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I went against the grain with my garage floor paint and it actually worked
Everyone says you have to etch concrete with acid before you paint it. I skipped that step on my 200 square foot garage floor last month and just gave it a really deep clean with a power washer and a strong degreaser. I used a two-part epoxy kit from the local store and rolled it on. It's been down for three weeks now with daily car traffic, and there's not a single chip or sign of peeling. I'm starting to think the etching step is overkill for a floor that's already in decent shape. Has anyone else had a good result by skipping the prep everyone swears by?
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miabennett2mo ago
Power washing can make the surface look clean, but it doesn't etch. Mason.faith is right to ask about opening the pores. The acid step isn't just about dirt, it's about creating a rough surface for the epoxy to grab onto. Your floor might hold up now, but on a smooth slab, that bond can fail over time with temperature changes and tire stress. Skipping prep is a gamble, not a new rule.
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the_seth13d ago
My 2016 garage floor job was that smooth polished concrete and I skipped acid etching. Thought a good power wash was enough. But 3 winters in, the epoxy started peeling right up in the tire tracks. That pore grip you're talking about is real, I learned the hard way.
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mason.faith2mo ago
You mentioned a "really deep clean." Did you happen to notice if the power washer actually opened up the pores of the concrete at all?
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