At Coatings Hub Norcal in San Jose and Jamestown, CA, we want to help you avoid seven of the most common problems with epoxy floor coatings. Taking your time to prep your floors and carefully following all application directions on the products you use to prime, apply, and seal makes all the difference.
- Bubbling
- Peeling
- Blistering & Cratering
- Fish Eyes
- Dull Finish
- Cloudiness
- Soft Patches Or Tackiness
Epoxy Flooring Is Well Worth The Effort
So long as they are applied properly, epoxy floor coatings are beautiful, easy to maintain, slip-resistant, and extremely durable. There are so many color options and additives available. No wonder epoxy is becoming the floor coating of choice for businesses and residential homeowners alike.
So, what causes epoxy flooring to fail? It depends on the floor, the coating you choose, and your application technique.
Bye-Bye Bubbling
Pinhole bubble formation happens when air is trapped during the material mixing process. Aggressive mixing is one reason; another is applying your products during cold weather. If mixing with a power drill, use a spiral-mixing blade and set the speed between 300-500 rpm. Either apply the coating in warmer weather or precondition the coating by keeping it warm until ready to use.
Poor Adhesion & Peeling
Poor adhesion will cause your epoxy floor coating to start peeling. Reasons for this include inadequate surface prep, failure to mix the components correctly, application over greasy or wet floors, excessive moisture, and contamination of the coating with dirty solvent, oil, etc. Guaranteeing the base is clean and dry before flooring application is essential, as is choosing the right kind of coating and primer.
Blistering & Crating
Large bubble formation or blistering occurs in the cured epoxy coating due to outgassing. How likely outgassing will occur depends upon the quality of your concrete and how porous it is. Solvent-based epoxy primer may reduce the risk of bubbling; also, you should not apply the coating in direct sunlight as the concrete may heat up. You can use epoxy gel products to fill large blisters, then sand them down and reapply epoxy coating over them.
“Fish Eyes”
Several things can cause the small imperfections, commonly known as “fish eyes.” Residual silicone deposits on the floor surface are one cause; the application over uncured epoxy primer is another. To prevent fish eyes and other minor imperfections, prepare the concrete surface with a recommended solvent or stripping agent.
A Dull Or Cloudy Finish
Epoxy floor coatings are known for their brilliant shine and glossy nature. A dull finish is usually due to excessive humidity and moisture condensation during the curing process. Try not to apply your flooring during humid weather, rainy days, or cold days, as the concrete’s cold surface temperature can also cause a dull finish.
A cloudy or white-looking epoxy coating usually occurs when water exposure occurs before the product has finished curing. Moisture can arise from improperly prepared and primed concrete or substrates or even mopping the surface before it has finished curing.
Soft Patches & Tackiness
Improper mixing or incomplete curing can lead to floors that will never cure. The only solution for this is to scrape, clean, and start from scratch. A true epoxy floor coating is a two-part product that contains resins plus a catalyst/hardening agent, so mixing the two parts correctly in the right proportions is essential.
Coatings Hub Norcal Knows Epoxy Flooring
As your San Jose and Jamestown floor coating experts, we can help you plan a successful project. We carry the most trusted brands in the industry, such as E2U, Enduro-Kote, and CTM epoxy. We also sell and rent all the tools you need to get your floor ready for a beautiful finish. Call or stop by to place your order today.
