Finished our garage project. After letting the epoxy (with chips) set for a week, the last step in our project was a put a clear coat over top to protect it. In our clear coat, we decided to put an anti-skid product to give the surface a little bit of texture. We decided to include the anti-skid product after researching, and watching several YouTuberer's who noted that sometime epoxy or the epoxy/clear coat can become slippery when it gets wet; an obvious concern when it rains here in Michigan as well as in the winter when we get snow. We let our clear coat with anti-skid set for 2 days before walking on it, and a total of a week before putting our shelving/tool boxes back into the garage. As of this post (2 weeks since applying it), we have yet to drive our cars onto it.
Looking back, we are really happy with how the project turned out as it looks brighter and more finished. As we spend time in both our screened in patio and our garden, our garage space has become a new place we have found ourselves enjoying in the evenings.
Sharing our Knowledge:
1.) After researching and watching several YouTubers, make sure your garage surface is really clean. We spent a lot of time and focus on this step (cleaning and etching), which is why we think it turned out as well as it did. We did not have to do this in our garage, but if you have any cracks in the surface, be sure when you repair them that they are smooth and not lumpy. Several YouTubers did rushed repairs in their process, and it was obvious in their final product.
2.) While the epoxy kits come in various garage sizes, plan to treat a bigger garage surface. We have a 'traditional' two car garage, and in planning, researching and reviewing, we went with 1 and a half kits in order to have good coverage. Reading reviews online and watching a couple of DIY YouTubers commented that they wish they would have been more purposeful in their application of epoxy (e.g. thinner spot, not as smooth surface, etc.) Depending on the chips you want on the surface, we recommend getting an additional bag of chips, as we felt you can really go through them in applying them.
3.) In the Epox Kits, both A and B products are in the same bag (separate compartments). If the bag feels lump when mixing, it is not ready yet. Spend a little extra time make sure it is thoroughly mixed.
4.) When doing the mixing and applying the clear coat, the product set very quickly--WORK FAST. Trial by error, we went with gallon containers (2x A's and 1x B's = 1 batch of clear coat [total of 3 gal]), and our clear coat in our mixing container set within 25 minutes (about 1/3 left of the garage to clear coat). We did ahead of time purchase quart containers of clear coat in case we needed some extra coverage; good thing as we ended up needing to use it to finish the job. Looking back, we decided if we had to do it again, was to go with the quart containers of clear coat vs. the gallon as not to run into this problem of the clear coat setting up faster than we could apply it. In this case, we would have needed 2 sets (x2 A's and x1 B) to complete our project.
5.) When applying either the epoxy or the clear coat, have a plan how you are going to putting it down. We would envision doing this solo to be a very difficult project, and would recommend working as a pair or of 3 people. When laying down the epoxy, Jenn would do the baseboard/floor 'touch up' work, while I would follow behind and roll the bigger surfaces. After doing a specific sized area, Jenn would go back and touch up any areas, as well laying down the colored chips; this has to be down fairly quickly, as the epoxy does start to set up on the ground fairly quickly (within 5-7 minutes). With a 3rd person crew, you could just follow each other around the garage. When doing the clear coat, we worked in the same fashion (she did touch ups/base boards) and I rolled the bigger areas. As we are resourceful, the spent/hardened clear coat once popped out of the Lowes bucket was repurposed as a pedestal for the water basin in the bee garden.
6.) Have good ventilation while working/applying, and afterwards. During the cleaning and etching phase, we used fans to really dry the surface, which helped in us determining if we needed to keep cleaning the surface. We also used fans in the entrance of the garage to blow out which helped keep pollen, ants/bugs out of our garage during the drying process. As for the garage door, if you have to close it, close it most of the way but not all the way. This allows for even drying of the floor in the area where your garage door makes contact with the surface.
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