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We've been selling epoxy - marine epoxy (boat building - wood / fiberglass repair) industrial coatings epoxy - garage epoxy - epoxy paint -
underwater epoxies - thick epoxy putties - tabletop epoxies and supplies
since the early 1990's
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site --- CLICK
HERE --- to return to EpoxyUSA.com
The
HELP PAGE is the easiest way to navigate through our 180 page web site! Epoxy Floor paint issues and lots more!
Read Before Viewing Other Sites. A very short introduction to the basics of epoxy floors for the homeowner and "Do It Yourselfer"
Need a quicker - more simple epoxy floor introduction? - Click Here
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????? Unlike our competitors we welcome communications from our visitors and customers. Questions? Ideas? Comments? Ready to Order? We're best reached by email (info@epoxyproducts.com) which is checked ALMOST 365 days a year. You can call us during our Office/Desk hours which are Mon-Thur 10:30-3 Eastern time - 603-435-7199. Orders are best handled online (click here for more contact info and links to our online 3rd party store), but telephone orders are cheerfully accepted too. If you are interested in epoxy floors please first read our page www.epoxyproducts.com/floorcoatings.html before calling or emailing as there are dozens of different epoxies, application methods, etc. that you need to think about first. Without first reading that page, we could spend hours and hours discussing your options while other people are also trying to contact us. |
Concrete sealing /sealers info page - epoxy and non epoxy options - Click Here -
Special site on GARAGE FLOOR epoxy coatings, paints - Click Here -
Epoxies are two part paints that are known for toughness but will usually yellow quickly in sunlight. They can seal wood, cement, concrete, or metal surfaces and serve as a floor coating or undercoat under other paints, tiles, or wood surfaces. The two parts of the epoxy kit are mixed together and then applied to the surface. The working time between mixing the epoxies and when it begins to set is based upon temperature, the amount of epoxy mixed, and the kind of epoxies. Many common epoxies may only have a working time of 15 to 30 minutes per batch under many circumstances. Most epoxy floors are applied by paint roller. Some professionally applied floors are sprayed or trawled down.
Problems that may be encountered with epoxy floors (and also their application) include:
1) the yellowing of the epoxy in sunlight (mentioned above);
2) the short working time of many epoxies;
3) air coming out of concrete surfaces and forming bubbles/blisters in thick epoxies that are just beginning to harden;
4) areas of the floor that remain sticky (a sign of poor or incorrect mixing of the two part epoxy);
5) the epoxy not sticking or being pulled up by hot tires etc. (this is related to the surface itself and its preparation prior to coating. It is not related to the epoxy itself);
6) no 'sure thing' preparation method - lots of preparation options available. You have to make some personal decisions on what kind and how much preparation is enough and then cross your fingers. You will not know until the coatings have been down for some time if the surface preparation was 'good enough.' In some cases the cement/concrete is in such bad conditional that no amount of surface preparation will be enough to keep the epoxy coatings adhered to the floor.;
7) moisture/water issues within the cement/concrete can also cause epoxy (and other floor coatings) to fail/lift off. True professionals know which jobs not to bid on and not to get involved with.
An epoxy floor coating can be a one to seven coat system. It can include colored sands or colored chips incorporated into the floor system for looks and/or anti slip. The introduction of sands or chips into the project greatly increase the options and decisions to be made. There are several different methods for how such systems can be applied which will change the number of layers or coatings applied as well as the use of non epoxy coatings in some of those coating layers. Unless the vendor/applicator/contractor offers a 'cookie cutter' approach to epoxy floors, you'll have lots of decisions to make.
If you decide to add 'grit' for anti slip purposes, this also introduces more options for you to consider. There
are different kinds of grits, different sizes of grits, different methods of applying the grit, and different personal
opinions regarding how much grit to use.
Water Based Epoxy coatings - a thin coating that is easy to apply and work with, but hides nothing and is not the 'commercial' epoxy floor most people think of.
Solvent Based Epoxy coatings - Sort of like an oil based enamel, these epoxies contain solvents. These kinds of epoxies are generally not very common any more.
Solvent free epoxy coatings - The classic epoxy floor - thick enough to hide many floor flaws. Short working time per batch. Usually no odor.
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In a multi coat system, a combination of the above epoxy types might be used as well as some non epoxy coatings (to provide UV protection to the epoxies, reducing yellowing).
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Note that sometimes a thin water based or thin solvent based epoxy can/will be used as a sealer or base coat on concrete/cement under the 'regular' epoxy floor coating.
While the above information sounds daunting, most homeowners successfully get away with minimal surface preparation and one or two coats of epoxy 'slapped' on to the surface.
1) epoxies that require a wait time after mixing and before applying are almost always obsolete, low quality products.
2) be wary of companies that don't tell you what kind of epoxies they are using and/or imply that their 'method/product' is the ONLY way to go.
3) be wary of companies that downplay surface preparation and don't mention the issues/problems (like yellowing or air bubbles from the cement/concrete) that might be encountered.
4) professionals use technical product data sheets and government required MSDS (material data safety sheets) to learn about and evaluate products. Be wary of companies that do not easily make these available to you as they are probably hiding something they don't want you to know.
5) Email or call the companies involved before you buy.. If they will not return an email or telephone call before the sale, you can be certain they will not after the sale.
In the last five years or so there has a massive increase in the number of web sites selling epoxy floor paints to home owners and small businesses. These sites contract sharply with the older traditional sites (including ours) that sell quality epoxies to professional coating contractors and other industry professionals. We suggest you proceed carefully when surfing internet epoxy floor paint sites. The sites are always slick and obviously designed by the marketing department and not the technical staff. They offer prices that range from super cheap to way too high. They tend to be full of promises, pictures and claims, but very weak on actual technical product information about the product itself. The often fail to mention that all epoxies yellow in UV and sunlight, that surface preparation and surface conditions, which are outside the control of the epoxy vendor, can often be a real problem that can make or break a project. Potlife and mixing issues are also downplayed. I oftens see claims that if true would be breakthrough advancements in the coating industry, but never mentioned in coating industry trade magazines/journals or used/mentioned by the major epoxy/paint/chemical companies. Experienced epoxy users know these claims are too good to be true, but they make good promotional copy for selling to non-industry buyers. Problems and issues associated with 2 part chemical products (epoxies) purchased online buy inexperienced users can be difficult or impossible to resolve. Who is at fault when the problem is due to user inexperience, an unsuitable surface or conditions, poor surface preparation, purchasing the wrong product, or damage in shipping? Professional sites also make easily available technical product data sheets and MSDS (required Material Data Safety Sheets - which includes a chemical ingredietns list, necessary for comparing different products and different products from different vendors). I find these are often missing in many of the flashy DIY sites. It is a Red Flag and usually means they are hiding product chemical information which can give an educated viewer a good idea of the quality and potential performance of the epoxy. |
Dear Sir, We applied the Industrial Floor Epoxy
in our work trailer yesterday, and I swept off the excess sand today. We are very pleased with the results. None
of us had any particular experience with this kind of application, but we followed the instructions, had a fairly
cool morning to do the work, and managed to complete the application in about 90 minutes, dividing the work and
mixing epoxy in three sections. I would recommend this material to friends looking to do similar work. Thank you
for your assistance, the all-purpose sand was quite adequate for our needs.
R.C. - Virginia Transportation Research Council (9/2010)
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Risks of using epoxy in basements and below grade environments
Q: The first six months, the epoxy floor looked awesome. Then shortly after, a couple of alkaline deposits formed. Next, the epoxy started to bubble up in isolated areas.
Water-based epoxy paints are often semi-breathable and much thinner, and may sometimes work (see our Water Bond (tm) epoxy). |
Addtional pages on a different domain:
http://www.concrete-garage-epoxy-floor-paint.com/epoxy-floor-paint.html -----
Index of Epoxy Floor Paint Sites - Basics, Options,
Comparisons, Problems, Issues (click here)
http://www.concrete-garage-epoxy-floor-paint.com/epoxy_floor_paint_test.html
---- Garage Epoxy Floor Paint --- Self Test ---
10 questions you need to know/ask regarding epoxy floor paint coating (click here)
These are several epoxies/products I couldn't
imagine not always having on hand... Wet Dry 700 (tm) - epoxy paste
that works underwater. Use to glue/fill/patch - marine catalog - home/industy cat. - order/simple web site 2. ESP 155 (tm) - solvent thinned
epoxy sealer, tie coat etc. (not for sale in S. Calif) marine catalog - home/industy cat. Aluthane (tm) - aluminum filled
moisture cured urethane - amazing paint product - has its own web page. Basic No Blush (tm) marine epoxy
- if you work on boats, this is the best epoxy at the best price. marine catalog - order/simple web site 2.
NORTHEAST DECORATIVE CONCRETE, LLC. 603-413-0266
IS A MANCHESTER, NH AREA EPOXY FLOOR CONTRACTOR
WWW.NORTHESTDECORATIVECONCRETE.COM (NOV 2011)
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We are also very involved with Epoxy/Coatings in the following areas: -- -Marine/Boat Repair/Building- -- -Pour On Bartop Epoxy- -- -Epoxy Floor Paints (massive info/options)- -- -Home/Commercial Epoxy Paints/Putties- -- -Pebble Deck Recoat Epoxy- -- -Epoxy Education- -- -Underwater Epoxy Painting/Repair- -- -EpoxyProducts Home Page- -- -EpoxyUSA Home Page- -- -Ask Professor E.Poxy- -- |
"INDUSTRIAL FLOOR EPOXY (best GARAGE EPOXY)" (tm) By Progressive Epoxy Polymers, Inc. 0% VOC, Solvent Free and Environmentally friendly, Odorless.
Professional grade floor epoxy paint / coating for garage, shops, and commercial facilities
48 oz, 1.5 gal, and 15 gal kits. Available in any amount over 15 gallons
Purchase at the Progressive Epoxy storefront or the more simple EpoxyUSA.com site
Questions?: Ask Prof. E. Poxy - CLICK HERE,
floorcoatings.html -
short intro text +++++++++++++ problem.html - what can
go wrong! +++++++++++++- quartz4u.html - quartz broadcast floors +++++++++++++ FloorChip.pdf - floor
with colored chips application - PDF +++++++++++++ beginfloor4u.html - epoxy
and floor basics +++++++++++++ floorpopular.html - common epoxy
floor examples +++++++++++++ floorcs.html - the actual floor in floorpopular.html +++++++++++++ garage4u.html - coating
your garage +++++++++++++ epoxy-floor-paint.html - index of floor epoxy web sites +++++++++++++ www.concrete-garage-epoxy-floor-paint.com
- second index of floor epoxy web sites +++++++++++++ epoxy_floor_paint_test.html
- self test: are you ready for an epoxy floor?
A more complete Introduction to Epoxy Floor Coatings is available at: www.epoxyproducts.com/floorcoatings4u.html
DISCLOSURE: This document
was written by Paul Oman, (9/2009) of Progressive Epoxy Polymers, Inc., which has a commercial interest in the
sale of epoxy coatings and products. The purpose of this document is to educate the public about epoxy floor coatings
with honest, "insider" information that most vendors/contractors/applicators (both locally and on the
Internet) seem unwilling to provide. We hope you will consider us when shopping for epoxies. Our web sites include:
www.epoxyproducts.com
and www.epoxyUSA.com.