Epoxy Flake Garage Floor Installation Instructions

REQUIRED TOOLS: Angle grinder, 1/8" crack chasing blade (These can be rented at a hardware store.), putty knife, broom, shop vacuum, and proper PPE.

1. Hairline cracks must be routed with an 1/8" concrete cutting blade and to approx. 1/4" to 3/8" depth. Make sure to remove any loose concrete and/or foreign material. Dust and debris should be brushed and vacuumed out of crack and off surrounding areas. Fill all cracks and voids with KreteBond Concrete Crack Filler. The material cures in about 60 minutes and can then be sanded or ground smooth for a level surface.
2. The mix ratio of KreteBond is 1 Part-A to 1 Part-B. Using separate scooping devices, measure equal amounts from container A and container B and place material on a mixing board. Once on mixing board, mix both components with a 3-4” putty knife until a uniform color has been reached. Mix for 1-2 mins. Do not mix more material than can be applied in 2-4 minutes.
3. Apply KreteBond into the crack with a 3-4” putty knife, making sure to completely fill. Push material as far into the crack as possible. Feather the KreteBond at each side of the crack to reduce telegraphing through the finish product. KreteBond may require a second coat or diamond grinding at the edges after it has cured. If grinding is required, it is necessary to grind the feathered edge of the KreteBond down to bare concrete. If the grinding and feathering process is not done properly, highlights may telegraph through the new coating system.

• Working time: 2-4 Mins - Do not mix more than can be applied in that window.
• Cure time: 60 minutes

REQUIRED TOOLS: Scrub brush broom, plastic watering sprinkle can, garden hose or power washer, shop vacuum, squeegee, and proper PPE.

1. Any surface that is about to be coated needs to be completely cured, clean and free of all contaminants.
2. Apply our Concrete Cleaner, Degreaser & Etcher to remove dirt, oil, and contaminants.
3. Sweep and vacuum the concrete surface to remove all loose debris. Thoroughly scrape and wipe away any grease or oil contamination. For heavier buildup, a power washer can be used to assist with deeper pre-cleaning.
4. Mix 1/3 gallon (43 oz.) of concentrate with 1 gallon of water in a plastic watering sprinkle can. One gallon of concentrate will produce 4 gallons of premix. Hot water will accelerate cleaning and etching.
5. Working in sections approximately 10' × 10' at a time, lightly dampen the concrete surface with a fine spray of water. Using a plastic watering sprinkle can, apply the premixed solution evenly across the concrete. Scrub the solution into the surface with a scrub brush broom, working it thoroughly until the foaming action stops. Rinse the area completely with a garden hose or power washer until all visible signs of cleaner have been removed.
6. Use a squeegee or leaf blower to remove any standing water from corners, low spots, and out through the garage door, leaving the surface uniformly damp and ready for primer application.

Complete Surface Prep Instructions

REQUIRED TOOLS: Mixing paddles, paint stir sticks, large tarp/drop cloth, or cardboard, shop towels, and proper PPE.

Set up a dedicated mixing area outside of your main application zone to prevent contamination and maintain a clean workflow. Choose a flat, well-ventilated space (typically in front of your garage) and place a 10'x12' protective drop cloth, plastic sheeting, or flattened cardboard on the ground to catch spills and drips. This barrier helps protect surrounding surfaces from epoxy splatter while giving you a controlled, organized station for accurate measuring and thorough mixing without disrupting your installation process.

Apply blue painter’s tape around the base of all unmovable appliances and objects such as water heaters, freezers, refrigerators, air-conditioning units, and similar fixtures. Taping the bottom edges helps protect these items from accidental contact with the primer, epoxy base coat, flake broadcast, and polyaspartic top coat. If any tape becomes contaminated with SkipGrind Primer, epoxy, or polyaspartic, remove and replace the tape before the next application step. However, if the tape remains clean and free of any coating material, it may remain in place and does not need to be removed or replaced between installation stages.

IMPORTANT! Where the garage door meets the floor, apply a 1-inch strip of painter's tape set back from the bottom edge of the garage door. This tape creates a clean transition line and helps prevent primer, epoxy, or polyaspartic from extending beyond the garage door threshold onto the driveway. The tape must be removed after each product application and then reapplied before the next coating step once the previous coat has fully cured.

REQUIRED TOOLS: Stir stick, paint brush, 4-6" mini-roller & covers, utility knife, and proper PPE.

Make sure that temperatures will remain between 50- and 90-degrees Fahrenheit and relative humidity to stay below 75%.

IF APPLICABLE! Apply decorative 1/4" flake chips to coves, stem walls, stair risers, foundation walls, and other vertical concrete surfaces before any floor coating products are applied.

CoveCoat eliminates the need to use floor epoxy as an adhesive for decorative 1/4" flake chips on coves, stem walls, stair risers, foundation walls, and other vertical concrete surfaces. This easy-to-use, single-component coating provides exceptional adhesion, making it simple to achieve full flake coverage on vertical areas simple and effective.

1. Stir CoveCoat thoroughly for 30-45 seconds prior to application. Working in 2-3 foot sections, apply CoveCoat evenly to the vertical surface using a brush or roller. Avoid excessive buildup, runs, or puddling.
2. Immediately pour decorative 1/4" flake chips onto the floor directly in front of the freshly coated area.
3. Using a wide putty knife, scoop the flakes upward onto the wet CoveCoat surface until complete cover-age is achieved. Tossing flakes by hand onto vertical surfaces typically will not provide full, uniform coverage.
4. For stair steps and other horizontal surfaces, apply CoveCoat by brush or roller and broadcast decorative flakes to full coverage while the coating remains wet.
5. After the flakes have cured to the CoveCoat for approximately 30-60 minutes, scrape the surface to remove any loose or protruding flake chips. Using a wide putty knife, scrape the surface to knock down high spots and create a more uniform profile before proceeding to later apply the polyaspartic.
   

Surface Preparation: Surfaces must be clean, dry, and free of dust, dirt, oil, grease, stains, silicone, or other contaminants that may interfere with adhesion.

• Working time: 2-5 minutes
• Dry time (walking): 30-60 mins

Clean Up: Thoroughly sweep and vacuum all loose and excess flakes from the floor surface before proceeding with the application of SkipGrind Primer.

REQUIRED TOOLS: Blue masking tape, utility knife, and proper PPE.

SkipGrind Primer is applied to the garage surface floor only. It does not need to be applied to stem walls or cove joints.

If the garage walls are already painted, apply blue painter’s tape along the perimeter where the wall meets the floor, leaving a 1/8" gap above the surface. IMPORTANT: If coating material comes into contact with the tape during application, remove the tape immediately!

For application purposes, mark reference points the first 200 sq. ft. of the floor from the back wall to an control joint, if present. If floor area is larger than 200 sq ft., use a second 2-gal kit and apply wet on wet.

IMPORTANT! Where the garage door comes down to the floor, apply 1" of tape back and away from the bottom of the garage door where it meets the floor. This ensures the primer does NOT go past where the garage door comes down. Pull this tape immediately after application! 

Make sure the painters' tape is firmly pressed onto the area to ensure correct adhesion so no epoxy can seep or “bleed” underneath.

NOTE: Do not mix primer before completely masking off unmovable objects (water heater, A/C, etc.) and sections that need to be protected.

REQUIRED TOOLS: 5-gallon bucket, mixing paddles (Jiffy mixer), paint stir sticks, shop towels, face/dust mask and proper PPE.

1. SkipGrind Primer kits are premeasured consisting of one jug of Part-A resin, one jug of Part-B hardener, and bags of Part-C thickening dry blend. NOTE: Part-C thickening blend is a dry powder and can easily form clumps if all three components are mixed together too quickly or inadequately. Incomplete mixing will cause an inconsistent finish. IMPORTANT!For best mixing results, pour Part-A resin and Part–B hardener into a 5-gallon mixing bucket and slowly blend in Part-C powder until fully dispersed and lump-free.It is important to “wet-out” all parts of dry mix, scraping the bottom and sides of bucket. Once the thickening dry blend Part-C has been completely incorporated, mechanically mix for approx. another 20 to 30 seconds.
2. Mix the entire kit.
3. After mixing, immediately pour onto concrete garage surface. Do not leave the mixed material in the bucket. This product is designed to be mixed and poured out in its entirety.
4. NOTE: Hotter air temperature and higher humidity can reduce work-time.

REQUIRED TOOLS: Spiked Shoes, notched blade squeegee, long handle 18" paint roller & covers, and proper PPE.

Make sure that temperatures will remain between 50- and 90-degrees Fahrenheit and relative humidity to stay below 75%.

NOTE: Apply SkipGrind Primer on a damp floor. It should be applied after the floor surface has been thoroughly cleaned, etched, and rinsed (Day 1 Prep). The garage floor should be damp but not wet. Use a squeegee or leaf blower to remove any standing water from corners, low spots, and out through the garage door, leaving the surface uniformly damp and ready for primer application.

1. Immediately after mixing, pour the entire bucket evenly onto the concrete surface in wavy ribbons running perpendicular across the floor. Spread at approximately 100 sq. ft. per gallon (Each 2-gal/3-Part "kit" will cover 200 sq. ft.). Do not scrape the sides or the bottom of the mixing bucket onto the floor. Any unmixed product can contaminate the cure process.
2. An easy application method is to work within the concrete control joint, spreading the primer with a squeegee and then back-rolling it smooth as you progress toward the garage door exit. Do not wear spiked shoes while walking on the SkipGrind Primer, as they can leave indentations or marks that may not self-level or heal during the curing process. Avoid filling and puddling in control joints. Clean out joints if needed.
3. Use the 26" Easy Squeegee® Notched Blade, 15-20 Wft Mils gauge squeegee for proper thickness to spread the material.
4. Next, using a 3/8” nap 18-inch non-shedding roller with a phenolic (plastic) core, roll the primer lightly forward and backward to distribute it evenly across the entire surface, do not cross roll. Roll just as you would paint a floor, ensuring uniform coverage working your way out of the room.

NOTES:

Do not tip the epoxy container upside-down on the floor. Any unmixed material can and will contaminate the cure process.

Remove tape: Masking tape must be removed before the primer begins to dry or cure. It is highly recommended to pull the tape up during application as you work your way toward the exit. Waiting until after complete application and walking back across the surface in spiked shoes will leave marks or indentations in the “SkipGrind Primer” that may not self-level or flow back smooth.

IMPORTANT: At the garage door threshold, where the floor meets the driveway and the 1" strip of painter's tape has been applied, do not remove the tape until the primer has become tacky. This allows the primer sufficient time to set and helps prevent it from flowing onto the protected area beneath the tape or beyond the edge onto the driveway, ensuring a clean, professional transition line. The tape can typically be removed approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour after application, depending on temperature and curing conditions.

• Working time: 15-20 minutes
• COVERAGE: 200 sq. ft. per "kit"
• Dry time (walking): 18 hours
• NOTE: SkipGrind must be allowed to cure a MINIMUM of 18 hours and completely tack free before coating with epoxy base-coat and broadcasting 1/4" flake chips.

Do not fully close the garage door during this curing window, as restricted airflow can impact performance and finish quality.

REQUIRED TOOLS: Blue masking tape, utility knife, and proper PPE.

Typically, stem walls/cove joints and the foundation block should be coated with epoxy and flakes. Tape off above that section to ensure clean, sharp lines for epoxy and flakes.

If the garage walls are already painted, apply blue painter’s tape along the perimeter where the wall meets the floor, leaving a 1/8" gap above the surface.

For application purposes, mark reference points the first 200 sq. ft. of the floor from the back wall to an control joint, if present.

IMPORTANT! Where the garage door comes down to the floor, apply 1" of tape back and away from the bottom of the garage door. This ensures the epoxy coating does NOT go past where the garage door comes down.

Make sure the painters' tape is firmly pressed onto the area to ensure correct adhesion so no epoxy can seep or “bleed” underneath.

Once the epoxy base-coat and flakes have been applied, the tape must be removed. This ensures the tape doesn't become adhered to walls and objects when it dries/cures.

You will have around 45 minutes to maybe 1 hour to remove the tape. Use spiked shoes to walk across quickly (but carefully) and pull the tape slowly from each end all the way across where it is taped.

NOTE: Do not mix epoxy before completely masking off unmovable objects (water heater, A/C, etc.) and sections that need to be protected.

REQUIRED TOOLS: Mixing paddles (Jiffy mixer), paint stir sticks, shop towels, and proper PPE.

1. Stir / Pre-mix the pre-tinted Part A for 20-30 seconds. Add the entire contents of Part B (1 part B to 2 parts A) into the Part A container, which is intentionally short-filled to achieve the correct ratio. Mix thoroughly for 90 seconds to 2 minutes. About halfway through the mixing process, scrape the sides and bottom of the container to ensure all material is fully incorporated and a complete, uniform blend is achieved.
2. Mix the entire kit.
3. After mixing, immediately pour onto concrete garage surface!
4. NOTE: Hotter air temperature and higher humidity can reduce work-time.

REQUIRED TOOLS: Spiked Shoes, flat blade squeegee, long handle paint roller & covers, and proper PPE.

Make sure that temperatures will remain between 50- and 90-degrees Fahrenheit and relative humidity to stay below 75%.

Stem walls/cove joints: If applicable, first with a paintbrush or small handheld roller, apply epoxy to the stem walls/cove joint concrete outer side walls of the room. Not all garage floors will have this or have it showing. This is also a good time to cut-in the edges of the floor against the wall and corners.

1. While wearing spiked shoes, immediately pour the mixed epoxy onto the floor in wavy wide ribbons, running perpendicular across the surface. Do not scrape the sides or the bottom of the mixing bucket onto the floor. Any unmixed product can contaminate the cure process.
2. An easy method is to apply within control joints. Avoid filling and puddling in joints. Clean out joints if needed.
3. Use the 26" Easy Squeegee™ with Flat Stiff Blade to evenly spread epoxy across floor surface at approx. 200 SF/Gal.
4. Next, using a 3/8” nap 18-inch non-shedding roller with a phenolic (plastic) core, quickly roll the epoxy forward and backward to distribute it evenly across the entire surface. Apply just as you would paint a floor, ensuring uniform coverage working your way out of the room. Back roll in the opposite direction to level the coating IF NEEDED.

NOTES:

Be cautious to not leave roller lines or ridges which could show through as high points in the flakes.

Do not tip the epoxy container upside-down on the floor. Any unmixed material can and will contaminate the cure process.

• Working time: 30-40 minutes
• COVERAGE: 200-255 sq. ft. per gallon
• Flaked Surface Dry time (walking): typically 6-8 hours

Do not fully close the garage door during this curing window, as restricted airflow can impact performance and finish quality.

REQUIRED TOOLS: Spiked Shoes, 5-gallon bucket, and proper PPE.

1. While the floor epoxy is still wet, broadcast the included box epoxy flakes onto the entire surface.
2. (If applicable, first toss flakes onto the concrete stem wall block perimeter and/or cove joint side walls. Toss flakes onto the bottom side walls around the garage evenly.)
3. While wearing spiked shoes, broadcast the 1/4" flake chips across the entire surface. For easier application, transfer flakes into a 5-gallon bucket and toss them upward, allowing them widely to fall evenly onto the floor. Apply flakes until the base coat epoxy is completely covered and no "wet" epoxy is visible. A properly broadcast floor will appear dry and uniform, with no shiny spots. If any epoxy is visible, continue applying flakes until complete coverage is achieved.
4. Apply flakes using heaping handfuls, tossing them upward and outward into the air so they fall naturally onto the wet epoxy. Use a light flicking motion, similar to feeding chickens, to help the flakes disperse evenly. Be careful not to dump piles of flakes, this will look unnatural. Aim to broadcast 2–3 feet out in front of you, allowing for consistent, uniform coverage across the surface.
5. You should see an even and dry coating of flake with no shiny spots/areas when properly covered. Add more flakes if you see shiny epoxy showing through.
6. If the floor has low spots where the base coat is deeper, flakes may “sink.” Broadcast sufficient flakes to completely saturate the low spot. Continue tossing flakes moving around as you go, backing out towards your exit until the base-coat is 100% covered completely.
7. Pay close attention to control joints during the flake broadcast to ensure complete, uniform coverage. Flakes should be applied generously so no shiny base-coat epoxy remains visible, especially within and around the joints. It is normal for control joints to visually “disappear” during this stage due to full flake coverage.

Remove tape: Once the epoxy base-coat and flakes have been applied, the tape must be removed. This ensures the tape doesn't become adhered to walls and objects when it dries/cures. You will have around 45 minutes to maybe 1 hour to remove the tape. Use spiked shoes to walk across quickly (but carefully) and pull the tape slowly from each end all the way across where it is taped.

• Flake Coverage: One 25 lb. box of 1/4" decorative flake chips will typically cover 200–250 sq. ft. at full coverage (100% broadcast).
• Flaked Surface Dry time (walking): typically 6-8 hours

Do not fully close the garage door during this curing window, as restricted airflow can impact performance and finish quality.

REQUIRED TOOLS: Flat blade scraper, broom, dustpan, shop vac, and proper PPE.

1. Allow the flake broadcast garage floor to properly dry and cure. After 6-8 hours, remove excess flakes by scraping the surface with a flat-edge trowel or wide floor scraper (available on our website). This step knocks down sharp edges, vertical flake buildup, and any loose material to create a smooth, uniform profile.
2. After the flake chips have been fully broadcast and cured, the control joints must be reopened and cleaned out. Use a floor scraper or putty knife to carefully cut along the joint and remove any excess flakes or coating buildup.
3. Don’t overlook the perimeter edges. Use a smaller scraper to remove excess flakes and buildup along base areas and lower wall edges. Finish by sweeping the surface with a stiff broom or leaf blower, then vacuum thoroughly to eliminate all remaining debris before applying the topcoat.

REQUIRED TOOLS: Blue masking tape, utility knife, and proper PPE.

If the garage walls are already painted, apply blue painter’s tape along the perimeter where the wall meets the floor, leaving a 1/8" gap above the surface.

For application purposes, mark reference points the first 200 sq. ft. of the floor from the back wall to an control joint, if present.

IMPORTANT! Where the garage door comes down to the floor, apply 1" of tape back and away from the bottom of the garage door. This ensures the epoxy coating does NOT go past where the garage door comes down.

Make sure the painters' tape is firmly pressed onto the area to ensure correct adhesion so no epoxy can seep or “bleed” underneath.

NOTE: Do not mix Polyaspartic before completely masking off unmovable objects (water heater, A/C, etc.) and sections that need to be protected.

REQUIRED TOOLS: Mixing paddles (Jiffy mixer), paint stir sticks, shop towels, and proper PPE.

1. Vigorously shake Part B for approximately 20 to 30 seconds. Pour Part-A and Part-B into a clean 5-gallon mixing bucket. Mix for 1 full minute using an electric drill at 500rpms, scraping the bottom and sides of the mixing container.
2. If more than one 2-gallon kit is needed, do not mix more than can be applied within 25 minutes.
3. Mix the entire kit.
4. After mixing, immediately pour onto concrete garage surface!
5. NOTE: Hotter air temperature and higher humidity can reduce work-time.

REQUIRED TOOLS: Spiked Shoes, flat blade squeegee, long handle paint roller & covers, mini-roller & covers, and proper PPE.

Make sure that temperatures will remain between 50- and 90-degrees Fahrenheit and relative humidity to stay below 75%.

1. While wearing spiked shoes, immediately pour the mixed top-coat onto the floor in wavy wide ribbons, running perpendicular across the surface. Do not scrape the sides or the bottom of the mixing bucket onto the floor. Any unmixed product can contaminate the cure process. 
2. IMPORTANT / IF APPLICABLE: At the same time, pour approximately 48 oz. of the mixed polyaspartic into a paint tray. Using a mini roller, apply the polyaspartic to stem walls, stair risers, foundation walls, and any other vertical concrete surfaces. Complete these vertical areas while the floor coating remains wet to ensure a consistent finish and uniform appearance throughout the installation.
3. Use the 27" Easy Squeegee™ Flat Flexible Blade with Corner Wings (fits the 26" frame) to evenly spread polyaspartic across the floor surface, which should cover 125-150 sq. ft. per gallon.
4. Next, using a 3/8” nap 18-inch non-shedding roller with a phenolic (plastic) core, roll the top-coat forward and backward to distribute it evenly across the entire surface. Make sure to wet out your roller cover with excess material prior to rolling out the entire surface. Apply just as you would paint a floor, ensuring uniform coverage working your way out of the room. Back roll in the opposite direction to level the coating IF NEEDED.

NOTE: Be cautious to not leave roller lines or ridges which could show through as high points in the flakes.

Remove tape: Once the polyaspartic has been applied, the tape must be removed. This ensures the tape doesn't become adhered to walls and objects when it dries/cures. You will have around 45 minutes to maybe 1 hour to remove the tape. Use spiked shoes to walk across quickly (but carefully) and pull the tape slowly from each end all the way across where it is taped.

• Pot life: 5 minutes
• Working time: 25 minutes
• COVERAGE: 125-150 sq. ft. per gallon
• Dry time (walking): 10 hours
• Dry time (return of contents): 24-48 hours
• Cure / return to service: 72 hours+ (driving)

Do not fully close the garage door during this curing window, as restricted airflow can impact performance and finish quality.