Epoxy paints have been in the market for many years. They are used in the industrial floors because of their toughness, durability and resistance to oil and grease. However, over the last few years they have even been patronized for domestic purposes also.
Homeowners use epoxy paints for garage floors and basement floors. They provide a protective coating to your dull and gray floors while making it convenient to have clean floors. Some of the many advantages of having epoxy floor paints are that they have a long life, are waterproof and don’t get rusted while offering resistance to heat, salt and acid. An average house owner will find it reasonably priced. Concrete floor paints do not last long if the floor gets humid or attracts moisture from beneath or the atmosphere as they won’t last long under such conditions.
Basically there are three types of epoxies: 100% solids, solvent-based and water-based. 100% solids are considered strongest, most expensive and should be handled by professionals only. The most often used epoxies for industrial applications are the solvent based category.They contain 40-60% solids. Ventilation is of prime importance if you decide to use epoxy paints for your garage or basement floor.
They are easily available at any store that deals with industrial goods. The most economical epoxy is the water based. Being strong enough, they can be used for residential purpose.These epoxies can be found at most home improvement stores. There is quite a vast range of available colors.
You can even have a computerized toning.
Most of the brands in the market claim that epoxies are good for exterior purpose only. This statement is true for some of the stronger coatings. For some, living in unkind weather it may be worthwhile to explore the possibility of using acid based or acrylic concrete stains before zeroing in on the use of epoxy concrete paint.
The process of applying epoxy paint starts with the preparation of your garage floor.Inadequate surface preparation is very often the cause of unsatisfactory results. You will first need to clean the floor with a hard bristled brush and and then clear away any debris that will result. This is followed by a through scrubbing and cleaning with a mild acid. This technique is also called as acid etching.
Next, you need to scrub the floor with a solution of warm water and soap and clearing that away. Your floor may still continue to have some water soluble impurities and you are required to scrub a de-greaser on the surface of the floor and finally wash it off.Mild acid fails to remove the oils and greases from the garage floor. You should ensure that water used for rinsing does not remain stuck on the floor, but if it does, you have to repeat the process once again.
Having thus cleaned the floor, it should be left to dry. The epoxy floor coating applied should be of uniform consistency. You should also make sure that the humidity is at the accepted levels to prevent the coating from blistering and discoloring. Generally it suffices to apply two to three coats of paint.
For deriving a long life, proper installation and subsequent regular maintenance are of vital importance.
