At 77°F and hotter, the floor will dry in approximately nine to 12 hours. If the temperature is lower than 77°F, the epoxy floor covering will need 12 to 18 hours to dry. Most epoxies achieve complete chemical cure within 7 days of application. When using polyaspartic, cure times increase, especially with 100% solid products.
Most polyaspartic patients can walk after 6 hours and can return to normal functioning after 24 hours. It will take approximately 2 to 4 hours for the soil surface to dry at 77°F or higher, or 4 to 6 hours when it is colder. Some epoxy coatings even provide additional floor protection in environments subject to varying extreme temperatures, such as commercial kitchens, refrigeration units, or deep-frozen refrigerators. Efflorescence caused by condensation will not affect a garage floor covering once it is removed before applying epoxy.
Unfortunately, all manufacturers of easy-to-apply DIY garage floor products market these types of acrylic paints and coatings because they're cheap (relatively speaking), meaning they're quickly leaving the shelves of home improvement centers and hardware stores. Two or more installers will ease the anxiety that some people feel, reduce the chance of errors, and ensure that you can cover a larger area of your garage floor in less time. We do not recommend using aggressive detergents, acids or alkalis, as they can damage the garage floor covering. Once you have decided that the garage floor will accept an epoxy coating, the next step is to clean the surface of the garage floor.
The second problem, and the most worrying one, is that it seems that you have applied an oil-based polyurethane coating to hardwood floors. Epoxy, as well as other garage floor coverings, are influenced by the weather and can affect cure times, viscosity and adhesion. More than one person has gone through the process of preparing the floor in their garage only to open the kits and packages the day they plan to apply them and discover that something was wrong with the order. First of all, always unpack and inspect any garage floor coating kits and supplies you order long before you start.
You should also prevent dust or leaves from entering under the garage door and also entering the coating. This DIY garage floor covering application guide is designed as one of the most comprehensive and detailed instruction manuals. Applicator error is significantly reduced when the process of applying a floor covering or epoxy paint product is better understood. Even if the garage floor appears dry, moisture could evaporate from the surface faster than it forms and not be visible to the naked eye.
Leave Reply