EpoxyShield is a high-performance floor coating that provides durable, long-term protection for concrete floors. It can be used in garages, workshops, and commercial spaces but can also be used to protect residential patios and driveways.
It’s available in both satin and gloss finishes to suit your aesthetic needs. Before you apply an epoxy shield to a garage floor though, it’s important you understand how the product works – here are some basic tips on what you need to know:
How do you apply EpoxyShield to garage?
- Clean the floor
- Apply epoxy to floor
- Apply clear coat to floor
- Wait for it to dry (roughly 24 hours) before cleaning up any drips or spills, or walking on the garage floor until it is fully cured (48 hours)
Table of Contents
- How do you apply EpoxyShield to garage?
- Does EpoxyShield need primer?
- Is rustoleum Epoxy Shield self leveling?
- How do you apply Rust Oleum Epoxy Shield clear coat?
- How do I prep my garage floor for epoxy?
- How long does Epoxy Shield take to dry?
- Do I need to seal concrete before epoxy?
- Should I prime concrete before epoxy?
Does EpoxyShield need primer?
Yes, it does. If you’re painting over a darker color, you will need to use a primer before applying your topcoat. The reason is that darker colors absorb more light than lighter ones do.
This means that when you spray on the epoxy shield and then paint over it later, there may be not enough light reflected back at your eyes (or camera) to make it look good.
To remedy this problem, use Rust-oleum’s Primer Paint & Primer Sealer in One as a base coat before adding on the final layer of epoxy shield.
This will ensure that there are plenty of reflections bouncing off every inch of your garage floor so that everything looks bright and shiny!
Is rustoleum Epoxy Shield self leveling?
You will be happy to know that Rust-oleum Epoxy Shield is self-leveling. This means it will spread evenly and easily over your garage floor, making for an easy application process.
Once you have applied the product and allowed it to dry, you can clean up with a damp rag or mop. Your garage floor will look great!
How do you apply Rust Oleum Epoxy Shield clear coat?
- First, clean the garage floor with a degreaser like Simple Green or TSP (trisodium phosphate). It’s important to remove any oil and grease from your concrete before applying EpoxyShield because it can keep the coating from adhering properly.
- Next, apply two coats of Rust-Oleum EpoxyShield using a paint roller or sprayer. Let the first coat dry for at least one hour before applying the second coat. Make sure to wear gloves and eye protection when working with epoxy—it is not harmful but it will get messy!
- Once your garage floor has been covered with two coats of Rust-Oleum EpoxyShield clear coat, let it cure for 5-7 days before applying wax on top of it (optional).
How do I prep my garage floor for epoxy?
Prep your garage floor for epoxy by cleaning it. Remove any oil and grease, dust, dirt and other contaminants, wax or other finishes, and rust.
You will want to do this before you apply the coating because if there is any loose material on your floor when you apply the epoxy it could cause clumps in the epoxy.
After cleaning is done comes removing any loose paint, concrete, or mortar from your garage floor. This can be done with a grinder with an appropriate attachment that matches up with what needs to be removed from your floor (for example: if there’s some loose paint then use a sander with fine-grit sandpaper).
You should also remove any asphalt if it exists on top of the concrete section of your garage
How long does Epoxy Shield take to dry?
Epoxy Shield requires a minimum of 24 hours to dry before you can walk on it. When drying with a heat gun, it will take approximately 10-12 hours to fully adhere to the concrete and cure.
With hair dryer use, Epoxy Shield should be checked every few minutes until all water has evaporated from the surface of your garage floor coating. You can also speed up this process by using both a heat gun and hair dryer at once for maximum efficiency.
Do I need to seal concrete before epoxy?
Before you can begin painting your floor, you’ll need to prep the surface. Epoxy is a heavy-duty coating that’s ideal for garage floors, but it won’t adhere properly if there are too many contaminants on them.
If the floor is bare concrete and free of debris, you can apply it directly over top of it. However, if you have any other surfaces such as asphalt (which may contain oil), metal, or tile present beneath your garage flooring then they must be sealed first with an appropriate sealer before painting with epoxy.
Should I prime concrete before epoxy?
Primer is a special coating that is applied to the floor before the epoxy goes on. It has two main functions:
- To provide a smooth surface for the epoxy to adhere to.
- To seal cracks and imperfections in your concrete so they don’t show up in your finished floor coating.
If you’re going to use primer, you have two options: one-component epoxy or two-part epoxy with a hardener. One-component primer can be difficult to find and tends to be more expensive than self-leveling sealers (an option below).
Because of this, we recommend using a self-leveling sealer instead of a one-component primer when possible because it’s easy to apply and requires less prep work than applying an entire coat of liquid material–you don’t need any pumps or sprayers! You’ll still need some sort of solvent though; check out our list here for some ideas on what works best depending on how much time you want yourself to spend getting ready each day.”
Conclusion
Epoxy Shield is an excellent choice for your garage floor, and it’s easy to apply. You can expect professional results like those shown above with just a little practice.
If you have any questions or need more information on epoxy coating, don’t hesitate to contact us today.
