[Rap]

Just a bit of info so others don't go thru the same experience. After reading other members advice and experience with floors and even looking at Flashes in person, I decided to go with epoxy. I selected a blue black granite color. This was a color that was made by mixing black, white, gray and as I subsequently learned a translucent blue. The color shown was a pic of the color of the sand. First mistake! When the sand was broadcast onto a clear epoxy and dried it looked like the pic I selected. When the loose sand was brushed off the floor a color many shades darker emerged. This was before a final sealing coat was to be put on. After two more attempts to attain the color I selected we ran out of sand. I started with 600 pounds of sand. The installer had not run into this problem in his career. He does commercial and industrial floors. So he ordered 3 different mixes of sand with the black, white, gray and translucent blue. Changing the mix ratios seems to have produced a bluer blue. I have yet to see the finished and coated product. If anyone decides on this route I would suggest having a sample made with the final coat on. It's amazing how different the shade can come out. One would think I might have after just building 2 buildings of about 27000 square feet and selecting colors for various rooms I might have remembered that swatches don't work. I had rooms painted of colors selected to make sure they were right! Oh well. I will have lost a month trying to get the floor right. The only good news for me is that is all I have lost. The poor installer eats the problem. He will make it back with the sand company in future biz. The sand and epoxy companies are separate and for this type of application no one provides a sample of a completely finished sample. So this was not something I picked up despite a ton on time researching this. Hope this is of value to anyone else thinking about this. By the way, the color of the floor now is not bad at all, just not what I ordered. And with 1000 sq feet of floor I decided to stick to the color I ordered. Live and learn eh!

Cheers,

Bob

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[Rap]

Trials and tribulations. After a three week delay the fixing of the floor continues Sunday nite. I had the mix ratio changed and am watching another 600 lbs. of sand broadcasted onto an epoxy coating. This blue looks truer to my wish. I will know tomorrow when the clear coat goes on. Patience is a virtue. Don't ya just hate that saying?

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[Ryan]

Damn...that floor is going to have so much sand on it that is will be soft. What a pain.

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[rxter]

I was thinking the same thing Ryan. Maybe a couple of beach chairs and a beer.

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[Rap]

Before last nites coat went on it was rock hard. The clear coat is drying this evening after being put on this afternoon so I can't walk on it. read my previous threads on the broadcast process. Actually I got an idea from Flash and got a craftsman retro table with chairs to sit on while drinking a beer. My contractor is demanding we put in a humidor. Beer and cigars anyone!

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[Rap]

Trials and tribulations of an obsessive compulsive anal retentive perfectionist. Well well well, as many of you have no doubt been bored by my reportings of how my garage and specifically the downstairs floor of the garage area have been proceeding. Joe coordinator in an attempt to create a cool looking garage area really outdid himself. I picked this blue black sand , previously reported. First attempt applied. Color not quite right. Had the floor guy reorder the sand with a different mix ratio. Mind you I researched the heck out of floors, queried forum members, went and looked at car guys garages and asked about their experiences and opinions. So the guy does the floor, sand color looks right , couple of what I will call streaks from broadcasting issues but was reassured final look would be spot on. I should have shot the _______ right then. Color is good except for sections that aren't the same. Dark light with lines no doubt from push broom or miss application of final coat. The floor has three coats on, rock hard, drill destroyer but of course not a even application of color. The first attempt although not blue enough was at least an even application. So what should I do. This floor guy has already taken it up the shorts on this job. Haven't spoken to him yet and not sure if it is fixable. The cost was 4.50 to 5.0 a square foot. 1000 sq. ft. He has done it twice. Second time is on him. Keep up for further reports on my trials and tribulations in designing and building un über garage.

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[Rap]

By the way, the upstairs floor is an art studio and hanging out area. Way cooool. Not all is lost!

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[Langley968]

I think many of us that have read this thread probably sympathize with you, but our opinions of where to proceed from here would differ greatly...

If the "streaks from broadcasting issues" are in areas that eventually will be under items that will fill certain spots in the garage (work benches, tool cabinets, garbage cans, etc), well then you can probably guess my answer.

If they are in central areas, but where the car(s) will be parked, then you can also guess my answer!

However, if these "streaks" are in central areas BETWEEN the "car park spots", then... well, then I don't know what I would do! <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/huh.png" class="smilie" alt="" /> Sorry!

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[Rap]

Yes I agree and reached the same conclusion. But of course there are some of these imperfections in look in areas that won't be covered. I have two rows of florescent lites with 6 lites two tubes apiece. Total of 24 lites. At night it's like a surgical unit plus eight other lites can get turned on. So needless to say, you can run but you can't hide. I have people looking at it today and then will go to the floor guy. It's reached that stage, lost a month now, where it is holding up the rest of the garage work. Of course I must remember to keep things in perspective overall. Lot of people might wish to just have this problem!

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[rhudeboye]

Ya'know how swirl marks can be buffed out of paint using abrasives and circular polishers. Perhaps the manufacture has dealt with this before and can recommend some type of leveling top coat and or a finishing technique to eliminate those streaks. Oddly enough, I feel for the installer. Sounds like he's trying to do right by you but the product just inst cooperating.



Would love to see pics of the man cave. Perhaps some nice before and after pics????

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[Rap]

I am bringing in a tech guy who allegedly knows the product for a look see and possible recommendations. I guessed right on the mix ratio being wrong the first time. It would seem that if you sand off the top clear coat and don't disturb the sand below , which of course provides the color, the only way to even out the swirls and lines is to put more epoxy down and resand. The swirls and different shades are throughout the floor. I have taken pics throughout. My woman's cave upstairs came out great. Nice moniker eh? Stereo goes in tomorrow and tv very soon after. Waiting to see if there is anything neat at the trade show. Give me , if you would like your email and I will send you some. I have difficulty posting pics here. Cuz I'm a dope I think!!!

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[rhudeboye]

I know a dope when I hear one and your no dope. If you like I'll post the pics after I get them.



L8Apex968@gmail.com

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[Rap]

Gentleman, I need to sacrifice a virgin to the almighty garage God. I prefer a red head or blond with green eyes about 5'6 or so. Clearly I have royally pissed off these almighties! So the new floor product rep comes to look at my floor. After being somewhat reticent in his remarks and realizing that I am a reasonable person, for how long is the $64,000?, starts to speak. Well he says , yep the floor looks used. He points out some things I missed which were careless workmanship. What you say? Well round can marks on the floor that while clear coated have a dull look. He acknowledges the concerns I have about swirls and waves and discoloration. Then he couches a suggestion that perhaps the two products were somehow accidentally commingled during the broadcast. Bingo a lite bulb goes off. This seems a pretty good supposition, although it might be difficult to prove. While he is going to look into some products to make sure he isn't missing something such as product compatibility, the leading option now is the most obvious one. Redo the floor! Now mind you winter has finally arrived so now the question arises, will whatever products that are used adhere with these lower temps. The garage area has a 100,000 BTU heater and I can make it warm, but... Drum roll can I heat up a 12 inch concrete floor? I could of course add supplemental heaters as I have used in the painting process before heat and hvac were installed.

The nice thing here which is about the only thing I am hanging my hat on is that the upstairs art studio and my woman's cave is smoking hot! The 968 just won't make it up the stairs. All 21 of them. So if I'm boring you sorry, I find this somewhat relieves me to make light of myself. Oh did I add that a suggestion was proffered that perhaps I should what till the spring to complete the garage portion.

Actually I think both a redhead and a blonde should be sacrificed to appease the garage Gods!

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[rxter]

"...my woman's cave is smoking hot!"



floor, what floor...

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[Rap]

Should have read my women's cave the art studio. Garage floor

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[rhudeboye]

This is RAPs Man Cave/Dog house. Just how much land to you own?

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[Rap]

Thank you for posting these pics. I still can't figure this piece out. Just my little sliver of nirvana! About three quarters of an acre. That spot was cut out of the woods. Most of the trees were old and lolly popped so my environmental liberal green gut was not too offended. Considering most of my propert is woods I still have a big carbon footprint. 11.5 of fill was hauled in to create a level surface upon which to build. Cloud this was my meager attempt to create jobs. It is amazing how many different types of jobs worked on this site. All of this is pretty much finished, except of course for the garage floor! Have not put in the lift, compressor, hose, vacuum, cabinets or work bench but those are planned when the floor gets settled.

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[rhudeboye]

You’re going to have a lift <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/clap.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> . as if I wasn’t jealous enough already.



Looks very spacious and well thought out. I noticed the ceiling fans and what looks to be a heating unit in the corner. Nice touch. Is that rectangular cut out in the floor for Drainage?

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[Rap]

Yes there are two actually connected to an outside collection which takes all of the water from the roofs. Also, I believe it's called rvp on the walls from the floor to four or five feet up so I can wash in the garage and then hose the walls down. I'm not sure where we are with pics, if I am sending you to many or if you have had enough tell me, but a retractable hose and vac will go up on the walls when the floor is resolved. Speakers are already built in and tv will go in on the back wall up in the middle. Remote eye to change music and sound.

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[rhudeboye]

No problem with the pics. I love this stuff. Great inspiration. I've been talking about my garage make over for 3 years now. Your plans will give me both motivation and a few new ideas.

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