clear coat over flake ?

[icefisherman]

I just got done putting down a coat of sherwin williams macropoxy 646 which is a two componet 85% solids solvent based epoxy with flakes on top. I was told to go over it with a epoxy clear coat which is high solids solvent based epoxy, I was told the floor and the white flakes will yellow over time. My ? is do you think i could put a acrylic clear coat over it after it fully cures? Than maybe it wont yellow. Sw rep said he honestly didnt know if it would work or not. I just dont want to have a bonding issue and it flake up down the road. I would think the texture of the flakes would give it enough to bite into something.. Thoughts?? Thanks!

 

[TheShrine]

Don't put down the clear! The possibility of yellowing is one reason (depending on product and light saturation) but my BIG PO is the clear exaggerates every foot print and track you got! I'm redoing mine right now because of the "shiny new floor"!

It looks great at first......and it'll look just as good once you mop it again. All of those shiny epoxy floors that I see on this forum are owned by a person who will regret it in the long run. They (I) love them at first, but unless you like to mop or don't care about the dusty foot prints, you'll regret it in the end.

For those that won't admit that the shiny floor foot prints are a problem...didn't need the shiny floor in the first place and could have stopped at the epoxy coating or even the concrete. As for epoxy, yes, I'm for it!

Go ahead, ask which is the best epoxy or the longest lasting, or the easiest to apply and watch this thread explode with opinions....anyway that's my $0.02 worth.

Like Budda said, "Love the shine, hate the mop!"

 

[gabeancounter]

I would apply a top quality urethane clear. Two coats. You need it to seal the flakes. I like the shine and yes it shows dirt easily. I have a big dust mop and a commercial mop and bucket. Can sweep and mop my floor in 15 min.
Not sure if anything will totally stop the yellowing. good luck

 

[TheShrine]

It's the clear that yellows....don't put it down and it won't yellow.

 

[AlphaGarage]

Our polyurethane clear coat, EnduraShield 2254, will not yellow. Put it outside and it's UV resistant and color stable. Over an epoxy, which will yellow, the EDS2254 will slow down and lessen (but not completely eliminate) the yellowing. Most flakes will also yellow, and a UV resistant clear coat will probably lessen flake yellowing also.

Flakes are made from vinyl, some vinyl is better than others, so likewise some flakes are better than others. But no flake is as strong or durable as a good epoxy. Flakes will wear down and get dirty easier. Their voids will be dirt catching basins.

In my opinion if you don't want a clear coat - don't use flakes.

If I was doing a coating for a paying customer, and they insisted on flakes without a clear coat, I'd for sure have them sign a waiver stating they understood the eventual problems resulting from their decision.

As for the clear being dirtier, maybe that a result of the washing method or materials used, because that's certainly not my experience at all.

 

[Ruddy]

Don't put down the clear! The possibility of yellowing is one reason (depending on product and light saturation) but my BIG PO is the clear exaggerates every foot print and track you got! I'm redoing mine right now because of the "shiny new floor"!

It looks great at first......and it'll look just as good once you mop it again. All of those shiny epoxy floors that I see on this forum are owned by a person who will regret it in the long run. They (I) love them at first, but unless you like to mop or don't care about the dusty foot prints, you'll regret it in the end.

This is looking more and more like Sage advice!