removing epoxy

jj99 · March 29, 2009, 04:24 PM

What is the best way to remove epoxy from concrete flooring? I have tried a grinder, a floor planner and a floor stripper. The Floor stripper has worked the best so far but it hasn't been very efficient. The blades go dull after about a 3 x 3 ft area. Does anybody have suggestions on what blade I should use or another equipment?: help:

Thanks, guys I've been reading bout the sand blasting too. Personally I've never done it and it seems complicated. I'm trying to remove the epoxy in a warehouse its bout 13,000 square ft and I cant clear the area. I gotta work around tons of people putting up sheet rock, electricians...and so on. I have a part 2 on my question, is epoxy really a bond breaker...may I use mapaei planipatch or any similar product over with out it cracking?

Tandy Reeves · March 29, 2009, 04:50 PM

Bead blasting would be my suggeston. The removal would be uniform and complete.

kwfloors · March 29, 2009, 04:55 PM

I punched in a google search on removing epoxy from garage floor and got some forums and sites that talk about this. Most that I read said shot blasting. They talked about another chemical that will burn your skin that works too.

rgfloor · March 29, 2009, 05:50 PM

The only really efficient way is to shot blast it. There are companies that will do that in a very quick and efficient way. They have self contained units which clean up the residue and contain the dust.

Here is an example of a surface preparation company and their services.

Licensed Asbestos Removal, Asbestos Abatement Contractors Services and Floor Covering Removal

Tell us more about the project and we may have suggestions.

What is going back over the floor?
Is it smooth now?
What is the intended use of the area?

jj99 · March 30, 2009, 05:23 AM

Hi, thanks for your response, but the problem is I was contracted to remove the epoxy. I'm working in a warehouse and the area with the epoxy will be a show room. The concrete under is in decent condition...not great but not too bad. Once the epoxy has been removed, I'm supposed to use
Mapecem Quickpatch...which wasn't my personal choice by the way. Once the floor has been patched, it will be sanded and painted.

rgfloor · March 30, 2009, 05:41 AM

So let me get this straight in my mind. You contracted to clean this floor without knowing how to take it up or what to use to take it up! And you also agreed to use products that you are not comfortable with.

Let me guess, you also did it for a very cheap price probably dictated by the contractor?

Good Luck!!

And we all wonder what is wrong with this business!!!

TFP Admin · March 30, 2009, 10:55 AM

jj99, if you are a flooring professional, you should reply to either the welcome email or Personal Message you received after you registered. It may give you access to the private forums for professionals only.

Also, it appears you added additional information to your original post. The first 2 repliers to your message wouldn't have seen that additional information, since you edited your message after they replied. It might have been better had you added that info to a later reply.

Anyway, thanks for joining.

Jim

Kman · March 30, 2009, 11:34 AM

Roger, instead of bashing her for what she's doing, or what you suspect she's doing, why don't we try to offer some help?

jj99, I have never personally done shot blasting, but from what little I've read on it, I agree with the others that it would be the most efficient at getting the job done. It may be expensive to rent the equipment needed, and will certainly eat into your profit, but in the end it has to be better than spending an enormous amount of time and effort scraping it manually.

Nick Arrera · March 30, 2009, 12:24 PM

Sub it out , and put something on the back end .
Watch and learn .

jj99 · March 30, 2009, 01:53 PM

I sub-contract for a larger company. They provide the materials and decide how the job will get done. I can only offer suggestions. I don't have experience removing epoxy, but there's a first time for everything right? Oh and for future refference I am a female and yes I am a proffesional flooring contractor...licensed & insured. My specialty just happens to be carpet and not epoxy.

Barry Carlton · March 30, 2009, 02:40 PM

There are several well respected (i.e. do not cross or they will knock your clock off)girls here. No need to qualify yourself as being a a a a a gurl

b

jj99 said

I sub-contract for a larger company. They provide the materials and decide how the job will get done. I can only offer suggestions. I don't have experience removing epoxy, but there's a first time for everything right? Oh and for future refference I am a female and yes I am a proffesional flooring contractor...licensed & insured. My specialty just happens to be carpet and not epoxy.

TFP Admin · March 30, 2009, 03:39 PM

We all know there's a first time for everything and, in those cases, where better to get first-hand information from those who have done it all before than TFP. And we all have a bad moment once in a while - Roger's no different. Those of you who know him, know those remarks were uncharacteristic.

Let's move on to helping Jenny get that pesky epoxy off the floor.

Jim

Peter Kodner · March 30, 2009, 03:55 PM

Don't listen to Roger, he is just a cranky old far-

Jenny, I owned a very large contracting company and had many floors shot blasted. The equipment is a bit pricey but that was not a consideration when we decided not to bring that work in house.

It is hard enough to know what we need to about flooring installation to take on a completely new trade even if it is closely related to our work.

I strongly suggest you investigate subbing out the shot blasting. An experienced outfit would be in and out in a day for 13,000 feet. Maybe they can do it on a Saturday when the other trades are not on site. They can use pretty large shot as you are covering the floor with new cementitious material. A rough subfloor will be good in this case. You will need a 220 hook up.

The other option might be a scrabbler or scarifier. You should be able to rent one orthe other.

Ken · March 30, 2009, 04:10 PM

Well after be called "he" she might have wanted to clarify that for the record!! But Jenny you will find that being a female make no difference here, everyone is fair game at TFP!!!!!!
You really should look into subbing out the removal, and be on hand when its done so that you can see first hand what goes on, as a pro you already know that there is no substitute for on the job training.

If the cost seams unreasonable then as Peter mentioned scarifying might do the job for you, will still take some time but much less time and labor than hand grinding the entire floor, and you might need to work nites to get it done to make sure there are no other trades in your way.

rgfloor · March 30, 2009, 04:13 PM

OK, so I am cranky?

I prefer to call it touchy!

As far as the ladies go, they sometimes have the best outlook for business. Peter and I saw a very fine showroom and warehouse for hardwood last weekend in Durham, N.C. It is owned and run by a gal by the name of Genia Smith. Beautiful displays and two warehouses you could practically eat off the floors.

Accent Hardwood Flooring