size of the area, but epoxy floors can definitely last a lifetime if they are properly cleaned and maintained.

Here are some tips on how to prepare certain floors prior to epoxy coating or flooring:

1.    For Old or New Concrete Floors – Whether you have new or old concrete flooring system, it is essential to thoroughly wash off the entire surface to remove residues and dirt. In instances when the floors have deep dirt, it is highly advisable to use acid-safe etching solutions. They will not only remove deep stains and grimes, they will also open up the concrete pores to create a slightly rough surface to which the epoxy will effectively bind to. To say the least, etching your floor could yield better results. However, this can be optional especially if you have a limited budget. After washing and/or etching, let your floors dry for one or two days depending on ambient conditions then apply the first coating of epoxy.

In case your floors have divots and cracks, you must do the repairs before the etching process. In addition, some new floors necessitate a month for curing period before applying any Houston epoxy flooring solution to achieve best results.  

2.    For Previously Painted Floors – Perhaps, this is the most common situation among homeowners and commercial property owners. For floors that have been coated previously with low quality epoxy or paint, the first thing you must do is to determine whether the existing coating can be a suitable foundation for your new epoxy floor.

If the previous coating is partially failing and is not properly bonded, you must fully remove it using a floor scraper. After getting rid of your existing coating, make sure to wash and/or etch your floor to ensure that no residue is left behind. If your previous coating can still be used as a foundation, then you need to apply a bonding primer to guarantee that the new epoxy will decently bond to the old coating.  

3.    For Floors that are Sealed – If your floors are previously sealed, all sealers must be removed completely. You can easily accomplish this with a floor grinder to effectively grind the sealers off.  If you do not have this tool, you can alternatively use a sander or bugging machine with a very aggressive grit over the floor in order to break the sealer’s surface as much as possible. After this, apply a strong solution of Muriatic Acid to totally remove the sealer. Do not attempt to have Houston epoxy flooring if your floors still have sealers on it because it is only a waste of money and time.  

4.    For Floors with Old Stains- If your previous floors are stained with oil and grease that have been there for many years now, you need to apply strong primer that is concentrated to effectively adhere to these kinds of stains. However before applying the primer, make sure to clean the floor surface as intensively as possible to somehow lessen the severity of old stains. After washing, acid etch the floors and let them dry for 24 to 48 hours. However if your floors only have light stains, oil and grease remover would be sufficient.

Conclusion

It is alright to over protect your floor prior to epoxy coating application because the preparation you carry out would actually determine the fate of your new Houston epoxy flooring. As mentioned earlier, epoxy floors are a big investment. Therefore, make the most of your preparation in order to save lots of time and effort, and preserve your pricy investment. If you don’t have time to do all the necessary preparations, you could always turn to a professional company that offers a gamut of concrete and epoxy floor solutions. Hiring their services is actually a wise decision to make since they are already well-versed not only in preparing your floors, but also in applying your chosen epoxy floor materials.