Learning The Reasons For Etching Your Garage Floor Before Applying Epoxy

Many times etching is overlooked when people are applying garage floor paint. However etching is necessary if you want your garage floor coating to be the best that it can be. Contrary to what some would say most garage floor coatings are usable without any etching at all but not only will the epoxy paint not last nearly as long you will also be losing some of the best features.

What Is Etching?

To etch is basically to cut in to the surface of. A good example outside of garage flooring is glass etching. Glass is generally etched for decorative purposes although the results can also result in better grip. When it comes to garage floors etching is not so much for decoration although the texture that is produced is considered by most to be preferable to a mirror finish.

Why Should I Etch Before Applying Epoxy Garage Floor Paint?

You don’t have to etch your concrete garage floor when applying epoxy but there are some very good reasons why you will probably want to. For one the increased traction that epoxy can provide comes from etching & it will be absent if the floor is not etched. This can cause slips falls & other assorted chaos & driving on such a slick surface can also be irritating. If the intention is to do a lot of work in your garage etching is definitely the way to go.

What If My Epoxy Garage Floor Paint Kit Says Etching Is Not Required On The Label?

With some possible rare exceptions etching isn’t really a requirement for epoxy garage floor coating so much as a strong suggestion. However if you’re wanting to guarantee any decent amount of life from your epoxy & your kit tells you that it needs to be done then you should definitely etch your concrete. The main reason for this is that smooth concrete will prevent epoxy paint from creating the seal that keeps it from peeling. There are some kits out there that advertise that their product does not require etching but that’s a bit of a lie by omission. These coatings aren’t meant to last long & many times etching is still mentioned in the instructions as “strongly recommended although not necessary” or something similar.

When Should I Etch My Garage Floor?

Almost every epoxy garage floor coating kit will come with some sort of etch-and-clean solution & also instructions on when & how it should be used. Unusual circumstances notwithstanding you’ll usually get the best deal by buying everything you need in one kit as opposed to separate pieces. Whichever way you go the garage flooring is usually etched before anything else is done. This is especially so if your etching chemical also cleans but if it does not you will want to read those directions to see when the concrete garage floor is supposed to be cleaned.

Visit Sweet Garage Floor for more information about every kind of garage floor out there.