Epoxy coatings are generally used on high-traffic areas like garage flooring since they wear well and need very little upkeep. But, problems frequently arise when property owners desire to remove the epoxy coatings since conventional scrubbing methods are usually ineffective. The removal of epoxy coatings needs a fantastic deal of work, and many of important safety measures need to be adopted.
Safety
Safety measures must be followed once you use an acid wash to take an epoxy coating. Ensure that the area is well ventilated. Wear appropriate protective clothing, especially rubber boots with acid-resistant bottoms and acid-resistant gloves. Never rely on a simple dust mask; buy a correct respirator with a filter to keep toxins out. Wear goggles to protect your eyes and protect your hair with a cap. When hosing the wash, constantly hose it from you therefore none of the acid gets on your clothes.
Acid Wash
Soak flooring liberally with clean water before work begins. Mix a wash of muriatic acid and water at a ratio of 12 oz. Of acid to one gallon of water. Use the wash to the epoxy coating using a scrubbing brush and let it boil for a quarter hour. Sprinkle baking soda over the surface of the floor to nullify the effects of the acid. Use a pressure washer to remove the acid wash from the coating. It might be required to repeat the process several times to remove the epoxy coating completely.
Solvent
You can use solvents to remove epoxy coating, but it also requires extra time and work to reach the best results. Start by scraping off as much of the epoxy coating as you can by hand or with a hand-held tool fitted with a rigid scraper blade. Apply a generous amount of solvent to the floor, working in small, contained regions. Although solvents like lacquer thinner aid to remove the epoxy coating, acetone frequently produces the best results. Scrape away the epoxy coating and repeat the process over different regions of the floor. Finish by hosing down the surface of the floor to remove the solvent.
Grinders
You can use flooring grinders to remove plaster coatings easily. You can purchase or rent a floor grinder system. For stubborn areas like corners or edges, you can use a handheld rotary tool with a shaving attachment to get those off last scraps of epoxy. With either apparatus, the blades must be either carbide or diamond tipped for it to work properly. Familiarize yourself with the machines and take your time to ensure full removal of the epoxy coating. Utilize a wet/dry vacuum cleaner to suck up the debris as possible work. This will let you see whether you’ve completed a location before you move.