Epoxy floor coatings can last for years if properly done by a reputable contractor and maintained properly over time. If you start seeing signs that indicate the need to get a fresh coat, here are some things to look out for to ensure the best result.
Trapped Debris
This usually happens if you forget to clean the floor before coating. All the loose dust particles get trapped in the concrete pores during the sanding process and if you don’t clean up properly, it will open up a whole new world of headaches in the long run. Apart from not having a properly sealed concrete pore, you can’t take out any visible imperfections because the resin mixture has already been applied. To avoid this, be sure to vacuum the floor and dust off the walls too so nothing falls onto the floor before you do the first coat. Use a good industrial-grade vacuum to make sure the surface is clean. Depending on the project, you may even use cloth and solvent to collect any micro dust particles stuck in between crevices.
Wrinkling Epoxy Paint
If you apply a second coat of epoxy without having the first coat fully dry, it usually ends up with a wrinkly surface. This is a mistake commonly seen with inexperienced installers. Due to different drying periods between the layers, the surface layer shrinks sharply and folds upward, producing a wrinkled, uneven, irregular look. Initial coatings with solvents that didn’t fully evaporate will have moisture seep upwards affecting the layer on top and resulting in wrinkles. Never apply the next coat on wet epoxy, always make sure to wait until the floor fully dries before applying a new coat.
Cheap Concrete
The quality of the concrete also plays a major role in achieving a very good Epoxy floor coating. If you think that using a very high-quality epoxy resin mixture on low-grade concrete will magically fix your problem and come out perfect, sadly, you’re wrong. It doesn’t mean you can’t do it, but it won’t hide the fact that you have a bad-quality concrete underneath which may cause the new coat to have issues in the future. At GetPro Painting, we use diamond sanders to grind away the imperfections of bad concrete and if you’re up to using paint chip designs, you can opt for that as well to retain a very good finish.
Roller Marks
If you get these weird lines from roller marks on the floor, it’s probably because the epoxy wasn’t applied properly and it wasn’t given enough time to settle. Installers need to be very tidy as well because if they use dirty rollers, it will leave visible marks when the coat dries. Consistency in terms of motion during the installation process plays a big role too so make sure to always backroll the coating at a perpendicular direction. This will enable a uniform surface and ensure proper distribution.
Weather and Temperature
Weather conditions and/or temperature is one of the important parameters that homeowners/workers need to take into consideration when applying Epoxy floor coating. This is mainly because temperature plays a huge role in the chemical reaction that happens in the application. The heat helps with faster curing time while working in cold temperatures means longer pot life, depending on the situation both of these can be a positive or negative effect. Installers should always keep it in mind.
Always test the mixture before going all out in applying more coats. Temperature and humidity vary from one place to another so your epoxy mixture might need some tweaking to achieve the best result. Test the gel time or curing time by mixing scaled-down versions of the products. Doing this will also give you a rough estimate of the number of materials you’ll need for the entire project and have time to determine if there are any other substances that you’ll need to purchase which will be added to the final cost. None of these are cheap so if you have any leftovers, always store them safely in a cool dry place. Lastly, prioritize the safety of workers. They need to wear proper safety equipment and be aware of their surroundings to avoid possible issues.
Sticky Epoxy Floor
One of the purposes of an Epoxy floor is waterproofing, but if it gets wet during its curing or drying stage, it will make the floor sticky with watermarks all over the place so be sure there aren’t any leaks or any liquid will that might come in contact with the mixture during the entire process.
Additionally, tacky or sticky spots are usually a result of forgetting to add hardeners, lazy mixing, and improper use of the correct product proportions from inexperienced workers. Make sure that your workers have extensive knowledge & experience.
Keep these tips in mind to avoid getting yourself into tricky situations. Don’t be intimidated when asking questions because a good contractor will always take their time to sit down with you and explain the entire process. If you have any other inquiries, contact GP Concrete Solutions for a free consultation and estimate for any epoxy floor or polished concrete projects. Call us today at (734) 822-9595 or email us at info@GetProPainting.com.
