From industrial buildings to commercial kitchens to residential garages, epoxy flooring provides a durable and functional flooring option for users across a wide range of applications. But before epoxy installation can begin, five things need to happen.
1. Book an Appointment that Works with Your Schedule
Most interior renovation projects are disruptive, whether they are small residential jobs or large commercial ones. To avoid too much disruption to your operations, once you have selected an epoxy installation company, book an appointment at a time that is most convenient for you, knowing that you will need to be out of the space for at least 24-72 hours and possibly more.
Once the epoxy is poured, it needs enough time to cure, and during that period you need to keep it off the floors. For the first 24 hours, your epoxy floors should not be disturbed at all. By day 2, light traffic is usually ok, and by the third day, the flooring should be set enough to allow operations to resume normally. Curing times vary and can be affected by the temperature in the space; epoxy cures slower in cooler temperatures and quicker in higher heat.
2. Thoroughly Clean the Surface
Before epoxy installation can begin, all surfaces must be thoroughly cleaned of any dust, debris, and any chemical or oil residue. The best way to clean is to first sweep with a stiff bristle broom to remove all surface debris, followed by a hard mop and warm water to get rid of everything else. You must leave enough time for floors to dry completely before your epoxy installation.
3. Repair Large Surface Damage
One of the most significant benefits of epoxy flooring is that it can cover small areas of surface imperfections. However, larger chips and cracks should be repaired before your epoxy installation to avoid any delays. Remember, all repairs need to be completely dry before your epoxy installation can begin.
4. Clear the Area
If the area has not already been completely cleared of equipment or other items, it should be done before your installation. When storing items, make sure your contractor still has ample access to space, enough to move around during installation, and room to bring in their equipment.
5. Remain Reachable
You certainly don’t need to stay during the epoxy installation, but make sure that your contractor can reach you if they need to. You will also want to schedule time for the installer to go over your new flooring's care and maintenance instructions.
Once the space is ready and you have chosen a convenient time, work can begin. You can expect your contractor to arrive on installation day with everything they need, ready to go.
The first step will be to give the floors one last good sweep before starting with an epoxy primer. Primer will help ensure adherence to the epoxy and prevent bubbles from forming. Next, the epoxy will be carefully mixed and poured. The product goes on with a roller, similar to a paint roller.
Also Read: What Are the Different Types of Epoxy Flooring?
A complete epoxy installation can take more than one coat, and each coat needs to dry for 24 hours before the next one is applied. If any imperfections appear after the first cost has dried, they can easily be repaired before the next or final coat is applied.
Epoxy floors have an extremely long life expectancy and are very low maintenance. So while installation may take a few days, once installed, you can expect your flooring to last upwards of 20+ years.
