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Essential Temperature Tips for Epoxy Floor Paint Application

2022-01-08

Essential Temperature Tips for Epoxy Floor Paint Application

The most important temperature to note is the temperature of the floor, not the air.
That's because in cold weather, concrete floors tend to be colder than the surrounding air. The reason lies in the way heat is transferred and raised. The concrete floor is a good conductor of heat. The heat from the floor rises easily from the concrete, warming the air above it and therefore measuring the air at a higher temperature. Epoxy concrete floor paint, once applied to concrete floor, will immediately reach the same temperature as the concrete floor, which is the temperature you need to pay attention to, not just when applied, but throughout the drying process. The best way to measure is to use an infrared thermometer.

Take extra care when taking temperature measurements to ensure that the concrete floor slab around your doorways, vents and walls is within acceptable temperatures. The thermal properties of these areas mean that they can be some of the coldest parts of a heating plant, warehouse or garage, and to ensure project success it is vital that these areas be in the correct range before epoxy floor paint is applied. In addition, you should always ensure test areas before walking through them or applying a second epoxy coating. If your concrete floor has heating panels, your temperature worries are greatly reduced because it means that, aside from the correct plate temperature, your only concerns are of course humidity and dew point.
You may also consider heating up the area where you plan to apply epoxy floor paint. This can be very effective, but it really depends on how cold it is. It can take days for the temperature of the concrete slab to rise to the temperature of the surrounding air. If you decide to go this route, you should avoid kerosene heaters, as they release pollutants into the air that can end up on your floor! A better option is propane heaters because they burn cleanly.

NOTE: You should keep your epoxy products inside a heated room prior to use. This allows for much better mixing and activation of the epoxy floor paint when you are ready to use it.
One of the additional benefits of the application of epoxy in cooler weather is that the lifespan of your pot will be extended. Please remember that the curing time of your painted floor will be extended in cold weather, and you may need to wait longer before applying a second coat or to gain full use of the floor. Another important consideration is that if you are up heating the floor or entire garage, you need to keep it heated until the epoxy fully cures, as if the temperatures drop below a certain level, the epoxy can actually stop curing and will never fully cure after that.
If you have any concerns, please contact us. We are happy to help and advise you on your project so you end up with a successful outcome when applying an epoxy coating to your floor in cold weather.

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