When engaging in different types of activities, one of the most crucial steps that can ensure success is preparation. And like any other improvement project, the same idea goes with epoxy application. Properly preparing your surfaces for epoxy coating helps make sure that the process itself goes smoothly and without any unwanted issues during or after.
If you’re thinking about using epoxy paint for your flooring projects, it is important that you know the basics. In this article, we’re going to talk about how to prepare your surfaces for epoxy coating and why it matters.
But before we go into all of that, let’s briefly talk about how it works, why it’s a preferred finishing material, and what types of epoxies are there to choose from.
So, What is Epoxy Coating?
Since you’re here, you may have already heard about epoxy. It’s a popularly known resin-based finishing material compatible with most surfaces because of its durability and resistance to most chemicals.
It’s a great protective layer that you can use to ensure long-term usability and functionality for your flooring, tables, and other surfaces. And with its range of uses, it also comes in different types that have specific advantages for various applications.
- Self-Leveling Epoxy is one of the most common epoxy paints you will encounter since it’s typically used on flooring. It’s best known for its durability and resistance to chemicals, stains, and abrasions––making it ideal for high-traffic areas.
- Deep Pour Epoxy Resin, on the other hand, is for thick casting applications, perfect if you need more durability in harsh environments. It’s best used for tables and countertops that would usually need coating all throughout, or applications in various laboratories that need an extra protective layer.
- For a more decorative look, Metallic Epoxy Resin is a great finish to use especially if the space you apply it on values aesthetics as part of its appeal. With the metallic pigments mixed in with the resin, you can create a sparkly illusion to highly functional and durable surfaces.
Using epoxy coating for your spaces is a great way to prolong its use. Whether it’s for commercial or residential applications, using epoxy paint will limit any surface damage for you to repair in the long run.
How To Do Surface Preparation Before Applying Epoxy Resin
Now that you know all about what epoxy coating is, let’s go into the step-by-step process of how to prepare your area before coating them with epoxy.
1. Surface Evaluation
As part of your surface prep, you need to evaluate the condition of the surface you’ll be coating.
Inspect for any damages like cracks, chips, or unevenness to properly gauge what kind of repairs you might need to do. Check for any chemicals or previous coatings on the surface and make plans on how you can remove them before starting the epoxy coating process.
2. Cleaning
After evaluation, remove all the dirt, grease, oil, and other contaminants you find on the surface. You can start by vacuuming or sweeping the area to remove loose debris and dirt. Follow this by using detergent or degreasers on the surface and scrubbing it with a stiff brush or a mop.
For any difficult stains, you can use specialized cleaning solvents or a grinder to remove them. For example, you can remove unwanted paint coatings by using a paint stripper. Just make sure to thoroughly rinse the area after scrubbing so that no residue remains.
3. Surface Repair
Once you’re through cleaning your working area, you have to address any damages you may have seen during the inspection. Fill in the cracks, holes, or chips using an appropriate repair compound or filler to repair the area.
Check to see if using a wall or wood putty is enough to fill in the cracks. If not, you can ask your local hardware which compound would work best to repair the damages on your surface.
Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for mixing and applying the repair material. Better yet, you can have professionals do the repairs so you can ensure quality work.
4. Primer Application
Another crucial step before applying the epoxy is to prime the surface you want to coat. Doing this will improve the adhesion of the epoxy coating and enhance its overall performance.
Choose a primer that’s compatible with both the surface material and the epoxy you’ll be using. You can apply it using a brush, roller, or sprayer depending on the manufacturer’s instructions before leaving it to dry completely.
5. Final Sanding
After the primer dries off, you can sand over areas of your surface to make sure that everything’s evened out. You can begin sanding using a coarser grit to remove any big bumps or imperfections on your surface, before moving on to finer grits to smoothen the area out.
6. Excess Dust Cleaning
Finally, you have to clean the area again to remove any dust or debris from the sanding process. You can use a cloth, broom, or vacuum cleaner to make sure that your surface is entirely free from any particles that might compromise the final epoxy coating.
Doing all these preparatory steps can ensure a more seamless process as you coat your area with epoxy paint. And by the end of the project, you will see that investing time and patience in proper surface prep will result in a more flawless and durable product or space.
Just remember though, while learning how to prep your surface for epoxy coating is easy in hindsight, the execution has a lot of technicalities and can be quite difficult for beginners. It’s always better to hire professionals to do the job for you if you’re unsure of how to do it yourself.
Here at Majestic Chemicals, we offer assistance to those who want to apply our coatings by themselves. We provide tips and techniques to our clients so that they can maximize the use of our products. We also conduct monthly training about epoxy resin and how to be a registered applicator––which can be useful if you have your own construction company and a team of workers.
Why is Epoxy Coating Surface Preparation Important?
At the start of any project, proper preparation is critical to make sure that everything goes smoothly. This rule is especially true in improvement projects, as it limits any building or material issues that may occur at any point during or after the construction process.
With epoxy paint application, there are several reasons proper preparation is one of the most important steps:
Optimal Adhesion
For epoxy to properly protect your surface, you want to make sure that it completely sticks to the plane you’re applying it on. Keeping your surface clean will allow the epoxy to mechanically grip the substrate and form a strong bond.
Enhanced Durability
In relation to optimal adhesion, prepping your surface ensures the durability of the epoxy coating. If you prepare your surface right, you can eliminate possible weak spots that the epoxy might not bond with securely.
Improved Aesthetic Appeal
In terms of design, properly preparing your surface can ensure its seamless finish. You wouldn’t want any uneven applications or large cracks to be part of your aesthetic, especially if you’re applying epoxy in areas where visual presentation is important.
Long-Term Cost Savings
Investing time and effort in surface prep before coating can minimize the risk of errors and issues that could be costly to repair or replace. And by generally using epoxy, you can save costs on frequent maintenance or recoating that you usually have to do when using regular paint or other finishing materials.
Overall, doing the extra step of getting your surfaces ready for epoxy coating makes a whole lot of difference in terms of the final result. It’s a step that’s often overlooked in project planning, so you have to make sure to include it in yours.
Majestic Chemicals: Your Trusted Epoxy Partner
Learning how to prep your floor or countertop for an epoxy coating is a good skill to know. Whether you’re doing it yourself or having professionals do it for you, understanding the process can help you plan out timelines and strategies for any of your future epoxy coating projects.
With that being said, consider partnering with us as your trusted epoxy resin supplier in the Philippines! Here at Majestic Chemicals, we assure you that our products are of the highest quality with a 5-year warranty as the guarantee. Our commitment to our product’s innovation is proof of our dedication to the industry and to our clients.
Get in touch with us today to learn more about our packages!