If you are worrying about imperfections in the concrete such as hairline cracks or pock-marks, an epoxy floor coating may be your best solution as it will hide all those imperfections. It is highly resistive to wear and damage due to foot traffic and/or machinery.
Uneven concrete — epoxy spreads in a fluidic state. If applied to uneven concrete, it could pool in dips or depressions. Epoxy is for coating concrete — not leveling it out! It's important to treat the concrete floor first, making sure that it is as level as possible.
Metallic epoxy is self leveling and will fill in slight imperfections. If you have larger cracks or imperfections consider using a product like patcher paste or another crack filler to fill the cracks before applying the epoxy. This will result in a smooth final surface.
It is possible for your to repair cracks in a concrete driveway or floor on your own. You can also call a professional. If you are fixing small cracks in concrete on your own, either purchase an epoxy patching product from a home improvement store or online.
To repair your cracks and divots, use Norcrete Crack Filler. This two component 100% solids epoxy crack filler is designed for shallow repair on either vertical or horizontal surfaces. This product is easy to mix and use and has a non-critical mix ratio.
The longevity of an epoxy floor system will vary based on thickness, use and maintenance. Typically, epoxy floors last between 10 and 20 years; much longer than a painted concrete floor, which will chip and wear quickly in high-traffic areas.
2 – 3 mils to 250 mils (1/4”) or thicker, depending on the application. The thinner epoxy floorings are typically used for new concrete or concrete that is in decent shape and does not need a lot of repair work. The thicker coatings are used to repair and rebuild concrete floors that are in bad shape.
Best Two-Part Epoxy Patching Compound—PC Products Masonry Epoxy Adhesive. To seal cracks that are leaking water or to resist extreme temperatures, an epoxy patch like the PC Products masonry epoxy adhesive is a great solution.
The answer is yes. It is crucial to fill each floor crack to form a proper seal. After your crack repair dries, your floor is ready to be sanded for an even floor surface before applying your top coat of epoxy floor coating.
Perfect Patch, the most effective permanent 100% Epoxy concrete patching system. Extremely strong formulation makes Perfect Patch the ideal 100% epoxy patch that permanently repairs cracks, holes and pitted concrete surfaces.
Epoxy does not do well in cold weather or in very hot weather. Indeed, the complex application process of epoxy requires temperature conditions below 32 degrees. Using epoxy for your garage flooring is not a good idea if you live in a climate consisting of different seasons.
If you have an uneven surface to begin with, epoxy resin can be used to make it more level to great effect. Inherently, all of our resins have self-leveling properties that help them flow to coat a surface evenly. You can also use them to seal surfaces that are porous or have little holes, such as wood or stone.
Self leveling epoxy is a type of epoxy floor coating that can be applied over concrete floors to create a durable, low maintenance flooring surface. Specifically, self leveling epoxy flooring can be applied over old cracked and damaged concrete floors to create a smooth, seamless surface.
To finish preparing an uncoated concrete floor, you need to etch, acid wash or grind the floor, as a smooth floor will not allow the epoxy to adhere well. You can rent a sand blaster or diamond grinder and rough up the surface. Or you can etch, or acid wash, the floor using a product designed for concrete floor prep.
Different Concrete Leveling Solutions to Consider
The two most common concrete leveling solutions in use today are polyurethane foam injection and mudjacking. Mudjacking is an older technique for leveling an uneven concrete slab. Today, it's being pushed out in favor of polyurethane foam injection.
The concrete floor will fail if the coating doesn't bond mechanically to the concrete floor, so the preparation is the most important part before applying any type of epoxy! So it is important that there is a solid bond between the concrete and epoxy coating so as not to end up with a failed epoxy garage floor.
Before applying epoxy, sand smooth non-porous surfaces—thoroughly abrade the surface. 80-grit aluminum oxide paper will provide a good texture for the epoxy to “key” into. Be sure the surface to be bonded is solid. Remove any flaking, chalking, blistering, or old coating before sanding.
With a garage epoxy floor, you will want to add at least two coats. Allow at least 12 hours to dry between coats and no more than 48 hours. Although the floor will be touch dry after a few hours, it takes a few days to cure properly.
As we mentioned before, epoxy is one of the most affordable concrete coating types. While they are less expensive than other types of coatings, Polyurea concrete coatings are more expensive because they are a higher quality coating. This means they perform better, are more durable, and will last longer in your home.
Strength. Epoxy resin pointing have high strength suitable for medium to heavy traffic loads. You'll find epoxy resin pointing with a rating suitable for your patio, driveway or pathway. and therefore much stronger and less likely to crack under heavy weight than traditional mortar pointing.
If your epoxy pour is too thick, the reaction can create too much heat, resulting in a product that does not cure properly with cracks or excessive bubbles. You can pour the next layer after the previous pour has gone through its heat cycle, which is usually around 24 hours.
Open pores allow the epoxy to soak in and bond securely to the concrete. Without a porous surface, the epoxy will just lay on top of the concrete and will be prone to chipping and flaking.
If a layer of epoxy resin is poured too thickly, the quality of the cure may be affected impacting the results both aesthetically and functionally. Also, resin layers that are poured too thickly can become too hot and smoke – becoming a hazard. Always follow mixing, pouring and curing recommendations for best results.