Floors are part of the essential elements that make up the residential, commercial, and industrial spaces. They are a permanent component of the area which is why it is important to choose a floor that is of the best quality. Not only it enhances the interiors and the aesthetic look of the area, but also improves the quality of living. Since everyone wants their floors to be durable, resilient, and long lasting, the application of epoxy resin as a coating for the floor is one of the most efficient ways.
Epoxy resin is a versatile flooring solution for a variety of areas and facilities, a material that can be used for many different functional purposes. It is an ideal coating for the preservation of concrete surfaces, and protection for harsh impacts. This can shield your concrete floor from any further damage because of its durability and firmness. And apart from these, it is also an attractive alternative to give your floor a spice of gloss finish that no other conventional paint can match.
Before coating your floor with epoxy resin, there are still a few things you need to keep in mind aside from the benefits you already know about them. Prior to the tedious application process, it is essential to have extensive surface preparations to ensure that the epoxy resin will be correctly and evenly applied. You must also understand that its curing process may differ and can take a much longer time than you expect them to be. Epoxy floors tend to be very slippery because of their smooth surface. With this, it is important to always be cautious. Lastly, epoxy flooring can be very sensitive at times, especially when the curing process is not over yet. To learn more about these, keep on reading.
Extensive Surface Preparations
Prior to the application procedure of coating your floor with epoxy resin, it is important to prep them extensively. Problems and unsuccessful coating processes would most likely occur if the surface preparation is done improperly.
The preparation process includes thoroughly cleaning the floor, repairing damaged concrete by filling the cracks and patched areas with epoxy paste, and priming the floor with an epoxy primer. You need to make sure that each part of the surface, including the corners, is completely clean. Moreover, it is essential to have your floor undergo a moisture test. Too much moisture on the surface might slow the curing process and prevent the epoxy resin from forming adhesive bonds.
Experts also suggest removing floor paints before applying epoxy as it will not be working properly. After successfully removing the paint, you should clean the floor with water and remove the remaining dust and debris that might hinder the application.
The preparation process alone is a lot of work and needs a significant amount of effort for a successful epoxy resin coating application.
Curing Takes Time
Each floor varies from one another. In terms of the time consumed for the curing process of the epoxy coating, some may take much longer drying times than others. It all depends on certain factors like the temperature. In cooler temperatures, the process becomes slower. Sometimes, the longer you had to wait for the process to be fully done, the higher the possibility of it experiencing problems. Having the floors exposed in a warm temperature on the other hand, can guarantee that the curing time would be faster.
Epoxy is known to be a material that sets quickly after application. But just because it looks hard and dry, it does not mean that it is already safe to walk upon. You need to wait for around a whole day after the epoxy coating application for the floor to be used. However, to see a better result and for the complete curing process where the epoxy flooring hardens fully, it usually takes a week, or sometimes as long as 30 days.
Epoxy Floors are Slippery When Wet
Any high-gloss surface tends to be very slippery when wet, including epoxy floors. Since epoxy resin is non-porous, it also means it creates a smooth surface. Thus, this type of coating can be very dangerous especially for areas where oil, water, and grease are prone to being spilled.
However, there are ways to mitigate this problem. One of the most ideal solutions for your slippery epoxy coating is that it can be mixed with anti-slip additives or can be topped with anti-slip coating. For anti-slip additives, you can mix this with the epoxy flooring prior to the actual application, as a way of prevention of future issues with slippery floors. But there are times when you tend to forget to make their floors slip-resistant and already installed the epoxy coating beforehand. In this case, it is still possible to make them slip-resistant by putting anti-slip coating on top. This can be done simply by just how you would do with paint.
You can also just use synthetic rubber mats or runners over the epoxy flooring, especially on areas prone to water or oil spilling, for a quick fix. These mats and runners can soak up the liquid, preventing the spill from spreading all over the epoxy floor. The anti-slip material under these mats can keep them from moving, which makes it safer when you step or walk upon them.
The epoxy floors may be slippery, but with certain measures, you will not need to worry about the accidents it may cause. It might be a little costly to add to your budget, but safety must always be on top priority.
Tedious Installation Process
Apart from the long process of getting the concrete floor ready, the installation procedure may also be quite tedious and time-consuming. There are a lot of things to consider whenever you are going to attempt applying it by yourself. In terms of humidity levels for instance, they must be low enough to avoid moisture. Because as mentioned earlier, moisture can be a hindrance from a successful epoxy resin coating application and can cause delays.
But with all of these, you still need to be patient during the process to avoid reinstallation, retouching, and refinishing all over again. This is to avoid damages that might generate additional costs.
It Can Be Very Sensitive
The application procedure of the epoxy flooring must be done according to the directions given for better results. It would not last long as it should if not done appropriately. And since the epoxy coating can be very delicate especially in the first few hours after it was applied, it can get scratched easily. It might leave a permanent mark on your floor that could ruin the overall aesthetic of it.
Also, it is recommended to apply the epoxy coating during a certain time of the year where humidity levels in your area are low. This is to avoid moisture on your floors that can cause damage to their durability and firmness.
Key Takeaway
Before coating your floor with epoxy resin, you need to know and understand certain things. Prior to the tedious installation process, you have to undergo extensive surface preparations. You also need to know that the entire curing process can take a few weeks for your flooring to be completely done. However, the downside of the epoxy flooring is that it can be very sensitive and be very slippery when wet.
The importance of knowing the downsides of the coating is to know what are some of the things you need to be cautious of. You need to put these aspects into consideration when you plan to coat your floor with epoxy. So if possible, consult with experts to provide you with better suggestions and solutions for this.