Epoxy-Coat top coat: Is it really a top coat?

[deosola]

If Epoxy-Coat's top coat is simply a clear version of their solid expoxy, is it really of much value?

I hope that question doesn't sound like I'm bashing Epoxy-Coat. . .I'm not trying to imply that at all. They seem like a great company that supports this great forum and website.

I'm just trying to figure out if I should go w/their epoxy system or not.

 

[slickgt1]

You really can't beat the product the vendors sell on here. There is a reason they are here. They stand up for their product. And they take that chance to get bashed if anything goes wrong. That in itself makes them superior to anything else you will find in the big box stores.

And yes, based on all research, the clear coat is of value. It has protective properties, to well protect the main color. If you go for the anti slip stuff. I suggest you clear over it. Makes it a bit more slip, but when you do slip, you won't get scraped up.

You might say you will never slip, but that one day when your daughter leaves her fruits in a decorative pattern by the side door, you will slip on concrete.

 

[deosola]

So you would recommend broadcasting the anti slip "sand" after the 1st coat (I assume before the flex) and then putting on clear top coat?

 

[slickgt1]

I am really not in the position to recommend anything about Epoxy, the vendors should help you out shortly. I just know from my research, when looking for a flooring system, that the clear is a good investment, and seen one put over the anti slip. Looked rough enough, without being sharp. I personally went with Porcelain Tile. But have seen quite a few epoxy floors put down.

 

[mrobins297aaa]

I think it also keeps the color from darkening if it is exposed to sun light. I didn't use the top coat on mine and you can see the difference in the color of the floor where the sun light contacts it with the garage doors open. I have the beige color and the sun has turned it yellow in those areas. the floor has been down about 15 months.

 

[tmschmal]

mrobins: Do you have any pics to share of how your epoxy has yellowed from not having a top coat? Why did you choose not to do a top coat? Would you do it differently if you did it over again?

 

[Familyof8kids]

We have been speaking with several vendors that MFG or Sub-sale epoxy. Epoxy-Coat say they do not need a clear coating but they do sale a non-yellowing urethane coating. The sister company to Epoxy-Coat did have issues with yellow in the past but Epoxy-Coat has never had those issues per what they told me last week. Almost all clear coats will yellow with SPF tanning or bug spray and a few other simple chemicals. UV rays are killer to any paint or surface with color. If you do not coat your colored floor with a UV coating or UV clear it will fade over time.

Understand many people use a primer and clear coat from another vendor and get the epoxy and flakes from Epoxy-Coat.

 

[Yooper2forSure]

Epoxy-coat is one of the products I am also looking at. I am interested in the 'other vendor' primer and clear coat that is compatible with epoxy-coat; can you provide that information?

 

[Familyof8kids]

Epoxy-coat is one of the products I am also looking at. I am interested in the 'other vendor' primer and clear coat that is compatible with epoxy-coat; can you provide that information?

Want to say we are not affilated with any MFG but have only spent a few weeks researching, comparing and talking to other DIY's that have made mistakes or had success. We have even made a spreadsheet with pros and cons and have noticed it is not about who is thickest it is about PREP of the concrete. Many of the issues with failed installations have been from incorrect prep to the substrate surface.

http://www.legacyindustrial.net

This is the company that has said they cannot match the solid pricing of Epoxy-Coat epoxy but say they have supplied primer and clear coat to many people. They were 110% honest and said to get the epoxy and flakes from Epoxy-Coat and did not push to get it all from them. This site has provided a great deal of professional people and vendors that all work together.

We will be posting another topic in the flooring forum that I suggest you look at from our latest research to throw one more selection in your choice of flooring.

 

[mrobins297aaa]

mrobins: Do you have any pics to share of how your epoxy has yellowed from not having a top coat? Why did you choose not to do a top coat? Would you do it differently if you did it over again?

First I'm very happy with my epoxy-coat floor, the only thing I would do different would be to do smaller squares per batch of epoxy I think they tell you something like a 120 sq/ft per batch I would go with 100 sq/ft per batch especially if your doing a light color it would cover much better, I have some thin spots.
I didn't do the top coat mostly because of the cost and I wasn't sure i really needed it. If i remember right I spent about $1100 for the single coat and I think it was another $600 or $700 to do the top coat (my floor is 2300 sq/ft).

I wanted a floor that had some shine to it and I could spill oil and grease and it would clean up easy..........the single coat filled that bill.

below are some pic's of the darkening or yellowing I have expericenced. i have two doors one faces south and one that faces north, the pic's are the one facing south (which is the worst)..........although the pic's look like its pretty dramatic i doubt you would notice it if you walked into my barn and I didn't point it out to you.

keep in mind that the floor is dirty and some of those darker spots are just dirt.

 

[tmschmal]

thanks for sharing. That looks close to what I'm considering. I'm thinking of using a few more flakes for better traction.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

More flakes do not add traction. The preferred method for anti slip is a thin topcoat(urethane) with aluminum oxide or a fine silica sand broadcasted in, backroll to encapsulate the material.

 

[rugerlady]

To answer the original question, a top coat of clear epoxy will help in many aspects. We also carry a clear polyurea topcoat that is closer to 100% UV resistant.
Using the nonskid is something I will recommend, you can request a finer grit that will be less noticable. If the nonskid is put on the basecoat, you will not even feel it on the topcoat making it useless. Keep in mind epoxy floors are very slippery when they are wet.

 

[csp]

x2 on the flakes not adding any anti-slip.

A nonskid applied in the basecoat just sinks to the bottom of the layer, rendering it useless. It has to go in a clear top-coat to be worth using.

Very happy with our Epoxy coat floor. It's been down for over a year and still looks new.