I'm getting ready to put down that Rust-Oleum expoy shield basement floor treatment.  The instructions for the floor prep are to strip etch with thier particualr product prior to paint application.  While our floor is dusty, its relatively new (2 years and clean).  Does the extra step of striping and etching really help in the application of the expoy coating?  We have some rather heavy stuff down there that I'm going to need to move around, but I worry about working with acids in proximity to some of this stuff.  So do I need to do this, or is it all just a gimick to sell a wider range of products?

Thanks.  Sloth  

Do it per the instructions, I've seen botched jobs from poor preps.

Get some fans and a respirator to help with the fumes.

Etch the floor otherwise you'll have paint peeling inside of a year.

If it has been sealed you will need to shot blast it or grind it....

I called them last week about this (We wanted to do this), but the builder sealed ours when they built it (last year).  They said it will not react right with the lime unless all of the concrete with the stripper is removed.

I said screw it, I am just going to buy some marine grade carpet.........

I think the number is something like 1-888-nufloor or close to that.

Any coating is only as good as the prep work.  If you want it to really last hire and industrial coater to do it right.

Dan

If the floor is still raw concrete you may be good to go on the epoxy coating.  If the concrete is smooth or has any seal on it you've got to etch it.  More surface area for the epoxy to bind to, and nothing that will cause inhibition or delamination of the epoxy.  Call the manufacturer and ask the tech. services people.  If you do it wrong it'll be awful to fix later.