Epoxy Shop Floor Over Oil Saturated Concrete

How to Install Epoxy Shop Floor of Oily Concrete

A customer writes, "I have a machine shop floor. The concrete has had a lot of oil on it over the years. I need an anti-skid floor that will be easy to clean and will hold up to cutting oils and anti-freeze and protect the environment."

We have done exactly what you are asking many times. A mechanics shop floor typically is done the same way. Here is how:

1. Good surface prep  www.epoxy.com/surfaceprep.aspx is always the key to a successful installation of epoxy.
2. Properly mix and apply 1 coat of Epoxy.com Product #201  www.epoxy.com/201.aspx oil stop primer to all oil saturated or potentially oil saturated areas at a rate of 200-300 SF per gallon. Allow this to harden and inspect for good bond (see "Checking the Bond" below. If any areas are loose return to step 1. If everything is well bonded proceed to next step within 24 hours of this step.
3. Properly mix and apply 1 coat of Epoxy.com Product #899 - www.epoxy.com/899.aspx - applied at a rate of 250-300 SF per gallon. Allow to cure hard and proceed to next step within 24 hours of this step.
4. Properly mix (including optional but recommended anti-skid 4a below) and apply first coat of Epoxy.com Product #2 - www.epoxy.com/2.aspx - at a rate of 160-200 SF per gallon per coat by brush or roller. Allow to cure hard and proceed to next step within 24 hours of this step.
   1. Mix optional but recommended Epoxy.com Anti-Skid - www.epoxy.com/non-skid-additive-polycarbonate-aggregate.aspx - to the #2 at a rate of 12-16 ounces per gallon of mixed epoxy. Mix completely into the mixed A and B #2 before applying the #2
5. Properly mix (including optional but recommended Anti-Skid www.epoxy.com/non-skid-additive-polycarbonate-aggregate.aspx 5a below) and apply 2nd coat of Epoxy.com Product #2 - www.epoxy.com/2.aspx - at a rate of 160-200 SF per gallon per coat by brush or roller. Allow to cure hard for 24 hours at 70 degrees F. for light traffic, 48 hours for light traffic.
6. Mix optional but recommended Epoxy.com Anti-Skid to the #2 at a rate of 12-16 ounces per gallon of mixed epoxy. Mix completely into the mixed A&B #2 before applying the #2

Checking The Bond

There are a number of ways to check the bond of a floor. A simple way with Epoxy Flooring is to try to separate the epoxy from the concrete. That can be done with the corner of a putty knife or a screw driver. If you can remove the coating cleanly from the concrete without pulling concrete it is likely that you have a bond problem. If you cannot get it off or you must dig off concrete to get it off, you most likely have a good bond.