Mark Anderson

Bob I rented a diamond grinder from Home Depot and it was very smooth and easy just time consuming. The machine really does all the work.

dr bob

Thanks Mark-- That new floor looks great!

I did the floor at my parents' houe 30 years ago with oevr-the-counter "garage floor paint", and it looked good so long as nothing hrd was dropped on it. Did the garage floor at my last house with a clear sealer on the polished concrete, and it was great in that it prevented staining from stuff spilled on it. No durability issues. I wasn't until I really wanted a nice floor that I hired out the work to a 'pro', the contractor retained by the supplier. I should have loaned him out for a Mark Anderson floor-finishing clinic first so he could learn how to do it. Or he could have followed the mfr's instructions.

AO, did you find the info you needed on clear and flakes?

dr bob

I like the radiant heating idea but the ongoing maintenance would likely kill me.

Mark Anderson

I used this company and they had tons of color options for base and flakes. The application was different that the previous products I used as they have you mix a partial batch and pour it on the floor. Next you squeege it around then roll it is 2 different directions. Next you throw the flakes into the air like fairy dust and let is cure. Working time is only 15 minutes.


http://www.epoxy-coat.com/epoxy_floo...o_gallery1.php

AO

I think so... Is this the Dura Seal 400 or the Dura Poxy? I ask becasue the latter sounds like its bit tougher to install as a DIY.

Ed Scherer

FWIW, I'm really happy with the epoxy garage floor I had installed almost five years ago.

It's held up great. Easy to keep clean, too.

I do have to be (or at least I am, just in case ) pretty careful about stuff like jack stands (I put padded metal caster cups under mine) and floor jacks (I put cardboard under mine) and generally any sharp metal objects that might leave marks. About the only incident I've had was when a garden tool (long-handled weeder tool with a sharp metal tip) fell off the wall and hit the floor. It left a little divot at the impact site.

Lots more photos and other information in the old Rennlist threads Another garage improvement project completed (need lots o' bandwidth for this) and Shark is resting in a newly improved garage and also at (non Rennlist site) Garage Improvement Project.


August, 2006:




March, 2011 (it was slightly dusty in spots since I hadn't cleaned it in awhile):




Even where it's been driven on, no noticeable wear:





And, since the topic of floor grinders came up earlier in this thread, the guys that did our garage floor used an LP-powered floor grinder. I didn't even know such things existed until I saw it. I guess that makes pretty good sense for commercial jobs where they might be working on large floors with limited availability of electricity to drive a heavy-duty machine. And it probably doesn't generate as much nasty exhaust as a gasoline-powered machine would.

dr bob

Andrew--

I think it's the Dura 400. There's one can of the Durapoxy that the installer was supposed to use for some leveling, but apparently his hurry-up schedule didn't include that part.

Let me know what you want to do. I need to get the boxes out of my air compressor closet. Gotta make room for those obsolete jack stands. Gary Knox has also expressed an interest. I'm a motivated seller right now.

dr bob

Ed, that floor looks great! The slightly coarse texture is especially nice.

I have to dig around for some pictures of mine when new. It's really glossy. Plan was to be able to wash the car inside, out of the sun. A little bit of soapy water and it was like glare ice. Walking was a hazard and no steering available when moving the car. Even dry, backing out with a push on the brakes causes te front tires to slide and the car goes straight back. If it's an issue I use the parking brake until I get the fronts onto the driveway. As mentioned previously, I'm using an acrylic floor sealer on it now, with a thick-nap roller to give it some texture. Tile shopping includes some standards for minimum surface texturing so it will be a little less slippy.

AO

Let Gary have it...