To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Chips into a thin or a thick build?

rhs

Member
Joined
Sep 7, 2012
Messages
12
A question for those with some experience... is it better to broadcast chips in a thicker or a thinner epoxy coat? I have the choice of either putting down two 5 mil coats or a single 10 mil coat.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

dcs Inc

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 13, 2010
Messages
803
Location
Indianapolis, Indiana
You will have better luck with the thicker build. If you have any areas really thin stretching this stuff out to 5 mils, the flakes my not have enough to stick to.
 

thegarageguy

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 24, 2007
Messages
1,489
Location
NJ
I would suggest 2 - 5 mil coats, with the last to broadcast into. Sometimes putting it on thick, with not much experience would give you wavyness and uneven chip look since some areas would **** in the chips and leave bald spots and would also cause you to use much more chips.
 

dcs Inc

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 13, 2010
Messages
803
Location
Indianapolis, Indiana
Ha... I had a reply but read your post again. I thought you were suggesting 2-5 mils. Whew... glad I reread it. Even at 320 sq. ft. would seem like a lot of work pulling it that thin. I've gotten 180 sq. ft. once but was worried about constant coloring and light spots to fill low areas with an 18" roller. Lots of rolling.
 

thegarageguy

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 24, 2007
Messages
1,489
Location
NJ
honestly i don't deal in mils, what i would do is spread at 200 sqft per gallon, 2 times....what mils is that?
 

AlphaGarage

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 16, 2008
Messages
1,298
Location
Every Garage, AnyTown, USA
A light broadcast - can go on thin or thick base coat. A heavier broadcast I'd go with 12 mil thick base. Or for those who prefer gallons over mils, one gallon per 120 ft2.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Garage Flooring

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
May 21, 2011
Messages
5,288
Location
Grand Junction, CO
WOW. This thread is definitely going to confuse someone. We have answers all over the place.

Scotty's answer, as always is correct. You can accomplish the same thing with either a thin build or high build product.

Assuming everything to be equal I prefer the thicker products. While I do not buy into the concept of throwing epoxy out there and letting it fill cracks, I find that the thicker material levels better when properly installed.

It has also been my experience in DIY application that you have a better chance of a true full broadcast system.

Back to Scotty's answer... They will both work, its a matter of preference and I prefer the thicker products.
 

Garage Flooring

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
May 21, 2011
Messages
5,288
Location
Grand Junction, CO
honestly i don't deal in mils, what i would do is spread at 200 sqft per gallon, 2 times....what mils is that?

Sorry, am I reading this correctly? I am honestly trying to understand what you are saying here and not being critical. Are you saying that for the purpose of installation you do not measure the Mil thickness, you just know that according to your products spread rate that the appropriate thickness will be achieved using the 200 Sq. Ft per gallon or are you saying you are not concerned in the least with Mil thickness and don't measure the product that way?
 

thegarageguy

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 24, 2007
Messages
1,489
Location
NJ
Well Justin, as an installer, I read product data sheets and installation guidelines. Then I have to figure out how much material and correct tooling I need for any particular project. For instance, If I have 1200 sqft and a particular kit spreads at 60 sqft with a 1/2 inch squeegee, I know Ill need to have a minimum of 20 kits on hand (I always have a few more just in case). Knowing proper spread rates not only helps me order correctly but also helps me know it's being applying correctly as well. As you know, some products will not perform properly if it's applied too thick or too thin, such as polyurethanes, which if applied too thick can blister and turn brittle. So knowing proper tooling, application method and spread rate is much more concerning to me. Other than that it's useless to me. So tell me Justin, where does knowing mil thickness help me?
 

Garage Flooring

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
May 21, 2011
Messages
5,288
Location
Grand Junction, CO
Well Justin, as an installer, I read product data sheets and installation guidelines. Then I have to figure out how much material and correct tooling I need for any particular project. For instance, If I have 1200 sqft and a particular kit spreads at 60 sqft with a 1/2 inch squeegee, I know Ill need to have a minimum of 20 kits on hand (I always have a few more just in case). Knowing proper spread rates not only helps me order correctly but also helps me know it's being applying correctly as well. As you know, some products will not perform properly if it's applied too thick or too thin, such as polyurethanes, which if applied too thick can blister and turn brittle. So knowing proper tooling, application method and spread rate is much more concerning to me. Other than that it's useless to me. So tell me Justin, where does knowing mil thickness help me?

:beer: Cool, that is what I was asking. So what your saying is you just install the product at the manufacturers suggested spread rate which should yield the correct DFT so for your part of the project Mil thickness is irrelevant to you...
 

dcs Inc

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 13, 2010
Messages
803
Location
Indianapolis, Indiana
When doing larger commercial or industrial projects it is normally put out there in wet or dry mil thicknesses. I figure by gallon coverage also to keep product amounts correct on a project but often you'll need the mil thickness to convey to a specifier or architect.
 

Garage Flooring

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
May 21, 2011
Messages
5,288
Location
Grand Junction, CO
When doing larger commercial or industrial projects it is normally put out there in wet or dry mil thicknesses. I figure by gallon coverage also to keep product amounts correct on a project but often you'll need the mil thickness to convey to a specifier or architect.

We always estimate a job by the gallon as well, but we are asked about Mil thickness so often and it is such a part of what we do that I was curious about Garage Guy's post.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom