Hi.
My garage floor is starting to flake a bit. Some areas have approximately the top 1/8″ of concrete getting a hollow sound and if you hit it, put weight on it, drag something across it, etc. it flakes off in small chips (dime size or less) or just turns to powder. The floor is about 25 years old. In addition to parking the cars in there it’s also my shop (when the cars are pulled out) and I’m looking for something that would stop the floor from deteriorating any more (assuming that’s what it’s doing) and would also provide a nice easy to clean surface. I’ve seen trucks advertising “Floorguard” and looked at their web site, www.floorguard.com and I think this or a similar product is what I’m looking for.
So, my question to you is… would this give me what I want? a different brand or substance you’d recommend instead? or a different approach all together?
Thanks
-G
Replies
Why is it spalling? Do you live in an area where salt is used on the road, and you car carries it into the garage?
You would need to remove all the loose concrete ... get the kids/grandkids to beat on the floor with hammers, then sweep up the debris. Clean it well and put on a floor leveler/topping mix.
I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.
Yes, Chicago area.
I assumed all the loose stuff would have to be removed first, just not sure if simply patching it or if one of the coating/sealing products in addition would be better. Since I don't know anyone who's used them I was hoping someone here would have (and be able to give a thumbs up or down).
-G
A turbo nozzle on a 4000psi pressure washer will knock all the loose stuff off. Finish with Abocrete (http://www.abatron.com), and you're good for the foreseeable future.
Steel - I have used the Abatron wood epoxy, but not familiar with the Abocrete. What is it?
I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.
So, my question to you is... would this give me what I want? a different brand or substance you'd recommend instead? or a different approach all together?
Are you looking at this as a DIY project?
A good friend of mine runs an industrial flooring/concrete re-surfacing company. What they have is a machine called a shot blaster. It moves over the floor as it shoots out thousands of steel beads, knocking off all loose material and roughing up the surface of the concrete. As the machine moves it vacuums up and recycles the beads.
Then they use industrial floor epoxy, to give the floor a new surface. Looking at the Floorgard website, my guess is that they are using an epoxy coating also.
Two different brands he has used are Euclid, and Corranado.
Some of his cheaper competitors will use an acid etch to prep the concrete, but this doesn't give nearly the "bite" that the rougher shot blasted surface gives, for the coating.
Maybe try looking in the yellow pages under "industrial Floors" or "Flooring-Industrial" and call some of the listings to see if they do residential work. My friend has done a number of garages, but only as filler work.
From what he has described to me, the durability of the coating is only as good as the prep work, and the prep work sounds like it is not a DIY project. Also you probably have oil spill areas that may need special attention, and products.
Bowz
Either hire or DIY. If it's something I can do I have no problem, on the other hand if it requires specialized equipment (steel ball machine, for example), then I'm fine with bringing in someone who can do this.
My concern is that I end up finding something that looks good initially but a year later is peeling off or some other similar "problem".
-G