Has anyone just put a clear coat over a new garage floor. I have tried the epoxy (gray) paint and it was okay. Just want to go with a clear look over the new concrete.
Any advice?

Thanks
Brian

Pre wash it with a acid to get some of the crap out that will lift paint. Only chance of it staying IMO is a clear epoxy. Have tried multiple paints and non stayed,but then I don't just park a car in garage its a work shop for everything.

If you need to clean any oil before re-coating check this out. It eats oil and will make it much better before painting.

https://www.agrisupply.com/mic...aner-gallon/p/68315/

quote:

Pre wash it with a acid to get some of the crap out that will lift paint.

Acid dissolves concrete, effectively etching it. The equivalent of chemical "sanding" to give the surface some tooth for the epoxy to hold onto. Considering garage floors are traditionally finished much smoother that say driveways etching is a good thing (assuming the product mfg. agrees).

If it is new there ought not be oil?

quote:

Originally posted by Bucky:
If it is new there ought not be oil?

Yep, I read it wrong. I read it as clear going over the epoxy he had tried. Oh well that is good stuff if anyone else needs to get rid of some oil.

Thompson's WaterSeal

It drys clear
Seals the floor
Easy to clean
Can touch it up any time
Doesn't chip or peel
Low buck is sometimes the best

There are penetrating sealers like Thompson’s. They soak in and are easy and cheap. Hard to damage mostly although nothing is impossible.
The coatings are slicker and easier to clean and have more shine. Also tougher to touch up, prep must be spot on for adhesion, they are more expand can be mechanically damaged/scratched or scraped.

Coatings are sexy but like many beautiful women, can be hard to live with

I worked at a chevy dealer that had a new dealership built. my tool box was the first one in the shop on a clear sealed new concrete floor. It looked like s#!t within a year.

quote:

Originally posted by Tim Mitchell:
I worked at a chevy dealer that had a new dealership built. my tool box was the first one in the shop on a clear sealed new concrete floor. It looked like s#!t within a year.

I worked in a factory that made cabinetry once. The entire thing had epoxy covered floors. Beautiful. Pallet jacks, pallets, forklifts, anything that could damage it, did. We had an annual repair time when a company would come in and address the worst areas. And they never matched.

An Epoxy floor is like having a show car.
If you wipe it with a diaper
If you never treat it bad
If you don't have an accident
It will look good forever

Make sure there is a vapor barrier unser the slab. Sometimes contractors will not use one and the moisture will screw up the epoxy

quote:

Originally posted by Bad News:
Make sure there is a vapor barrier unser the slab. Sometimes contractors will not use one and the moisture will screw up the epoxy

THIS ^^^^

I have read on multiple forums this exact thing. You can have the best epoxy in the world but will eventually fail due to moisture coming from underneath.

quote:

...will eventually fail due to moisture coming from underneath.

Not to challenge, but I don't think cement/concrete is permeable, thus shouldn't transport moisture. If it cracks, which concrete eventually does, then that's obvious. I wonder how it works?

All concrete is minutely pourus. Vapor barriors are very important, for that, when coating a floor. You wouldnt think it is, but water will find a way.

The normal check is to tape down a square of plastic on the floor and see if moisture gathers under the plastic