Temperature

[thomapa1]

I am waiting for 50+ degree temperatures in order to prime then epoxy my prepped garage floor.
What is the consensus regarding application temperature?

The next few days will be highs of @55 degrees, but lows down to 40s in the evening.

As I am doing a garage, I assume the temperature in there will be higher than the outside air temperature. Can I get away with applying @noon when the temp is @50+, assuming it will cool below 50 after @4pm?

Thanks

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

I am waiting for 50+ degree temperatures in order to prime then epoxy my prepped garage floor.
What is the consensus regarding application temperature?

The next few days will be highs of @55 degrees, but lows down to 40s in the evening.

As I am doing a garage, I assume the temperature in there will be higher than the outside air temperature. Can I get away with applying @noon when the temp is @50+, assuming it will cool below 50 after @4pm?

Thanks

It will extend the cure time for sure.

 

[Edger]

Pester your supplier until you get someone who knows about the correct cure temperatures. Most often the temperatures given are under constant, ideal lab conditions but the temp of your slab in the ground will often be cooler than the temp of the air. Some epoxies will not cure at all below 48 F.

 

[PecosBill]

I know nothing about epoxies, but surface temperature does effect some of the flooring we deal with. We use laser thermometers, which have come way down in price, to determine slab temp. Slabs also tend to be more temp stable than ambient temp, so I would test it early in the morning to see what it is dropping to during the colder hours.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

At 50 degrees I'll bet it's double or better. I will also bet that the slab is probably closer to 40 degrees. The coating will take the slab's temp immediately.

 

[tncatadjuster]

Take the cure schedule that is given on the can and use this factor.

For each ten degree drop the cure time will double.

For example:

24 hour cure at 72º
48 hour cure at 62º
96 hour cure at 52º
192 hour cure at 42º

 

[WalkerScott]

How can you define the cure schedule exactly?

 

[tncatadjuster]

How can you define the cure schedule exactly?

I'm referring to the mfg. cure times as stated on the container or spec sheets. They usually have a set of parameters that define the cure rate.