How Cold Weather Affects Applying Floor Coating

Now that most of the country is experiencing chilly winter weather, it’s time to consider how the drop in temperature can affect applying epoxy floor coatings.

Cold temperatures can extend the pot life of epoxy floor coatings, but also cause a slower full cure. This can lengthen the time you have to wait between applying coats and possibly delay access to the floor until it is fully cured. The key is to work with the environment and the temperature limitations of the epoxy flooring products.

Start by checking the temperature of the concrete to be treated, not the air. Concrete can be much colder than the air, especially in areas with walls, doorways and vents. You can check the temperature using an infrared thermometer gun. You can also use it to check the dew point in the garage to reduce the chance of the coating not curing correctly due to moisture. Remember to check the temperature and dew point between each coat since it can change.

Some people like to use a propane heater prior to using the products to get the floor and environment at a good working temperature. Just remember to turn off the heaters before applying any product since they can be flammable.

After you’ve checked the concrete temperature, be sure to check the application temperature requirements of the epoxy floor coating. If you are using multiply layers, be sure to check the specifications for each one since they can be different. Garage Coatings recommends using an epoxy accelerator to help cure the floor coating faster in cold climates. Also, remember that it’s best to always store the epoxy products themselves in a room temperature environment that is 70 -80 degrees.  Keeping the epoxy at those temperatures for a day before the install will help the epoxy to cure faster when applied to the concrete floor.

All of the GarageCoatings.com epoxy flooring products can be installed in any temperature if the proper procedures are followed. We use a “wicking” technology in our epoxy base coat that has three times better adhesion to the concrete than a standard epoxy or polyaspartic floor coating. Then we finish the floor coating with a polyurea, polyaspartic or chemical resistant urethane topcoat, providing an industrial strength commercial floor coating that is resistant to scratching and staining.

Additionally, we recommend using an industrial diamond grinding machine to prepare the concrete since it provides a fast way to clean and prepare the concrete to receive the Epoxy Flooring Systems. We don’t recommend using acids for etching because if used improperly they can damage a concrete foundation, pollute the environment or damage a garden. We do offer Eco Concrete Profiler, an environmentally safe acid alternative that will etch the concrete without risk of damaging it or surrounding areas. Grinding the bare concrete will give your floor the best surface to receive our unique “wicking” Epoxy flooring coating.

For wetter climates where traction is a concern, GarageCoatings.com offers Rhino Grip,  a clear non-skid aggregate that can be added into the final coat to give the floor a grip-like texture that offers solid footing even when wet.

All the GarageCoatings.com epoxy flooring solutions come with a lifetime adhesion warranty for your protection and peace of mind.