Common epoxy floor problems and solutions

Epoxy floors cure to a beautiful, shiny finish that protects the surface. Unfortunately, improper handling can affect the look and texture of your floors. Epoxy, or resin, is a tricky material if you don't have professional application experience.

Flooring products require resins and activators to be true epoxies. Because epoxy flooring is a two-part product, it requires professional installation to get it properly proportioned. If an inexperienced person tries to use this product, some defects may appear on your floor. Even scraping by a qualified floor technician can go wrong for the following reasons:

• friction often

• weather

• Install scrape

Among other things, these conditions can cause various epoxy flooring problems. Don't despair, though, because your floor always has a solution to these problems. Read on for common commercial epoxy floor problems and how to fix them.

Problem: Peeling Epoxy Floors

If you notice a portion of the epoxy floor is going up or tearing, the epoxy floor is peeling. Spalling can create an uneven surface and an unprofessional look, which can also damage the concrete floor beneath it.

Epoxy floors can peel for a number of reasons, some of which have to do with the surrounding conditions in which a professional uses them. If, during application or setting, the epoxy floor flakes:

• the temperature is too high

• the temperature is too low

• high humidity

Resins and hardeners need the right conditions to set. If your business has high humidity, moisture may seep from the concrete floor beneath the epoxy. The buildup of moisture can lead to different problems, including peeling. Temperature changes can also cause condensation, adding to moisture problems.

Even if the weather doesn't fluctuate between hot and cold, either extreme can cause the epoxy floor to flake. When temperatures are too hot or too cold, whether inside your building or outside, it can affect how the epoxy cures. If the epoxy hasn't hardened properly, it won't sit directly on the concrete. As a result, you'll see flaking and uneven resin.

Surface preparation is also important for a smooth epoxy floor. For a variety of reasons, professionals make sure your floors meet the following criteria.

1. No oil and debris: These substances will cause trouble for the resin. Oil and other materials may become trapped under the epoxy. If something obstructs the application of the coating, the coating will not adhere properly to the concrete floor. Grease on the floor can also cause the resin to cure improperly, which can lead to flaking.

2. With openings: If the surface is too smooth, the epoxy cannot adhere to it. When this happens, you end up with peeling floors because the resin won't bond as it sets.

3. Complete drying: Whether you have washed the floor or professionally removed the previous epoxy floor, it needs to dry. Allow at least 24 hours between cleaning the concrete floor and having a professional apply the new resin. A wet floor can create the same problems as a dirty floor, epoxy does not adhere to concrete.

If your floors are dirty, too slippery or too wet, the resin will not harden properly. If you don't already have a professional to apply epoxy floors to, you're in luck. A few simple precautions will help keep your epoxy floor from flaking in future applications. If your resin has been used and you notice flaking, you still have some solutions.

Solution: Epoxy Floor Stripping

To avoid flaking due to epoxy mistakes, professionals take extra care before and during use. To prevent your new epoxy floor from peeling, make sure the following steps are taken by an expert.

1. Clean the surface: While you can sweep and wash the floor before the installer arrives, a specialist should clean the floor or ensure it is clean before use. Use water at least a day before the professional is scheduled to arrive so everything is dry with the resin.

2. Prepare the concrete for porosity: Professionals know to strike a good balance between profiling the surface and creating an overly porous surface. They may use a Grinder to roughen the concrete surface.

3. Work in better weather conditions: The weather needs to be just right so that the resin can be applied without any problems. If you have a climate-controlled environment, consult a professional to find out what the optimum temperature is.

Even with careful application, you may notice that your epoxy floor flakes over time. Consult a professional who will determine how to fix epoxy errors in other applications. If the problem is severe, they may decide that the epoxy floor needs to be replaced. To do this, experts need to first remove the old and damaged epoxy. Removing resin floors requires trained professionals who take safety precautions during the different removal processes.

1. Grinders: Ground Grinders and hand tools for corners make resin removal easier. Again, this process can generate dust from the resin, so it's important that a pro wears the correct gear. Experts vacuum the particles as they move so they can see if they've removed all the epoxy. The floor installer will also make sure the area is free of dirt and debris before applying the new resin.

Replacing all epoxy floors may not be ideal, but it is the best way to fix many problems with your entire floor. Unfortunately, flaking epoxy floors are not a problem that you see with resin floors.

Problem: Epoxy floor foaming

Pinholes, craters, and air pockets are common epoxy floor problems that can cause a blistered surface. When your epoxy floor blisters, a similar cause of flaking resin can be the culprit. If conditions are too cold or direct sunlight hits your cured resin, you may see air bubbles. Other problems that cause blistering in epoxy floors are listed below.

1. Improper Mixing of Epoxy: If someone using epoxy floors mixes the resin and hardener too quickly, air bubbles can develop in the mixture. These air bubbles will remain in the tacky epoxy even during application.

2. The surface is too porous: Too many pores in the concrete floor will allow air to rise as the epoxy cures. As the air rises, the resin above traps it, creating air bubbles. As the epoxy hardens, air pockets may rise, and if they are larger air bubbles, they may cause pinholes or craters.

3. Wrong ratio: Epoxy resin and hardener need to be well balanced. This tricky ratio varies from product to product, which is why it's recommended to stick with professional installation. Without enough hardener, your floors won't cure properly, which could lead to blisters or other problems. If there is too much hardener, the installer will have to rush or apply an epoxy that is too viscous to apply in a smooth coat.

4. Rush scraping: If the person applying your epoxy floor does this in a hurry, you may notice air bubbles. While professionals do work at a pace so the resin doesn't cure before application, they take care to avoid creating air bubbles. It is possible to rush the work even between coats of epoxy. Each coat needs sufficient time to dry, or you risk applying fresh epoxy to a substrate that has not yet cured.

Blistering of epoxy floors can create an uneven surface. Blisters that are severe enough can be dangerous. Even if you have small air bubbles or pinholes, they can give your floor an unprofessional finish. Pinholes can absorb moisture or other spills, which can end up endangering the concrete. Avoid any of these problems by taking some precautions and solutions to blistered resin floors.

Solution: Epoxy floor foaming

Whether you have a small clump of air bubbles or a pinhole or blister across the entire floor surface, a pro will know what to do. An easy fix is to have an expert sand off a layer of epoxy. By polishing the surface, professionals prepare the floor for a new coat of epoxy. With any luck, the bubble is only temporary.

To avoid blisters, air bubbles or holes, have a professional apply your new resin floor. You'll see the difference in professional epoxy applications. Trained individuals will:

• Make sure the concrete floor is not too smooth or porous

• Carefully Mix Resin and Hardener

• Take your time for a neat app

• Work fast enough so the mixture doesn't cure before you apply it

Remember that epoxy is a difficult substance to work with unless you are an expert. Even professionals can experience unexpected air bubbles or blisters, but they know how to fix them. Choose an experienced Film Applicator to minimize blistering on your epoxy floor.

Likewise, if the problem is too severe, a professional may decide that replacing the resin is a better course of action. They will follow the same safety steps above before a brand new epoxy floor is properly applied.

Problem: Discoloration of Epoxy Floors

Yellowing or uneven floors are signs of discoloration in epoxy floors. Because resins and activators are tricky substances, discoloration is a common problem. If you or the person laying the floor makes any of the following mistakes, your epoxy floor may be discolored.

1. Exceeding the pot life: The pot life of epoxy resin refers to how long it takes for the combination of resin and hardener to double the viscosity. As the term implies, a hardener is used to cure the resin. If the installer waits too long to apply the epoxy, past the pot life, the resin may not apply properly. It can also change color or turn yellow. Even if a mixture seems to work, it will most likely turn out to be low quality if its pot life is exceeded.

2. Using the wrong hardener: Every resin requires a properly balanced activator to harden. During application, the wrong type or amount of hardener can affect the color and consistency of the final product. If your epoxy is the wrong color or is turning yellow, the source of the problem may be the wrong activator.

3. Allowable Chemical Exposure: Carbon monoxide and other chemicals can react with new epoxy to discolor it. Depending on the type of chemical, your epoxy floor may turn yellow or turn another color.

4. Allowable UV exposure: Sunlight or UV light will darken the resin even after it has cured. Depending on how often sunlight hits the resin, you may notice a pattern or tone of discoloration. If your epoxy is exposed to direct sunlight during application, you may see discoloration and air bubbles in the finished product.

Discolored epoxy has an uneven and sometimes unprofessional appearance. Discoloration can be a sign of other problems with the resin besides cosmetic issues. To see if you have these problems or to fix discoloration, you'll need to do some maintenance on your floors.

Solution: discoloration of epoxy floor

Check the floor for discoloration by scraping off a little of the top layer with a knife. Try to do this in an inconspicuous area to avoid leaving scratchy sections of floor in the middle of your space. If you can see a huge difference in color between the top layer and what you scratched underneath, you have discoloration.

Discoloration in a small area of epoxy flooring or on the first coat may be an easy fix. While some tips recommend using bleach or steam to clean the discoloration, it is recommended to leave the problem to an expert. Professionals can repaint floors after proper maintenance to keep your floors looking like new.

However, depending on the depth of the discoloration, resurfacing the epoxy floor may not be enough to solve the problem. If each layer of the epoxy floor is discolored, there may be problems during use. In this case, a full replacement may be necessary.

In your new application, try to limit the floor's exposure to chemicals and sunlight. Use curtains to prevent excess UV exposure on the floor. Store chemicals on the floor or in an area away from epoxy floors. With proper maintenance, your epoxy floors will last longer and you will see fewer of the common problems mentioned above.