Cold Weather Coating Tips

[LegacyIndustrial]

Wanted to remind members/lurkers that as cold weather starts to grip the USA it's important to remember these few tips...

High & 100% Solids Epoxies should not be used below 50 deg f

Solvent based primers can go to 40 deg f in most cases, wb formulas typically are better 50 deg f and up

Heated garages can be coated, however exterior walls and openings will still be cold in extreme weather, so check temps before going forward

Heaters can be used but stay away from diesel/kerosene heaters and turn heaters off during the actual coating process, turn back on once curing has started, pre-heat several days before coating to slowly raise slab and wall temps. You still need to ventilate for (solvent based products)clear-coats, so remember to keep a door/window partially open for your safety.

Most Polyureas and Urethane products (like our Nohr-S Polyurea and HellFire Coating) can be used to 33 deg f . They will cure but will be slower than normal

Epoxy repair products will be stunted and typically have a 50 deg f limit unless designed for cold-weather. Polyurea repair products (like our XtremeSet 100) can be used to -20 deg f.

If you decide to push a project off until warmer weather returns remember to store your coatings in a heated (above freezing) area and avoid big temp swings, basements are typically ideal.

Feel free to hop on this post and add anything I may have over-looked or ask a question.

 

[GRivera]

This is a great post- thank you. Any idea what shelf life is on unopened epoxy products?

 

[SolarColumbia]

Most of them dtate 1 year shelf life unopened.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

This is a great post- thank you. Any idea what shelf life is on unopened epoxy products?

Yes, one year. However, in many cases longer than that if temps are good.
Epoxy can be reconstituted (by the user) in many cases if it has crystallized.

 

[jagnweiner]

Scotty-

Very informative post. I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on what I am contemplating for my project.

I live in Northern Illinois, where temperatures routinely get below freezing during winter months. I have just finished tearing down a decrepit wood frame garage and will be replacing it with a steel building built over the existing 28x32 slab. (photo attached) The building will actually be 36x32, so after the building is up, we will be pouring an 8' slab extension inside the building. (hope that makes sense) I hope to have the building up in early January, but the additional concrete may have to wait until May due to spring road weight restrictions.

So, I was thinking of using your Hellfire product. My thought was this: After the building is up, but before the slab extension is poured, I would prep and coat the existing slab. Then I could move the vehicles and junk that I currently have in rented storage back into the building. I believe this would require me to pre-heat the building to get the slab warmed up before application. Sometime in the summer, after the extension is poured and cured, I would come back and coat that smaller section. Does that plan seem workable? I'm not terribly concerned about appearance, because this shop is for work and storage on old cars, not display.

You indicate you recommend against using diesel or kerosene heaters. Is that because of the potential to spill fuel on the concrete? If I kept a kerosene heater on the portion of the garage that still has dirt or gravel is it OK to use? Or is there another reason not to use kerosene?

Edit: Added a revised photo with markup.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Yes planis solid.
Torpedo heaters, especially, can send micro-droplets of fuel residue into the atmosphere, landing on your floor. These can cause fish-eyes.

A kerosene heater would be better, the type that is not acting like a jet-engine.

Yes spills could also be a problem but not as common.

 

[jagnweiner]

Thanks for the quick reply and thanks for the explanation! That makes sense. I will avoid a Knipco or other torpedo heater. I may be contacting you in the next month or so to purchase some product.