DIY Garage Floor Coating

A garage floor coating will give the floor a nice aesthetic boost and a protective covering that will inhibit contaminants from destroying it for many years to come. Installing it, however, may intimidate homeowners; but with these easy steps, even amateur DIYers can do the job right.

What You’ll Need:

• Safety goggles
• Respirator
• Rubber gloves
• Concrete epoxy coating kit
• Polyurethane sealer
• Rolling pan
• Paint roller
• Paint brush

Step 1 – Preparations

Check if the concrete floor has been sealed or not. Do this by splashing a small amount of water on top of the concrete. If the water forms bead shapes, it has been sealed. Before resealing the concrete, apply a good acid wash on it to remove the sealer. Wait for the concrete to dry.

If the floor has been painted, make sure that it was painted correctly without having any peeling parts. If the paint is peeling off, use a paint scraper or stripper to remove it entirely from the floor. A badly painted floor can affect the coating negatively.

Finally, inspect if the concrete has moisture in it. Trapped moisture can really mess up the coating and waste a lot of money. To check if the floor has trapped moisture in it, duct tape random areas of the floor and let it stay overnight. Remove the duct tapes and see if the concrete surface underneath them has darkened. This means that it has moisture trapped in it. Use a dehumidifier to dry suck out the trapped moisture or apply the coat in a hot day.

If there are any cracks in the concrete, use a concrete patch and let it cure. Clean the entire concrete surface to prepare it for coating. Before applying any of the chemical coats, make sure to wear a respirator, rubber gloves, and safety gloves. Open the garage door as well to provide enough ventilation inside the room.

Step 2 – Apply the Epoxy Coating

Mix the epoxy coat according to manufacturer’s instructions. If the garage floor is too wide for one person to coat it in the recommended amount of time, ask for assistance. Place the epoxy in the roller pan, dip the roller with epoxy and roll it onto the floor. Apply the epoxy coat evenly until every square inch of the garage floor is coated. Use a paint brush to coat hard-to-reach areas. Allow the coat to cure for about 2 days.

Step 3 – Apply Polyurethane Sealer

Polyurethane sealer provides additional protection to the coated concrete floor. After the epoxy has cured, prepare the polyurethane according to manufacturer’s instructions. Pour the mix into the roller pan. Use a pain roller to apply the first coat onto the concrete. Clean the pan after application using mineral spirits and wait for 24 hours.

To create a smoother and glossier finish, apply a second coating after 24 hours. Wait for the sealer to dry for about 72 hours before parking the car in the garage.

Tips:

Don’t proceed with the coating immediately, although some homeowners may recommend you to skip the prepping stage to save time and energy. Follow the preparations steps (Step 1) even if the work is tedious. Skipping the preparation stage will make the work easier and faster, yes, but the coating won’t last long.

Source: www.DoItYourself.com

Parquet Floor Sanding Tips

Parquet floor sanding tips would be incomplete without mentioning that homeowners can save a lot of money by doing this task themselves. As with almost any home improvement job, careful preparation is key, as well as using safety equipment. Allowing enough time to get the job done is also essential.

Don Safety Equipment

Before beginning any maintenance, be sure to wear the appropriate safety equipment. Since there will be much sanding and dust, be sure to use an adequate respirator mask. Use ear plugs to protect against the constant noise of electric sanding machines, and goggles to protect the eyes. Wear gloves to protect hands from machinery, cuts and chemicals. Protect nearby furniture with adequate drop cloths.

Preparation Is Job One

Returning parquet flooring to an original, newly finished look begins with careful inspection of what the floor needs. Careful attention to noticeable blemishes, scuff marks and scratches should be attended to first. Begin by meticulously removing deep scratches, or marks with rough 60 to 80 grit sandpaper. Work up to a finer 220 grit. This can be done with either an electrical hand sander, or a block of wood to which the sandpaper is attached.

Once all the major scratches and marks have been removed from the parquet floor, a larger orbital sander can be used to evenly sand bigger areas. Care should be taken to move the commercial sanding machine in an even series of sweeps across the floor to provide a uniform sanding of the entire floor. This too, can be started with a smoother grade of sandpaper, perhaps 100 to 150 grit, and finished with a finer 220 grit.

Clean up and Move On

When all the sanding is finished, it will be time to clean up before moving on to applying the final finish and waxing. Use a vacuum cleaner to remove all dust from the area. It is also suggested vacuuming nearby areas as well as workmen’s clothing before proceeding further. After all the dust is removed from the flooring, with a clean cloth soaked in mineral spirits (odorless variety is recommended) carefully wipe all areas of the flooring to insure it is clean and free from lingering dust and dirt.

Several Coats Are Better than One

Whether applying polyurethane, acrylic or varnish, sealant layers should be applied thinly and allowed to dry thoroughly between applications. After each coat is applied, a light sanding should be done to provide a better bonding surface for the next layer of sealant. Wipe the flooring after each sanding with a cloth soaked in mineral spirits. Three to five coats of sealant should be applied for maximum protection, more if desired or if flooring is older and needs greater protection.

Apply Final Coat of Hard Wax

When floor sealant has thoroughly dried, apply a generous final coat of a hard floor wax. Buff this out with a clean dry cloth, or using a commercial buffer. Buff the floor evenly. Apply as many coats of hard floor wax as is necessary to bring the parquet flooring to a bright, protective sheen.

Source: www.DoItYourself.com