ArmorClad floor got cold during cure

[Tom Vermont]

Hello,

I ran out of propane for my portable heater last night, and I'm wondering if I did lasting damage to my ArmorPoxy ArmorClad flooring.

ArmorPoxy recommends a minimum application temperature of 50F for the products I'm using.

This morning, the temps were 34 degrees F in the mechanical room/basement of a house under construction. The outside temp was -5 and since the house is fully enclosed and insulated, things might have been cooling for 5-6 hours. I estimate that the 2-part topcoat got 6-7 hours at 68 degrees or so before the temps started dropping. I've got the heat restored now.

1. Do you think the flooring is permanently compromised by the cold spell, or does the curing process just slow and then resume normally when the temps rise?

2. A large supply of unused product was stored in the house, and it's not supposed to be exposed to cold temperatures during storage. Would any of you hesitate to use these products on your own garage floor?


Thanks, Tom

 

[bigjon]

It will be interesting to see what ArmorPoxy has to say, but I would think you’ll be fine. You probably only lengthened the cure time.

I did an epoxy job and I decided to do my exterior apron. We had a freak rain storm less than an hour after and it did nothing. This was in spring so temps were perfect. I’ve sold the house since then but it still looks great apart from the expected chalking.

Good quality products can take more than box store products.

 

[Tom Vermont]

Thanks BigJon. We've had another brutally cold night here, but it looks like it stayed warm and things are firming up OK.

 

[EricVonHa]

I think you'll be fine and the floor will be fine.

On storing products, I had several partial gallons of Armorpoxy left over. The cans and 5 gallon pails were stored for 2 years. Recently just got the motivation to coat the lobby and mechanical room and the products were fine. In storage, they never were frozen. When mixing, the the commercial grade mixer did the trick. It's been several weeks and the floors appear to be fine.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

The worst can happen is "crystallization". A completely reversible issue.

 

[Armorpoxy]

It should be fine since it was short term. If the product seems ok, is 'fluidy' and has no lumps or such, ok to use as long as temps are within the range.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I had some Sherwin Williams two part epoxy paint that someone gave me several partial cans of both part A and part B. It gets down to the teens here in winter. The coating had been stored in an unheated metal storage building in excess of 20 years. I decided to paint my 3x4 foot shop restroom floor, so I drug some out and mixed it thoroughly. Painted the floor during the early fall, and all went well. Broke it out again to paint my 10x26 machining room when the outside temps were around 55. I stirred both parts thoroughly and went at it after heating the room to 65* overnight. No problems. I put the rest back in the barn for another round if needed. It has been several months and all is well. Prep was sweeping hard with a stiff broom and some places with a wire brush, then a vacuum.

 

[Tom Vermont]

Thank you all for the kind encouragement. Did the garage floor prep today, primer tomorrow.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Tom, I checked out your build pics in your profile album. That is a heck of a terrain and concrete project!

 

[Tom Vermont]

RJ,

Yeah, there’s not much prospect of finding “level” building spots in our village. It’s a v-shaped glacial valley that was settled in the 1840’s because it was a great place to dam the river and set up mills. Makes for some great motorcycling though in the summer, and skiing in the winter.

Thanks, Tom