This trowel is optional, and it can be used instead of a 4” trowel for spreading the floor prior to finishing it. Do not use a 3” trowel to finish the floor.
This is also available sometimes at The Home Depot or Lowes – Just be sure to get the Marshalltown Ultralite finishing trowel
You can also purchase this from Lowes or Home Depot. It is found in the Concrete section or the Roofing section – often gauge trowels are the only tools in their roofing section. For best results, click the link above to buy this premier marshalltown one or shop around for the most flexible one (there may be 2 brands or more at the same hardware store), often the gauge trowels found at the hardware store are too stiff.
This saves lots of time troweling, this also makes it easier to create better looking floor. Be sure to request the HoverTrowel specially designed for Everlast® Floor.
(usually not at hardware stores) This is handy for cove base corners and other hard to reach areas.
Used to “lean into” your finished floor to reach further in.
This are for spreading the glaze.
Spiked shoes to use when glazing. (optional) Otherwise, have a pair of white soled shoes on hand to use when glazing. Black soles, once wet with resins, will leave unsightly black marks on the floor. These are sometimes also available from Sherwin Williams.
Knee pads or knee board – while recommended, which kind is user preference. There are many types and everyone likes different kinds. A knee board like this is available at Lowes. If you are new to flooring, we recommend the knee board. If you want knee pads, we recommending trying on a few at the hardware store before purchasing to determine which one “feels best” to you.
A Fully Adjustable Comfort Seat And Chest Support – this is helpful if you plan to do many cove case jobs. We do not think this will work for the floor, but may be great for the cove.
ProKnee’s® patented shin support system is key to taking pain and stress off knee joints by spreading weight across the length of the kneepads.
Available at most hardware stores in the concrete tools section finish the floor.
Possibly only available online
We recommend getting either white 5-gallon pails or a color of pail that will match your floor, because sometimes your mixing drill will scrape off plastic from inside the pail and those little scrapings will get inside your floor mix. A trick is to order online in advance and choose to pick them up at your local Home Depot to avoid paying the shipping charges. You will need to either replace or clean your pail after each 5 kits or before each break. (You can clean your pails with Denatured Alcohol or Xylene and a rag).
Terry Towels work best for cleaning tools
We recommend Denatured Alcohol or Xylene for cleaning tools, and we recommend Xylene for thinning plywood primer
Use this for all part A resins
Use this for all part B resins / Be sure there is a mark for 28 oz
Power Mixer Replacement Paddle
Get one of these if you already have a mud mixing drill. Note: if you get a paddle elsewhere, be sure to get one with a hex head.
This is a time and back saver for contractors. You will still need to use a power mixer (above) for cove base as these batch mixers, while awesome for mixing Everlast® Floor, do not blend Everlast® Cove very well.
fits any drill. This is to preblend the resins before blending them with the stone, and to blend the primer (when primer is necessary) and to blend the topcoat.
Blue painter’s masking tape for walls (above the cove base) and duct tape for drains and floor transitions
For sweeping, and for use when working with cove base additive
Disposable Nitrile Gloves for blending resins. Throw away after each use. These are intermittent use, all day use of unlined disposable gloves can blister your hands. Also extended use of disposable gloves is not recommended as they can puncture easily.
PVC or Neoprene or Nitrile Gloves. The two important things are 1. They are impermeable (coated on top of hand also) and 2. there is some sort of cloth protection on the inside otherwise your hands can blister from extended use.
For use when pouring and mixing resins
For use when priming and glazing cove base. Note: These are one-time use, as epoxy cures hard, so wrapping in plastic as you would regular paint will not keep it wet.
9” Roller Frames
Clean with Denatured Alcohol or Xylene after each use, or it will not spin base additive
1/4” 9” roller covers. Get good, shed-free covers. Note: These are one-time use, as epoxy cures hard, so wrapping in plastic as you would regular paint will not keep it wet. Do not use mohair pads as they can leave track lines in the floor due to not having enough pad to absorb resin, these pads act like a squeegee and scrape the floor instead of evenly distributing the resin. Get 1/4 inch or 3/8 inch pads. Here are our favorite ones, available at Amazon
Roller Pan and Liners
While you can clean the roller pan out between each use, most contractors find it is easier to just use and throw away the liners.
Nova-Fiber 6 inch X 75 Foot Roll (15cm X 23m) Reinforcing and Anti Fracture Mesh Tape for Liquid Waterproofing Membranes
We recommend using a Diamabrush to prepare concrete, Vinyl Tile (VCT), Quarry / Ceramic Tile, and to remove adhesives
If attempting to remove asbestos, there are health and legal concerns whenever dealing with asbestos, which we are not qualified to advise on, so we recommend that you consult your local envirnomental health authorities.
Diamabrush Coating and Removal Tools
Diamabrush Hand Tools for Pros - The Home Depot
Video: Diamabrush Removal Tool Training
Diamabrush Hand Tools for Pros - The Home Depot
Diamabrush tools are also available for sale at Amazon. Here are some links to get you started.
4.5" Hand Grinder Set from Amazon
7" Hand Grinder Set from Amazon
Diamabrush Floor Preparation Tools
Before buying replacement blades for Diamabrush the Concrete Prep Plus Tool recommend first making sure that either a new head or the larger set
of replacment isn’t cheaper – as the prices fluctuate.
Calcium chloride tests should be conducted to determine if the concrete is sufficiently dry for the installation
of Everlast® Floor. The calcium chloride tests should be conducted in accordance with the latest edition of ASTM F 1869, Standard Test Method for Measuring Vapor Emission Rate of Concrete Subfloor Using Anhydrous Calcium Chloride. When running a calcium chloride test, it is important to remove any grease, oil, curing agents, etc. so accurate readings can be obtained. Concrete hydrostatic, capillary or moisture pressure must be no greater than 3.0 lbs./1000 sf/24 hours.
Use for weighing the calcium chloride test kits before and after the test.
Our tool list wouldn’t be complete without our recommended vacuums. No flooring professional should be without a good vacuum.
Calcium chloride tests should be conducted to determine if the concrete is sufficiently dry for the installation
of Everlast® Floor. The calcium chloride tests should be conducted in accordance with the latest edition of ASTM F 1869, Standard Test Method for Measuring Vapor Emission Rate of Concrete Subfloor Using Anhydrous Calcium Chloride. When running a calcium chloride test, it is important to remove any grease, oil, curing agents, etc. so accurate readings can be obtained. Concrete hydrostatic, capillary or moisture pressure must be no greater than 3.0 lbs./1000 sf/24 hours.
Use for weighing the calcium chloride test kits before and after the test.
In some cases it is necessary to create cut joints to allow for movement in the concrete slab. While Everlast® Floor has more flexibility than other epoxy floors, it should not be used to bridge isolation joints or expansion joints. In most cases due to it’s tough flexibility Everlast® Floor can successfully bridge control joints, sometimes though an epoxy crack suppressant membrane (available from Everlast® Epoxy) or a cut joint is needed.
Here are the tools and fillers we recommend to cut and fill joints.
Everlast® Floor will turn yellow when exposed to UV rays. UV rays can penetrate windows and also can be emitted from some lighting sources (some fluorescent lighting, for example). Here are some recommendations to help minimize the UV rays which will be in contact with the floor.
