It features an easy application and is resistant to scratches, some abrasion, and alcohol. While there is more than one option for a clear coat for your garage floor, there are also some options that you should avoid. The recommended dry film thickness (DFT) build up of EpoxyShield Water-based Epoxy Garage Floor Coating, for example, is 3.0 3.5 mils (75 87.5 microns). Questions or leave a review, please comment! The product description does say it's for floors, but it is safe for counters. We will give you a tip so you achieve professional results. This is a no-brainer answer For your shop floor apply 2 coats of PigmentedHPU. Meaning, if you roll front to back on your first coat, second coat apply from left to right so you aren't rolling lines into your surface. The Epoxy Clear Top Coat will hold the anti-skid agent a lot better, as it is 100% epoxy resin. I do hope you found it informative and useful. PROS: Great hot tire pickup protection, along with amazing durability. It is also UV stable, which means that, when exposed to sunlight, polyurethane will not amber and discolour. Condensation and dripping rain water from the wet car will not be able to permeate into the epoxy coat below. It does not leave any film on the surface. That's a tip for every type of urethane out there. Proper floor maintenance will not only increase curb appeal of your home or business but can add value as well. CONS: There are really no cons with HPU. 2. Polyurethane has great abrasion resistance up to three times that of most epoxy options! and is also more resistant to chemicals. In fact, if you like, you could just apply a new layer of epoxy clear coat on the entire garage area and the floor will start looking as good as new. Using a Clear Top Coat just looks better. It's the easiest way to add a protective layer to your investment. Pinholing can also be a result of high porosity or high moisture content in the concrete. In fact, it is often recommended! Can you clear coat a painted garage floor? Use a high speed buffer for 848 polymer polish and it will shine like a mirror! You may drop something sharp and heavy on the floor and nick it. HPU - High Performance Urethane:HPU is another industrial grade urethane and is perfect for heavy foot traffic and vehicle traffic. 2. We like the Retore-A-Garage Clear Top Coats. It is not a good choice for your flooring because it is very thin, and therefore will not do as well as epoxy would. Epoxy Coating is the most popular paint system for garage floors, mainly because it is very hard and durable. The recommended dry film thickness (DFT) build up of EpoxyShield Clear Finish Floor Coating, on the other hand, is 2.5 5.0 mils (62.5 125 microns). Copyright www.concretesealerreview.com 2021 All Rights Reserved. This is certainly required for new concrete but may also be required for old concrete. The Clear Epoxy Top Coat with a dry film thickness of 2.5 5.0 mils (62.5 125 microns) will pretty much lock them in within the epoxy coat garage flooring system. It comes in a few different formulations, such as water-based, solvent-based, and 100% solid. Epoxy Floors are pretty resistant to scratches, abrasion and spills but wear & tear does take a toll. Pros: Easy to apply, Looks beautiful, can be applied every 6 to 12 months to refresh the surface. 3. A lot of the clear coat options are referred to as a seal coat or concrete sealer, and they can protect your floor from damage, staining, and more. Pros: Can be applied 10 to 15 mils thick to accomplish a flat, mirror like finish! We're going to break down our most popular systems and tell you which of our urethanes work the best and why. Once you mix and pour on surface you MUST have enough down so it drips off the edges if you are doing a counter. If you need anti-slip, we offer Gladiator Grip (Anti-Slip)that you simply pour into your last coat of urethane and mix it in. CLEAR100 is very durable, but we do recommend applying a polymer polish orHPU High Performance Urethane. To read pros and cons of each, simply scroll up. The clear top coat on epoxy floor will. Concrete needs 28 days to fully cure. Are you looking for the best clear coat for a Garage Floor? Most polyurethane options are solvent-based, making them safe if any solvents were to spill in your garage. Designed to be applied 2 to 4 mils and covers 320 to 800 sq ft. This step is optional and many manufacturers do not require it. Not all chips will fall flat on the paint film. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy. HPU is available in clear, and in every color we offer (polymer colors not metallic pigments), great abrasion and chemical resistance, and is available in low and high gloss. And this is not even a complete list of what can go wrong. To make the floor safe you must add an anti-skid agent in the epoxy coat. (Quick comment: Customers that purchased and applied to their metallic epoxy floor love the protection and none have complained about the orange peel texture). We always recommend applying 2 coats, but if you want to save money apply 1 coat, and decide later for the second coat. Go the opposite direction on your second coat. A PU coat will therefore prevent the Epoxy garage floor coating colors from fading. This is a water-based option and features a low odour and multi-layer protection. The reason for this is that the solids in EpoxyShield Water-based Epoxy Garage Floor Coating is 62.6 63.3% by weight, while the solids in EpoxyShield Clear Finish Floor Coating is 100% by weight. HP90 - High Performance Polyaspartic Urethane: Can be applied thicker than standard urethanes therefore you don't get that orange peel texture like most urethanes that other companies sell. There. Very easy to apply and your surface will look brand new. Most Epoxy Floor Coatings including EpoxyShield Water-based Epoxy Garage Floor Coating will not dry to a perfectly smooth finish. Epoxy is durable, scratch-resistant, long-lasting and relatively inexpensive. Have any questions on using a Clear Top Coat over your Epoxy? However, if you plan to over coat the Epoxy Coat with an Epoxy Clear Top Coat, then it is better to add the anti-skid agent to that. For heavy foot and vehicle traffic apply 2 coats. Yes, you can clear coat a painted garage floor. All things considered, polyurethane is typically considered to be the #1 option for a garage floors clear coat. In closing, we really hope this article helps you decide on which urethane is right for your epoxy system, but if you need help deciding, or if you need help building a system feel free to start a chat - bottom right side of your screen, email us info@spartanepoxies.com, or call our toll free number 1.877.288.1952. Have a large project? Recoating a part of an epoxy floor is tough because it is very difficult to match the color. Concrete surfaces do not have to be coated or protected, but once they begin to deteriorate it can be too late to stop it as concrete is very porous and can be prone to degradation from Water, Ultra Violet Radiation, wear, and tear, etc. The 8 Benefits from applying an epoxy clear coat on the epoxy garage floor are: Epoxy Clear Top Coats will give you a much higher gloss level as compared to an Epoxy Pigmented Coat. HDI is one of our best urethanes and rivals most polyaspartic urethanes! The decorative color chips are not going to fall absolutely flat on the epoxy surface. By applying the additional Clear Coat, the combined dry film thickness (DFT) will be 5.5 8.5 mils (137.5 212.5 microns). The two-part polyurea and polyaspartic options are newer topcoats that have risen in popularity in recent years. Why do you Need a Epoxy Clear Top Coat for Epoxy Garage Floors? Tip 2 Do not use a topical sealer if you are going to apply an epoxy coat. The Clear Epoxy Top Coat will add another layer of protection to your Epoxy Coated garage floor. Since it's a polyapartic urethane, that means it dries fast. To apply a clear coat to an epoxy garage floor, incorporate it in the complete garage floor epoxy coating system. Plus, they will feature an extremely clear glossy finish once complete. Considering all the benefits of using a Clear Top Coat that it will provide in the long term and short term, there is no reason not to consider using one. So either buy 30% more (80 sq ft per gallon is safe) or don't buy it at all and get the polish. We love pictures if you have any! While it is drying, dust in the garage can settle on it and get embedded. This epoxy option specifies that it is for tabletops, but can be also applied to concrete as well! Can be pigmented if needed, great abrasion and chemical resistance, and is available in low and high gloss. Copyright2021Spartan Epoxies LTD. All Rights Reserved. Then, clean the floor by sweeping and mopping to ensure that you get rid of any grime or dust including the mess you made while sandpapering it. Save Hundreds! Acrylic is one such option. Also this is a GREEN product! Can you Apply Clear Top Coat on Epoxy Garage Floor? If you are refinishing your garage or moving into a new space, you may want to protect your garage floor by applying a topcoat, or clear coat. This can be especially important if your garage functions as your shop, too. The point to note here is that an epoxy garage floor is a system. Because the coating is clear it adds a depth to the floor. Trying to decide if you should top coat your epoxy project? This post was most recently updated on January 26th, 2022. We offer no guarantee of similar results. WBGurethane has little to no odor and is very close in comparison to HDI for it's hot tire pickup protection. How do you Apply Clear Coat to Epoxy Garage Floor? Can fisheye on you if you don't have enough on the surface, so if you are trying to save money get our polymer polish as the end result will be orange peel or give a bumpy texture. However, if your epoxy coat had an epoxy clear top coat then touch up with a clear coat is rather simple & straight forward. The few differences, mainly relate to the surface preparation. You can show off your garage floor to your neighbors and friends. HPU is one of our best industrial grade urethanes. This does depend on the solids content though. 1 component moisture cured urethane - HDI. Which of our urethanes will work best for your Shop Floor (Epoxy project with no chips). MasonrySaver Heavy Duty Water Repellent, 1. Fine scratches will not show up on PU clear top coat but they may show up on Epoxy top coat. A Clear Top Coat on Epoxy Floor provides 8 benefits, which I will elaborate on. Remove the sand durst and apply your Top Coat. It also cures to a very hard coating that lacks flexibility, which can make it less scratch-resistant, too. It is achieved by a series of processes and layers of coatings, including a clear top coat on the epoxy garage floor, to get the final desired look and performance. Read and Join the Conversation Today. Let us earn your business. 1. These types of clear topcoat are more flexible, which therefore makes them even more abrasion and scratch-resistant. Great abrasion and chemical resistance, and is available in low and high gloss. You will be applying an epoxy coating system either to a new concrete garage floor or to an existing concrete garage floor. Moreover, you can not rule out a few minor mishaps on the way. The top coat seals the entire Epoxy Coating Garage Floor. However, there are also low VOC coatings that are water-based instead, so be sure to do your research before you buy! PROS: One component, which means no mixing! As can be expected, it is a bit pricier than other topcoat options on the market for polyurethane or epoxy! (A Really Helpful 10 Step Guide! The air may leave pin holes as it tries to escape when the epoxy dries, resulting in a rough surface. The way a glass sheet adds depth to a rosewood or mahogany writing desk. The application of an Epoxy Clear Top Coat gives you a chance to cover up the smoothness issues. The epoxy resin sets or cures due to a chemical reaction between the two parts. (A Helpful Guide! Putting a Clear coat on top of the epoxy floor is like putting an icing on a cake. The best clear coat for a garage floor is epoxy, and epoxy is the most common and well-known solution for garage floors, especially concrete pads, and concrete floors. A PU top coat will give all the benefits of an epoxy top coat and some more! If you apply within the the timeframe listed on each products description you don't have to sand between coats. Little to no odor enables us to sell it to residents of California. MasonrySaver Paver Sealer, Hi, I have a brick backsplash that I would like, I have a patio that is pavers over concrete. If you do, it helps to lengthen the lifespan of your floor and protects it from damage, discoloration, or stains. In most situations we recommend putting down a top coat urethane. To prep, pressure wash first to clean. And its not just about a more glossy finish. Supreme Shield SB-600 4. Can be applied as needed to maintain your current epoxy application so it does not have to be fully redone, Protects the Decorative Flecks in your Epoxy, Used as a maintenance coat so your Epoxy looks brand new, Makes cleaning of the concrete surface easier. It's available in a 1 gallon pal or a 5 gallon bucket! NEVER GO BACK AND TRY TO BACKROLL HP90 IF IT'S BEEN SITTING FOR MORE THAN 5 MINS, IT WILL GIVE OFF THE ROLLER TEXTURE AS IT NEEDS ENOUGH TIME TO SELF LEVEL. If you want to add extra hot tire pickup protection, apply 1 coat ofHPU (pigmented), then finish it off with a coat of HDI. Since we covered pros and cons of our urethanes, we're simply going to write a brief description on what we recommend. However, there are two problems with this. It is also waterproof. You may be tempted to skip it but you should not. Cons: You must apply at least every 12 months. All sealing and prepping manufacturer directions were followed with our reviews and ratings. If solvents were to spill in your garage space (such as gas or automotive chemicals), certain acrylic coatings may then smear or soften. Read More RockSolid Polycuramine Is Better Than Epoxy & Best Value for MoneyContinue, Read More 10 Important Reasons Why You Should Waterproof Your Garage Floor!Continue, Read More What You Need To Know About Interlocking Garage Floor TilesContinue, Read More Reasons Priming Is Better When Preparing The Garage Floor For PaintingContinue, Read More How To Make Sure Vinyl Garage Flooring Is Clean & Looks NewContinue, Read More Do You Really Need Garage Steps into the House? Let dry for 24 hours and then lightly sand the surface. Because the Epoxy Clear Top Coat is 100% Epoxy resin (with no pigmentation) it has a better flow. Moreover it dries faster. Contact us today and we will create a custom system just for you. For epoxy floor systems with no chips, we call it a shop floor in most cases. Maybe you're not sure which urethane is right for you. The product that we include in our metallic epoxy kits as a binder is CLEAR100. The two parts should be mixed thoroughly in the recommended ratio and must be applied within the recommended time. We do appreciate your support. I will also explain each of the 8 benefits of completing the process with a high quality clear top coat on the epoxy garage floor. The chips are light and due to the surface tension, they will stay at the top. These scratches tend to be so tiny that they are not very noticeable, but will start to degloss the finish as more scratches collect on the flooring, making it look dull and old. If so, please ask below. Nothing in the directions says it is needed to wait. We offer WBG in quart / sample kits, 3/4 gallon kits, 1.5 gallon kits, and 3 gallon kits. By using an Epoxy Concrete Coating you can prolong the life of the concrete surface while at the same time making it easier to clean. To give a unique look to your epoxy coat garage floor you would sprinkle decorative colored chips on the still wet epoxy coat. ALL KITS ON SALE! Clear Top Coats over Epoxy Coating Update. HDI -is a 1 Component Moisture Cured urethane and is another great option for your metallic epoxy floor. Thank you very much! Epoxy is one of the more cost-effective options, but not necessarily the best option out there in terms of longevity. It may also end up being a thicker coating than it would be if you had used a clear coat, rather than epoxy. System Three 0500K44 Mirror COat Self Leveling Bar and Tabletop Coating, Eco-Poly Polyurethane Sealer and Floor Finish. From metallic epoxy to garage floor paint flake kits. Yes, it will cost more money, but it is so worth it! HPU is always our first choice when installing an industrial / shop floor. We offer over 40 metallic pigment colors, and if you want to get creative you can buy several and make your own.