Epoxy coating is very popular amongst homeowners due to its versatility and durability. Apart from homes, industrial epoxy coatings are used for commercial flooring too. There are innumerable benefits of this coating if applied appropriately, but beginners and homeowners tend to make mistakes while applying it.
These mistakes lead to appearance issues and weaken the epoxy resin. Such errors will drain your pockets, and undesirable results are also expected. Therefore, you should take some time and read this article further to avoid such mistakes.
Here are the few common mistakes which you should undoubtedly avoid while applying an epoxy coating.
#1. Small Bubbles in the Screed
While applying, many beginners start experiencing significant bubbles in their epoxy screed. What causes such bubbles? The main reason behind the bubbles is the air inside the concrete slab. How can you avoid such bubbles? The primary way to prevent such bubbles is to make sure your flooring is appropriately sealed or primed. It disallows the air to rise from the concrete and affect the coating.
There is one more alternative way to avoid small bubbles. Whenever you are applying thick level coatings, use a high-quality spiked roller. A high-quality spike roller will wipe out all the bubbles, and you’ll achieve a beautiful surface.
#2. Lack in Floor Preparation
It is the most common reason for epoxy coating failures. A lot of time, beginners undervalue the importance of concrete preparation. Initially, you have to clean the concrete and make the surface smooth for coating. The surface should be free of all grease, oil, wax, and other impurities. Above all, the pores of the concrete surface should be opened appropriately. This process also usually involves acid etching. It would help if you grind the concrete before applying the epoxy.
But, it’s always not always practical for the homeowners. One more problem which is related to poor floor preparation is the de-lamination of epoxy or floor peeling. Fisheyes is also another problem which occurs due to the presence of contaminants on the surface.
#3. Moisture in the Concrete Surface
You probably don’t know that moisture creates hydrostatic pressure that causes the epoxy to separate from the surface. Therefore, a quick yet straightforward moisture test is a must to check whether your floor is suitable for epoxy coating.
According to the humidity and temperature, you should allow concrete to dry for more than 24 hours. If not, the moisture will be trapped inside the pores of the surface. Later, this trapping of air will lead to small bubbles. You should also do a moisture test before the epoxy coating.
#4. Stretching the Epoxy
When the epoxy runs low there is a tendency to stretch it, which leads to a less glossy surface and discoloration of the coating. Above all, over-stretching of epoxy also weakens the coating. This mistake usually occurs due to the single coat epoxy paint kits like Quorate and Rust-Oleum. It can even happen with premium epoxy products.
Therefore, you should always measure the surface area and purchase a paint kit with sufficient epoxy for an appropriate coating, preferably after consultation with a professional. Often manufacturers and sellers shortchange customers by selling expired epoxy, so this is another area of caution that needs to be taken.
