Can You Install Epoxy in a Condo Garage Floor in Winter?
When you manage a condo complex or a multi-unit property in New Jersey, maintaining shared
You can picture it now: you are coming home from a busy day at work, rushing your kids through the door, and you step into a giant puddle just inside the door. Your washing machine leaked while you were gone and your entire entryway is under an inch of water.
Instant panic can set in if you have a traditional flooring material like carpet or hardwood. Water is a huge problem for these floors, and you could wind up with a really big (and spendy) problem on your hands.
If you are tasked with replacing your ruined floor, you will most likely be researching durable flooring solutions that will withstand the uncertainties of life. Epoxy floors can be the solution you are looking for! However, you are most likely wary and wondering, “But what happens when an epoxy floor gets wet?”
Read on to learn more about epoxy floors and their durability against water and moisture below.
Let’s cut right to the chase: epoxy floors are considered waterproof when installed by a professional flooring installer. They are made up of a resin and a hardening agent that is applied as a thick liquid, and as it cures, it dries to a rock-hard, impermeable surface.
Since it dries as an impenetrable surface, it will withstand spills, leaks, and weather extremes without breaking down or wearing away. This is why epoxy is such a great solution for areas of your home that encounter water regularly.
Some rooms where epoxy shines are:
As water is splashed out of a tub or overflows from a sink, your new epoxy floor coating will simply hold the water on its surface until it is mopped up and dried. It’s as simple as that!
If you are dealing with a water disaster, chances are that your home is undergoing significant construction. That also means your family is undergoing significant disruption during this time!
Minimizing the time spent dealing with restoration issues is typically a priority, but it is important to remember that, like with all good things, epoxy floor installation does take a bit more time than something like vinyl or tile.
To start, epoxy floors need to have an existing surface to adhere to. Since it is a floor coating rather than a complete flooring material, it requires a subfloor like concrete to stick to. This will require your old floor to be torn out, and your concrete floor will need to be prepped and sanded for the application.
After that, your epoxy is mixed according to your needs and aesthetic! Add eye-catching pigments or decorative flakes to your compound to make your floors stand out. You can even request patterns or color-blocking for an even more elevated feel.
Finally, your epoxy floor coating is applied to your subfloor in an even layer. Then it is left undisturbed to cure until it is completely done. This final step will vary in your timeline, depending on the season and the airflow that you have in your space. However, you can expect this process to last anywhere between 12-72 hours.
Of course, it’s important to remember that there are certain things to keep in mind during your installation to ensure a polished final product.
If you are installing epoxy after a water leak or a water disaster, you must handle your water problem first before installing your new epoxy floor. If you have a leak that was never fully secured or a faulty washing machine that was never replaced, you could be dealing with a more sinister water problem, even with epoxy.
Water leaks can happen quietly and create moisture in your space without much notice. If you continue installing epoxy over a moist area of your home, you might be increasing your risk of a stubborn mold problem underneath your new layer of epoxy.
Having a wet subfloor can also increase your risk of having your new floor not set and cured properly. This will result in soft spots and can also increase your risk of premature wear and tear.
Finally, the weather does play a factor during epoxy floor installations. For ideal application, the temperature should be between 50 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If it’s too cold, the epoxy will have trouble curing in the right time frame. If it’s too hot, any lingering humidity can cause weak spots or extend cure time as well.
Another big contributor of moisture to your epoxy floors is Mother Nature. If you are tackling a floor upgrade in an outdoor space like a patio or a garage, you must avoid installation on snowy and rainy days.
Excess moisture anywhere near the curing floor can pose trouble, resulting in trouble with adhering and the general overall appearance of the floor.
The good news is that if you stick to the considerations and guidelines for outdoor epoxy installation, you can relax knowing that your new floor will withstand the elements for years without worry!
Epoxy is known to be slip-resistant and highly durable, so it is not vulnerable to rainy days or big snowstorms.
Keeping in mind everything from above, it is important to remember that you can’t simply use your epoxy floor and ignore its upkeep and cleaning needs along the way.
It is true that epoxy is low maintenance, but you should still sweep and mop it regularly, and don’t leave spills or water puddles lying about. Clean up any residual moisture or chemicals right away to prevent staining and slip hazards.
If your epoxy floor does experience some sort of crack or chip, it’s best to get it fixed right away. Once the surface of your epoxy floor has been breached, it becomes vulnerable to moisture issues and mold growth. Thankfully, epoxy floors can be the solution you and your family deserve!
Take control of water woes with epoxy floors! Call Jersey Epoxy today at (877) 376-9965 to schedule your epoxy floor installation.
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