Epoxy on top of sealer treated concrete

About a year ago I applied a two-part epoxy on one parking spot in my garage. Fearing that it may not turn out perfectly, I applied concrete sealer to the other two spots. Now, after a year of total success, I want to apply epoxy on the two spots treated with concrete sealer. The problem is that I've been told that the sealer needs to be removed first.

So, short of sandblasting, is there a chemical or other simpler solution that would remove the sealer so that the epoxy can penetrate? I tried using muriatic acid, paint thinner and even brake fluid with no success. The water still beads.

On the other hand, has anyone tried successfully to apply epoxy on top of concrete that has been treated with sealer without removing it first?

Thank you!

I did the epoxy coating on my garage about five years ago and still love it..... I believe the floor had a sealer on it... If memory serves me correctly, I used a muratic acid on the floor prior to applying the epoxy...

I am not absolutely certain on that, but I used a Sherwin Williams epoxy so you might check with them on their line and see if the muratic treatment is adequate.... I think it will work fine.

Jim

If you use the acid, make sure you remove any tools or equipment. The fumes from the acid can corrode metal very fast. Some idiot upstairs decided that the shop floors needed painting without consulting anyone in the machine shop. He picked a bunch of people from another dept and they did it after 4pm. When I came in the next day my fixtures were starting to rust and even some dicoloration on the machine beds. When we move the shop, we had an outfit come in to epoxy the floors, They first shotpeened the floor to rough it up and then 2 very thick coats of paint. We moved 20 ton machines in over it with only a little scuffing(urethane rollers)

I had a pro put down an epoxy finish on the new floor of my shop. He did a Hydrochloric Acid etch before applying the epoxy. He hosed the floor down thoroughly, then walked around with bottles of acid pouring it out on the floor. Then a stiff broom for brushing, followed by a LIBERAL rinsing. 7 Years later and the stuff still looks good.

Erich

You didn't mention if you had a waterseal on the 'crete...

My boatshed floor was sealed while the concrete was still green and the surface has remained very moisture and oil repellant for 5 years now. I have not tried epoxy floor paint but the boat epoxy that spills on it bonds very nicely. So nicely that I have to burn it off occasionally.

Hi Jim!

I'm the original poster and you have some encouraging news. First of all, on the side of the garage untreated with sealer I used muriatic acid, washed, then applied Tile Clad from Sherwin Williams. The sealer, on the other side of the garage was also an SW product. They, SW, claim that you shouldn't apply epoxy on top of sealer treated concrete unless it has been sandblasted. However, applying muriatic acid on top of the sealed concrete did not remove the sealer (water still beads) but it did make the concrete very rough.

The question is if the roughness is good enough to accept the epoxy or if the chemicals in the sealer will reject the epoxy just as they reject water...

Any thoughts...