Garage remodeling has become a big business and more people are adding floor coatings themselves to save a few dollars. The most important first step is to clean and acid etch your concrete. Etching your concrete floor will profile the surface adding "tooth" or more surface area for epoxy paint to stick to. The etching process will help remove impurities that are bond breakers as well.
There are two types of acid etching products, liquid and gels. Liquids are mixed with 2 or more parts water then poured on the floor. Using a stiff bristle broom the solution is spread over the surface then cleaned off. Gels are rolled on the floor with a 3/8" nap roller and left to sit for 15 minutes. Then they are cleaned with a squeegee and cleaned with a Wet Vac or dust pan. Any remaining residue is cleaned with a squeegee and water.
Liquid acid etching has been recommended by floor coating manufacturers for years but is an ieffective way to etch concrete. The problem is that acid is a dangerous product and most manufacturers sell a diluted product for safety reasons. Then they recommend diluting with water. When you apply a diluted acid on the surface it provides diluted results. Additionally since virtually every concrete floor has high and low spots, the liquid solution naturally flows to the low spots. The high spots get little if any etching. Unfortunately you cannot get away with an almost etched surface. You will find that epoxy floor paints will delaminate and fail over areas that are not properly etched.
The other option using a gelled acid is much more effective and safer to use. The process is to shake the container then pour the gel into a paint tray. Using a 3/8"-1/2" nap roller the gel is rolled on just like painting the floor. The gels are very effective because they stay where they are applied and are not diluted. This means the high spots get the exact same coverage as the low spots. You can also use a paint brush to apply to tight spots. The gels do a much more effective job than a liquid as a cleaner pulling impurities like oil, rust and mildew out of the floor. The impurities get contained in the gel. The gel works as a carrier so rust, mold or oil does not have a chance to settle back into the floor. The gel works as a cleaner and etching solution.
Once the gel is cleaned off the floor using less water than a liquid you have an etched surface that is ready for an epoxy floor paint or high performance coating. In fact many professionals use gels to acid etch a concrete floor because it works and prevents coating failure.
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