Can I coat my own floor?

You can coat your own floor as long as you follow the proper steps as follows:

1. Does the floor have a vapor barrier under the concrete?

a. If you aren’t sure you will need to perform a moisture test to determine if moisture is coming up through the floor slab, if you know you have a vapor barrier proceed to step 2.

i. If moisture is coming through the slab stop and get a professional involved

2. Clean and prepare the floor per SSPC SP-13. (This almost always requires a bare minimum of diamond grinding)

                    (Make sure you have the proper Personal Protective Equipment, Silica Dust is very dangerous to breathe!!!)

a. A diamond grinder can be rented from various rental houses and can cost as much as $800 per day with the diamond heads.

3. Before applying the chosen coating read the manufacturer’s data pages thoroughly and pay close attention to the following items:

a. What is the mix ratio?

b. Is there a sweat-in/induction time? (Some epoxies have to sit for a specified period of time once mixed and before using to

   “kick-start” the chemical reaction, if this time is not observed you will have an improperly cured coating)

c. What is the pot life? (This is the amount of time you have to use the mixed epoxy before the chemical reaction has taken place,

          if you still have unused material after the pot life has expired DO NOT USE IT.)

d. Does the first coat need to be reduced? (Some epoxies require the first coat to be reduced for maximum penetration and you always

          reduce after sweat-in/induction time if required.)

e. What is the re-coat window? (This is the amount of time you have to get another coat on, if you pass this window the coating has to

          be abraded before it can be top-coated)

        f. Make sure you have all the necessary Personal Protective Equipment!!!!

4. Apply the coating following all the above requirements as specified in the manufacturer’s data pages.

5. Let the coating cure for the required amount of time as specified in the manufacturer’s data pages.

Note: If you make one mistake on the above procedure you will have an inferior floor coating with a limited life cycle.  Why risk it?  Contact Us.