I had my floor professionally done. I have also helped a friend do his with the DIY kit. The biggest difference? The amount of decorative flakes. The DIY kit had a minimal amount that barely added some color here and there. The pros coated the floor a half inch thick and then scraped the extra off prior to the top coat. That brings me to the most imporatant thing I learned. Top coat. You want two coats of clear top coat. My floor has a couple of spots that didn't get hit as well with the top coat or dry as well. I have mentioned this to two friends and they both negotiated an extra top coat. Their floors look like glass. Perfection.

what DIY kit did your friend use?

im trying to not move between manufacturers and sticking with behr products since my primer is behr.

They make a "wet look sealer" that is acryllic based. I have no idea if its okay to apply the acryllic on  the 1 part epoxy stuff since the label on the acryllic dosnt say to avoid or use the the behr 1 part.(it only recommends using the primer).

I emailed them just a few minutes ago so im hoping to hear an answer soon.

Another question is, do I spray or roll on the paint? i'd be using a HVLP spray gun if spray is a better choice.

Quote from: He Man on May 24, 2011, 10:27:48 PM
what DIY kit did your friend use?

im trying to not move between manufacturers and sticking with behr products since my primer is behr.

They make a "wet look sealer" that is acryllic based. I have no idea if its okay to apply the acryllic on  the 1 part epoxy stuff since the label on the acryllic dosnt say to avoid or use the the behr 1 part.(it only recommends using the primer).

I emailed them just a few minutes ago so im hoping to hear an answer soon.

Another question is, do I spray or roll on the paint? i'd be using a HVLP spray gun if spray is a better choice.

I don't remember the DIY kit.

The pros rolled on the base and the clear. I would roll on a coat of clear, let it dry a full 24, and then then roll on another coat, and let that dry a full 24. If you have a roll up door just put a couple screwdrivers through the rail a few inches above the floor and lower the door down onto those.

well i have bigger problems to worry abut right now. I threw the primer down and let it dried for about 15 hours (they recommended 8 an the current weather conditions are ideal right now)

Then I threw the top coat on. I let it dry and it quickly cracked and looked like a desert. Not sure why either. I allowed the floor to througly dry for over 24 hours with fans moving air across it.

not sure what the story is, but i am hesistant to put any more money into painting the floor until i figure out what the deal is.... at this point , i may just opt to return the remaining paint and go for tiles.

Did the Chinese restaurant dump a load of grease in your garage between primer and top coats? 

That could do it...   

i hope the fry your ass in hell and turn you into TURKEY BACON.

Maybe the floor was damp before the primer?

Quote from: He Man on May 25, 2011, 09:52:21 PM
well i have bigger problems to worry abut right now. I threw the primer down and let it dried for about 15 hours (they recommended 8 an the current weather conditions are ideal right now)

Then I threw the top coat on. I let it dry and it quickly cracked and looked like a desert. Not sure why either. I allowed the floor to througly dry for over 24 hours with fans moving air across it.

not sure what the story is, but i am hesistant to put any more money into painting the floor until i figure out what the deal is.... at this point , i may just opt to return the remaining paint and go for tiles.

You may have waited too long.

More is not always better when it comes to paint.

After I bought our current home, I built a 20x30' shop. Before I had a chance to get it greasy, I laid down a coat of primer, and two coats of an industrial two part epoxy. After the first coat dried smooth, I walked across it, and nearly fell on my ass. When I laid down the second coat, before it dried, I threw sand across the surface. After it dried, I swept up the sand that didn't stick. Worked perfectly. I have a surface that's grippy enough that I won't slip, but is still easy to sweep, or hose off.
Does it "look like glass"? no
Do I care? no












Actually, at this point, six years later, you can't see much of it anyway, what with all the crap I have stored in it.

Quote from: He Man on May 26, 2011, 01:28:27 AM
i hope the fry your ass in hell and turn you into TURKEY BACON.

gobble gobble.....

Quote from: ducpainter on May 26, 2011, 04:10:36 AM
You may have waited too long.

More is not always better when it comes to paint.

The primer states this

"Wait atleast 8 hours, but no more than 30 days"

The 1-part epoxy doenst even talk about a recoat window. Its 1130am and i havent checked yet, but im thinking the 2nd coat did the same thing. which leaves me with what the make the beast with two backs do i do now? What kind of tiles are relatively inexpensive and easy to clean?

somewhere in here...

I desperately need a shed.  plan to build it soon...

I'd recommend against those 'flakes'.

Those of you with the 'flakes'....take that little clip off of the pin on your rear brake caliper.
Close your eyes and drop it on the floor.
Now try and find it.

Quote from: Speeddog on May 26, 2011, 09:15:17 AM
I'd recommend against those 'flakes'.

Those of you with the 'flakes'....take that little clip off of the pin on your rear brake caliper.
Close your eyes and drop it on the floor.
Now try and find it.

No problems:
http://www.harborfreight.com/30-inch-magnetic-sweeper-with-wheels-93245.html

Looks like that'd work well in your cave.