Should you hire a professional or use the DIY approach when installing a floor coating in your garage? This article discusses some of the crucial steps that need to be performed in order to have a flawless concrete floor-coating installation. Use this information to make an informed decision about your ability to undertake such a floor coating project on your own.
Step 1: Diamond Grinding
Diamond grinding involves using a power grinder to remove any imperfections, such as pits or divots. Diamond grinding also opens the pores in the concrete floor so that the coats of paint that you apply will adhere to the surface.
Step 2: Hand Grinding
Secondly, one needs to use a hand grinder to grind the places where the diamond grinder could not reach, such as the intersection between the wall and the floor. Any failure to do this will cause the floor coating to peel or chip in those areas where the grinder didn't reach.
Step 3: Thorough Cleaning
The next step involves cleaning the floor so that it is free from any dirt or debris. Any dirt that remains on the floor may prevent the floor coating from reaching the substrate underneath the dirt. You can use a compressor to deliver pressurised air so that all the dirt and dust is blown off the floor. A pressure washer can also be used to remove other forms of dirt, such as caked mud.
Step 4: Installation of the Primer Coat
The primer is applied once the floor has dried. One should make sure that he or she has applied the recommended thickness of the primer on the concrete floor.
Step 5: Sanding the Primer
A fine sanding tool should be used to sand the surface of the primer coat. This sanding helps to make the top layer of the primer adhere effectively to the bottom layer. Sanding also helps to remove any excess primer that could have found its way onto some parts of the floor.
Step 6: Top Coat Application
This step involves applying the actual coating, such as paint, that you wished to apply on the garage floor. You should ensure that you apply the exact thickness recommended by the manufacturer of that coating.
Step 7: Joint Caulking
The final thing that you may need to do is to apply caulk in all the joints within that floor. The caulking compound will help to prolong the service life of the floor coating by keeping debris and dirt out of the floor joints.
The exact steps that may be required may vary according to the condition of your floor and the application requirements of the specific floor coating products that you have chosen. You should therefore confirm the exact steps that you need to follow before you make a final decision on whether you need a professional or you can handle the project on your own.
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