I keep seeing people skip the primer step before painting their garage floor epoxy
I watched a neighbor in my subdivision apply a two-part epoxy kit directly onto his concrete last weekend, and he was upset when it started peeling after just a few weeks. In my experience, using a proper acid etch or primer is a basic step that makes the epoxy stick for good. Are people just trying to save a couple hours, or is there a decent reason to skip it?
Skipping the primer is a huge gamble. That concrete needs to be opened up for the epoxy to lock in, otherwise it's just sitting on top. It's not about saving time, it's about not understanding how the materials work. A good etch changes the surface from slick to rough, giving the coating something to grab onto. Why risk a whole project to avoid one extra step?
Actually, those videos are a huge help for beginners. They cut the fluff and show the core steps without getting lost in details. Sometimes you just need to see the basic idea before diving into the boring stuff.