Why The Epoxy Garage Floor Paint Has Begun To Peel

Posted by Gerry Patterson in December 12th, 2009
Published in Cars

Whenever you first realize that your epoxy garage floor paint has begun to peel, your initial reaction may be to place blame to the product itself. I mean, if the coating is tarnishing, then it has to be some cheap, ripoff product, correct? Well, not necessarily so. In truth, this “cheap” and “inferior” floor coating normally won’t peel, dull, crack or even wear away. Most likely, if your garage flooring is having a peeling problem, it is more of a moisture problem.

Epoxy Garage Floor Paint Keeps Moisture Out…And In.

Epoxy will definitely insure the protect of your garage floor’s concrete from moisture and humidity in air, but doesn’t have any defense against moisture from under. Epoxy is made to have a seal-like ability that is able to prevent moisture from most origins from penetrating through, almost completely. For example, if oil were to drip on the garage flooring, it would not be able to penetrate through the epoxy paint, and as a result the concrete will not have absorbed it and can just be cleaned up.

Concrete Absorbs Liquids

Since the concrete for your garage floor sits underground, both its sides and bottom are able to absorb any liquids that they find there. Even if something were to somehow get to the concrete there to stain it, you’d never see the actual stain, so the primary worry is water. Unfortunately, this water that is absorbed into the concrete must evaporate. That wonderful epoxy garage floor seal suddenly becomes its own worst enemy. It’s a dual edged sword: it will keep the moisture in just as it keeps moisture out. As the water rises through the concrete, it begins to create bubbles under the garage floor paint. As the bubbles expand, they will eventually burst, causing the dreaded epoxy paint peeling.

Epoxy Garage Floor Paint Does Not Get Along With Humidity

Some issues related to your area can cause this peeling effect. Humidity, for one, can play a big role. In humid areas, everything, including the earth itself, will stay moist for quite a while after rains. This creates a large area from which the concrete will draw water. The situation is even worse if water is able to pool against the concrete in any way.

Ground Water Is Water, Too

The height of the local water table can also affect garage floor paint. The water table is, put very simply (and not entirely correctly), the top of the ground water. If the water table is high, then the ground water sits close to the bottom of your concrete garage floor, which means water is far more likely to soak through. Does your area’s soil stay somewhat moist, even when in a drought? Odds are pretty good that the water table sits high.

Check out my garage floor site for more garage floor paint information.

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Steps To Install An Epoxy Garage Floor Coating

Posted by Edgar Peterson in November 30th, 2009
Published in Cars

It’s not difficult at all to apply an epoxy garage floor coating, but if your body isn’t up to it, it can be a chore. The first thing you should ask yourself, if you plan to install your own epoxy is: can I bend over for hours on end? If you cannot, then plan either to have someone apply the epoxy garage floor coating for you, or maybe consider a different flooring option altogether.

Always Put Your Epoxy Garage Floor Coating Kit’s Directions First!

If you do decide that you want to apply your epoxy garage floor coating by yourself, then read on for a very fast rundown on exactly what you will have to do to apply your coating. Keep in mind, though, that anything you read either here, or anywhere else on the web, should be considered a rough guide only. Always follow the directions included with your epoxy garage floor coating kit to the letter. If you don’t, you may end up with a mess for your garage flooring.

Picking Your Epoxy Garage Floor Coating Kit

The first step, obviously, is deciding and picking up your epoxy garage floor coating kit. Thankfully, this is one of the few items that cannot be wrong or damaged upon arrival, so buying online is a great way to save even more money. Look for a kit that includes a DVD with instructions if you are new to these types of things. Trust me, they exist, you just have to look for them, and they’re usually not any more expensive. If you want some color, be picky. There are a bunch of options, so don’t settle, because your epoxy garage floor coating is likely going to last for decades. Although garage flooring is typically not on the grand tour, you don’t want to be embarrassed by it, either.

Preparing Your Garage For The Epoxy Garage Floor Coating

The very first step, after you have your kit, is cleaning your existing concrete garage floor. Even if there is already paint, you can still generally lay your new epoxy garage floor coating right over the top. Be sure to check the directions in the kit, though, as not all kits are designed for this. You may also get better results if you sand the original coat of paint down to the surface of the concrete garage floor before you begin cleaning.

Installing Your Epoxy Garage Floor Coating

Once you have a clean concrete garage floor, you will need to mix the epoxy part of your kit. Be sure to follow the directions to the letter, leaving nothing out. You can very easily ruin the entire kit by not paying attention. The directions are usually very easy to follow, but they do require that you read them thoroughly. Trust me, it’s worth it to take the extra time to be doubly sure. After that comes the color flakes, should your kit include them, and should you want to use them. If nothing else, color flakes will add a touch of sheer randomness to an otherwise bland color. Once everything has dried for the appropriate amount of time, you will then apply the paint itself. If you have followed all of the directions to the letter, than yours should be just as beautiful as so many other garage floors that have used an epoxy coating.

Check out Sweet Garage Floor for more garage floor information.

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