Epoxy flooring can cure into a beautiful and shiny finish that will protect any surface, but improper treatment can affect the appearance and texture of your floors. It’s a tricky material that requires the experience of a professional to apply it. It must have a resin and an activator to be a true epoxy. Because it’s a two-part product, it requires a professional to get the right ratio. If someone without the proper experience tries to use this product, your floors could end up having certain imperfections. Even installations from qualified flooring technicians can go wrong because of the following:
- Normal wear and tear.
- Weather conditions.
- Improper installations.
These conditions (along with many others) can cause a number of problems. But there’s no reason to despair, because there are solutions. Here are some common epoxy flooring mistakes and how you can avoid them.
#1: Not Repairing the Concrete Beforehand
You need to make sure the concrete surface doesn’t have any damage, because it can affect how the epoxy sits. With large enough holes, the epoxy could drip into the cracks (which can cause a loss of material). You should fill in these holes with concrete patching materials and smooth them out with a trowel or some other tool. You should wait for the concrete to set before starting the application process. Because concrete is often rough, you should also polish the top layer of the surface. This will give you a smoother surface on which you can apply the epoxy.
#2: Not Cleaning the Surface Before Application
Before the epoxy can be applied, the surface needs to be cleaned. Sweep the area to get rid of any debris that might be on the surface, and be sure to vacuum up any dust or smaller items. Once you have done this, you should apply a degreaser to remove any oil or grease that might have gotten on the surface. This is especially important if you have used the area for machinery or vehicle maintenance.
Use a stiff-bristled brush to scrub the area with a mixture of soap and warm water, so you can clean off some of the harder stains and dirt that’s harder to remove. Rinse the area with clean water and let it dry. You should then perform a moisture test to make sure there’s no excess water that could affect the epoxy’s application.
#3: Not Having Enough Ventilation
If you don’t have enough ventilation while you’re applying the epoxy, you can expose yourself to two major hazards. You could be harmed by the fumes that it lets out as it cures. Being exposed to these gases can trigger allergic reactions and even cause respiratory problems. Both would be uncomfortable for any, so it’s best to avoid them. Poor ventilation can also delay the curing process. Epoxy needs oxygen to exist in the area around the material, and having more flow of the gas can speed up the curing process. Opening windows and using fans to move the air around can help you to prevent these problems.
#4: Not Mixing the Epoxy Well Enough
If you don’t mix the epoxy properly, the resin and hardener might react with each other in a way that you may not expect. This can cause the following problems:
- Uneven coloring in the epoxy.
- Loss of glossiness.
- Slower curing time.
- Tackiness on the surface.
- Soft or “bouncy” sections.
- Breakages.
- Coating failure.
As you’re stirring all the elements of epoxy flooring together, make sure you do it thoroughly. Use a mixer that’s designed for that specific purpose (or a drill with a paddle attached) to make sure the ingredients combine well. But before you can even pour out the components, you’ll need to find a clean container. Otherwise, you could introduce contaminants to the mixture (which can cause problems).
#5: Not Having the Right Epoxy Ratio
As you combine the resin with the hardener, you need to make sure you’re using the right amounts of each because the chemical reactions you’re expecting out of them will require a certain amount of both. If you have too much resin, the mixture will have a lot of “unreacted” material (which will make the surface too soft). You will most likely have “bubbles” of unreacted resin under the surface, as well as soft and squishy areas on the top. If you use too much hardener, the resin will cure too quickly. You won’t be able to pour and smooth out the resin before it starts to harden. You’ll end up wasting a lot of the material and needing to buy more (in addition to removing what you have already applied).
If you’re looking for one of the best places for epoxy flooring in Los Angeles, be sure to get in touch with the Fiber Coat Deck Company.