Settle for the best, not for less!
No matter what type of professional flooring contractor you ask, you'll hear the same thing: this business is worth it, but you need knowledge to succeed. Epoxy flooring is no different, and it comes with its own complications to navigate. If you're a contractor working with epoxy floors, you're likely to encounter these 5 common issues during your career.
Here, we'll outline the most common epoxy resin problems, their causes, and effective solutions to ensure your epoxy projects go smoothly. With our help, you'll know how to troubleshoot your epoxy flooring projects in no time!
FAQ: 5 Most Common Epoxy Resin Flooring Issues
1. Why Does My Epoxy Resin Have Bubbles?
Bubbles are the bane of a professional epoxy resin contractor's existence. They can be incredibly easy to deal with, but they're near inevitable without the most careful installation practices. Generally, bubbles are a result of moisture or trapped air during installation. Here's a few of our favorite ways to deal with bubbling epoxy resin!
Solution:
- Test for moisture, both in the concrete substrate and environmentally, and treat the sources as much as possible.
- Apply epoxy in optimal conditions, avoiding humid weather.
- Treat and pop the bubbles before they cure by applying a moderate amount of heat.
- Carefully remove the affected epoxy layer. This should be a last resort, though, as the other methods should solve your issues.
2. Why Won't My Epoxy Resin Cure Consistently?
Curing issues with epoxy are often the most frustrating. You go through a long, careful epoxy resin installation, only to get roadblocked at the finish line! There's a few different causes for inconsistent cure. Could be environmental temperature differences, thickness of installed epoxy, or simple impatience.
Solution:
- Keep a stable temperature range (70-80°F or 21-27°C) in your project space.
- Use space heaters to regulate the temperature, or open windows if weather permits.
- Follow the manufacturer's recommended curing time and conditions.
3. Why Is My Epoxy Resin Cracking?
Cracks come from improper mixing ratios or applying epoxy too thickly. They're unsightly, they're unsafe and they're unsustainable! Cracks can appear just from old age, too, although epoxy resin floors are the best equipped to fight against that. Luckily, cracks are easy to fix either post- or pre-installation.
Solution:
- Carefully measure and mix all your chemical components. Follow the manufacturer's directions! This alone will solve a lot of potential roadblocks during a project.
- Apply epoxy resin carefully and thoughtfully, don't let it build up too much in any one area!
- Keep a stable ambient temperature range in the project space.
4. Why Does My Epoxy Resin Turn Yellow?
Traditional epoxy resin's one semi-fatal flaw is that it will yellow when exposed to UV rays, particularly in outdoor applications. It's not incredibly difficult to avoid, but it does take some pre-planning and thought.
Solution:
- Use UV-resistant epoxy formulations for outdoor projects. Consider polyaspartic or fast-cure epoxy resins designed to prevent yellowing.
- Apply a clear UV-resistant topcoat for sunlight protection.
- Use an epoxy floor design that'll hide the yellowing, like a quartz or metallic floor!
5. Why Is My Epoxy Resin Peeling?
Like we said before, curing issues are some of the most frustrating to deal with. Peeling is a great example of that. Your epoxy resin floor could be doomed to peel from the very first minute you put it on your concrete surface, and you would have no idea until hours and hours later! Here's how you can avoid your epoxy resin peeling.
Solution:
- Surface preparation is essential. Make sure to clean and grind the substrate, you need a clean, rough surface for the epoxy resin to bond to.
- Use a high-quality epoxy primer compatible with your chosen epoxy system. Buying your resin resources from one brand is an easy way to guarantee compatibility.
- Thoroughly test for moisture before epoxy resin application. Hidden moisture is an epoxy resin floor killer!
Conclusion
It doesn't have to be a chore to troubleshoot epoxy resin. Most of these issues are, as you now know, easy to avoid! With just a little bit of knowledge and patience, these 5 common epoxy resin issues can be a thing of the past. It's easier to prevent them than it is to fix them, so take that extra minute of care during your installation!
DIY or seasoned professional, you'll need a helping hand on the job from time to time. We're here at the Xtreme Polishing Systems (XPS) online store to be the bedrock of your success! Contact our team for help finding the right materials for you.
