Johns400: although a different division, the company I work for makes 1000's of gallons a year of epoxy floor coating. here's some general guidelines: New concrete should age at least 30 days before you coat it with any product to allow the moisture out and let the concrete cure. If you are unsure if your floor is dry enough, tape down a piece of plastic (airtight) overnight. When you pull it up, there should be NO moisture, if there is, your concrete is still too wet. A lot of companies will suggest using muriatic acid to etch the floor, but your best bet (BY FAR) for long term adhesion is to scarify it (shot-blast with steel shot, machines are available for rental). The best systems will recommend a urethane topcoat over the epoxy, and there can be a BIG difference in the quality of the products (not just the solids, either, but the quality of the epoxy resins used). If there is a curing compound or sealer present on the surface of your new concrete, this will have to be removed (scarify). I have seen these products last many years, and the same products fail in short order,because of improper prep and/or mixing, or hydrostatic pressure (concrete too wet). The 100% solids systems are typically the most expensive, but you will use less. If you want more technical advice, the Tech. Director of our concrete division and I deer hunt together (personal friends). Shoot your questions to me and I'll ask him monday or Tues. Hope this helps.
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