Epoxy123® Install Instructions
BULLDOG EPOXY Installation instructions (Epoxy123®)
Important Note: Only the installer is familiar with actual job site conditions.
Installation instructions cannot cover all eventualities. These instructions are
designed for a typical application. If you have an atypical application or think you
may have an atypical application, please contact us immediately. Proper
installation is the responsibility of the installer.
Preparation:
To ensure the success of your floor system, proper substrate preparation is key!
The best method of surface preparation is grinding. We recommend using a
handheld diamond grinder or walk behind single head diamond grinder for larger
projects (250sqft) or more. Grinding the surface exposes the pores of the
concrete which allows the coating to penetrate for a monolithic bond. A vacuum
should be attached to the grinder to remove the dust and debris while grinding.
Begin by inspecting the floor for discolorations from oil and other contaminants.
Continue grinding the remainder of the floor until uniform in appearance and
porosity. (Quick test) Take a little cup of water and using your hand dip a few
ounces of water onto the surface. If the water soaks into the concrete quickly the
surface has been properly prepared. If the water sits on the surface and does not
want to be absorbed by the concrete, more of the surface needs to be ground to
expose open pores. Once you have properly ground the surface, using a shop
vacuum, thoroughly vacuum the floor to remove all dust and debris. This will
complete the surface preparation for a garage floor.
Bulldog Epoxy Products
Bulldog Garage Products * 15791 Rockfield Blvd, Suite B, Irvine Ca 92618 * BulldogGarageProducts.com
Moisture Testing:
Some degree of moisture at the surface is acceptable when applying liquids to
concrete, but too much can and will lead to adhesion problems. To determine if
moisture is present place a black plastic bag on the prepped surface and tape
down tight with duct tape. Inspect the test areas after 8 hours of adhesion to the
substrate. Look at the plastic and if moisture is present on the underside of the
test plastic then you should apply a liquid vapor barrier prior to installing the
floor coating system.
Vapor Barrier Application:
If it is determined by the moisture test patches that there is vapor transmission
present in your concrete substrate, you will need to apply one coat of liquid
vapor barrier prior to installing your floor system. First make
sure the floor is clean, dry and free of debris. Start will opening the container of
liquid vapor barrier. Give it a quick stir with a stir stick and pour it into a paint
tray. Using a 3/8 nap roller cover (not supplied), roll out an even coating of liquid
vapor barrier (1.5 gallon covers 200-250 sq ft) to completely saturate the
concrete. The vapor barrier will soak into the pores of the concrete and solidify
to block out vapor transmission. One even coating will do just fine! Let dry for 8
hours before beginning with step one of the floor system installation.
Bulldog Epoxy Products
Bulldog Garage Products * 15791 Rockfield Blvd, Suite B, Irvine Ca 92618 * BulldogGarageProducts.com
Floor Joints:
Most garage floors and concrete surfaces have what is called a control
joint. This is a purposefully placed saw cut that is designed to control where the
concrete will eventually crack. It is an almost certainty that concrete will crack so
the installers of the concrete place saw cuts so the concrete cracks in the joints of
the cuts instead of a spider web of cracks throughout your floor!
Stress Cracks:
Some garage floors and concrete surfaces will have some stress cracks.
This is common and easy to fix using the Sikadur Crack Fix Low-Viscosity
High-Strength Epoxy Sealing System. The Crack repair material comes in a
small kit and is applied with a small putty knife or drywall taping
knife. Look over the floor and note all the cracks before beginning the
repair. Mix up the Crack repair material per instructions on the label and fill
in all the cracks. (Tip) apply the Crack repair material much like drywall
mud. Apply in one direction and scrape off the surface in the opposite
direction along the crack. Be sure to scrape all excess material from the
surface so there are no globs or excess material. Allow Crack repair dry for
1-2 hours, or until it is dry to the touch then proceed with step 1 of the
installation instructions.
Bulldog Epoxy Products
Bulldog Garage Products * 15791 Rockfield Blvd, Suite B, Irvine Ca 92618 * BulldogGarageProducts.com
PRE COATING SET UP:
Start with opening the container of the Base coat color liquid and giving it a good
stir until uniform in color. (Mix all Base coat color containers) Next open your box
of decorative broadcast media and place directly outside the garage door so it’s
readily available for use! (Tip) an empty ice cream pail can be used to transport
the broadcast media to the garage floor when broadcasting. Next get your floor
spikes adjusted so they fit snuggly over
your shoes (Helper job). Install one of the roller covers to the roller frame and
attach the frame to a broom handle or extension pole (not supplied). Place a liner
in the paint tray and have all your materials and installation tools prepared. Mask
off any areas where you could accidentally contact with a wet roller. Walls, doors,
trim etc…. Along the chalk line you made earlier at the
edge of the garage door opening, run a strip of duct tape to the outside edge of
the line. This will be the end point of the floor system. Once completely coated
you will pull the tape off to reveal a nice straight edge.
Epoxy Floor System Installation instructions:
Read all the instructions before starting step one! For the best results and ease
of installation we recommend 2 people install the system.
Step 1: Base coat application
Important Note: Flakes or other media will be broadcast in this step.
Broadcast flake at your desired spread rate into the WET (installed) base coat.
We suggest doing small sections at a time. Broadcast into wet basecoat let
dry. Remove loose chips with scrapper and shop vac floor after 2 hours. Apply
clear topcoat over chips to encapsulate.
Bulldog Epoxy Products
Bulldog Garage Products * 15791 Rockfield Blvd, Suite B, Irvine Ca 92618 * BulldogGarageProducts.com
Begin by mixing 2 parts A side base coat component and 1 part B side basecoat
component together in a small mixing bucket (Mixing pail works great) (Mix small
amounts material at a time). Next pour out the mixed base coat material onto the
floor along the inside wall of the area you are coating. Be sure to plan your way
out before you begin. Then using the supplied chip brush to get into all the
corners and areas the roller can’t get too. Next spread out the mixed coating with
a squeegee and back roll with 3/8” nap roller. Or completely saturate the roller
and begin rolling material on to the concrete surface like you would paint on a
wall. If you are only going to apply with a roller, Use the Dip and roll technique.
Simply pour the mixed material into a paint tray
and dip the roller in and apply to the substrate. (NOTE) You will have about 15-20
minutes to use the mixed materials. Start at the front of the garage and work
from one side of the room across to the opposite wall. Work across the room in
approximately four foot wide passes being sure to slightly overlap the previous
pass. The roller cover holds the appropriate amount of material to cover 2-3
square feet for each dip in new material, so apply the base coat without drying
out the roller between dipping. Open and mix new gallon kits of material until
the concrete substrate is completely coated. After you have coated up to the
duct taped line at the edge of the garage door opening, pull the duct tape off so
the coating does not wick under it.
Once the Base coat is complete Flakes or other media will be broadcast in this step.
Broadcast flake at your desired spread rate into the WET (installed) base coat. We
suggest doing small sections at a time. Broadcast into wet basecoat let dry.
Remove loose chips with scrapper and shop vac floor after 2 hours or until dry to
proceed to step 2.
Bulldog Epoxy Products
Bulldog Garage Products * 15791 Rockfield Blvd, Suite B, Irvine Ca 92618 * BulldogGarageProducts.com
STEP 2: Top Coat application (If Applicable)
The Top coating is the key to a durable floor system. Multiple coatings can be
applied for added durability and strength or if you are unhappy with the results of
your first application, but not needed in most situations.
The Top Coat is a 2 component material. Prepare your roller, frame, and tray, and
mix 2-parts A and 1-part B together for 2-3 minutes UNLESS you are using
Polyispartic as your top coat. Then you will mix 1-part A and 1-part B together
(50-50 Mix) Then pour Top Coat into the tray. This coating has a 20- minute pot
life, meaning you have 20 minutes to work with the coating before it starts to
become tacky. Begin with using your supplied chip brush by getting into all the
corners and tight spots that a roller can’t get
too. Apply a generous amount to your roller and begin rolling in the same
fashion as the basecoat, beginning in the front of the garage and working in
approximately four foot wide passes overlapping each pass slightly. You should
leave enough material on the surface to spread out evenly with the roller, but
not so much it puddles or leaves lines, approximately 10-20 mils. Continue
opening new containers of Top Coat and applying as necessary to completely
cover the entire surface. After completing the final Top Coat let the coating cure