Troubleshooting floor coatings

Common flooring issues when applying floor coatings.

Although thorough preparation is the key to a successful application, problems do happen, here are a few common flooring issues and how to correct and avoid them.

 

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Outgassing

Defined: Concrete slab outgassing may cause fish eyes, craters and pinholes in the coatings.  Outgassing is caused by air trapped in the voids of the concrete, and when the temperature rises, the air within the concrete seeks equilibrium with the surrounding air, you get outgassing. 

Solution: Rough up coating with 60 grit screen or sandpaper to remove large craters and fish eyes.  You may need to fill the large holes with more material.  Clean and vacuum and apply another coat.  If over the 24 hour application window, sand the entire floor before applying the additional coat.

Avoiding in the future: Apply Epoxy-Shell WB 250 or 50 as a primer. Or apply when when the surface temperature and air temperature are in a cooling cycle and avoid applying any products in direct sunlight.

improper mixing

Improper mixing can lead to multiple flooring issues.  2 component products require proper mixing to cure properly.  Improper mixing will result in un-cured spots on a floor, longer drying times, and total flooring failures.

Solution: Remove areas by scraping off the uncured materials.  Clean the newly exposed areas with solvent.  Test newly exposed areas for correct concrete profile.  Apply product into the newly exposed area to being up to the same thickness as surrounding floor.  Note: you will notice the fixed areas.  In order to have uniformity, apply another coat to entire floor.  If over the 24 hour application window, sand the entire floor before applying the additional coat.

Avoiding in the future:  Have your best guy on the mixing team.  Setup a mixing station.  Avoid using high speed mixing equipment.  Follow mixing times and procedures located on the label and application guide.  

TEMPERATURE

Do not apply when the temperature of the concrete substrate exceeds the surrounding air temperature by more than 18° F, due to outgassing.

Temperature application limitations

Poly-Shell apply -20°F – 130°F
Epoxy-Shell apply 50°F – 95°F
Dura-Shell apply 50°F – 90°F

Humidity on Poly-Shell - 
High humidity will reduce working time
Low humidity will increase dry time

Temperature on Epoxy-Shell -
Lower temps = slower curing times
Higher temps = fast curing times