Epoxy Coat bubbles, What the hell!?

[ekraft84]

Epoxy Coat's record is well known and well-proven on here. That's the main reason I've gone with them myself. You simply can't make everyone happy. And the customers that go on forums ranting and raving ... well, they'll never be happy anyway, so why spend the effort.

My two cents.

 

[jordan369]

I don't blame her. You were really nasty right out of the gate. I actually feel bad for the company.

I do blame her and the company. After all the hype surrounding the "supporters" of this site they should take the bad with the good. These products are not cheap and to leave customers hanging after spending all that money is wrong.

Mike

 

[JimVonBaden]

I don't blame her. You were really nasty right out of the gate. I actually feel bad for the company.

I saw him as upset more than nasty.

As for her not responding, maybe she hasn't read the forum, is on vacation, or otherwise busy?

Jim

 

[JimVonBaden]

Gene,

All I can say is that is is probably a good thing that internet sales are not your bread and butter!

Jim

 

[dcs Inc]

Ha. I agree.

 

[mrobins297aaa]

I saw him as upset more than nasty.

As for her not responding, maybe she hasn't read the forum, is on vacation, or otherwise busy?

Jim

I agree, I don't blame him for being upset.

and where is Christine? How come she hasn't comment on this?

 

[NewShockerGuy]

***** to see that.

I don't agree or disagree with having lack of information of instructions.. I do however feel that it's the responibility of someone to fully research and not just go by what the directions say. I researched for weeks before coming up with a method on laying my epoxy floor... Both times came out perfect. I attribute that to quality products, quality support from the vendor and due dileagence on my part and constantly asking questions and researching. I've been in too many situations that I have simply read the directions and then left wondering WTF to do now... I no longer do that. I research as much as possible to see what possible problems will come up and then figure out how to avoid those problem.

Really ***** cause i've been in your shoes and it's a ****** feeling all around.

Live , learn and keep moving foward.

-Nigel

 

[thegarageguy]

Hey, we have been doing floors for 10 years and we still get some bubbling. Matter of fact, one of my last week's job had to be water proofed and even that bubbled on me and worse than what you got. It looked like a bubble wrapped floor!

It's not a perfect science and there are many, many factors that can cause chemical to react weird. Unfortunately it was your turn. I would toss it up to just ****** luck on your part.

Hope your floor holds up, good luck

 

[ekraft84]

FWIW, I think it is a concrete thing. I just had mine done this week and when it was being primed, the guy said he was going to come back later and make sure there wasn't any bubbling happening, based on the concrete. There wasn't any fortunately, but it was something he wanted to check, yet somewhat out of his hands.

I'll start a thread and post some photos once the clear coat dries.

 

[burleyfarm]

***** to see that.

I don't agree or disagree with having lack of information of instructions.. I do however feel that it's the responibility of someone to fully research and not just go by what the directions say. I researched for weeks before coming up with a method on laying my epoxy floor... Both times came out perfect. I attribute that to quality products, quality support from the vendor and due dileagence on my part and constantly asking questions and researching. I've been in too many situations that I have simply read the directions and then left wondering WTF to do now... I no longer do that. I research as much as possible to see what possible problems will come up and then figure out how to avoid those problem.

Really ***** cause i've been in your shoes and it's a ****** feeling all around.

Live , learn and keep moving foward.

-Nigel

The OP posted this only 3 days ago. Maybe Christine is on vacation or out of the office. 3 days is not a lot of time.
As Nigel said research is key to a DIY job here. That's why I decided it was better to leave the job of applying $1600 worth of product up to the professionals. I didn't think I had enough knowledge to get perfect results. Could I have done it, sure but after watching the pros do it, I would have had alot of mistakes, thinner coats and it would have taken me a week of vacation time instead of two days off.

If the OP did enough reserch he should have known that this could happen and what the fixes were. All the suggestions from the DIYers and other manufacturers reps are alll pretty much the same. Sand, clean and clear coat. JMHO

 

[FleaDog]

i had a good bit of bubbling with my instal. i think a primer def would have helped. i scraped them off and put clear down but its still noticeable

 

[jordan369]

Maybe Christine is on vacation or out of the office. 3 days is not a lot of time.
:

Maybe aliens took her and will only release her when this floor is fixed? She posted the same day this was posted in a different thread.

What I find funny is when people post poor results without contacting her she posts asking why they jumped the gun without giving them a chance to make it right. This is a different case when the OP gave them a chance to make it right and got the shaft.

Mike

 

[rugerlady]

Wow, glad someone told I was getting bashed, I missed this thread. I am not sure, but I NEVER leave problems solely on the customers shoulders, even when it should be! I am also tired of the Pro installers bashing the DIY people. If you don't like the DIY stuff, stay the hell out of their threads, what are you doing to help and be productive??
We cannot control outgassing, it can and does happen.
Call me and we can take a look at your situation.
I will say this, I understand being upset with a floor that doesn't turn out 100%, but I won't tolerate people calling demanding things from me. If your nice, I'm way more than fair. This has been proven here and elsewhere many times over!

 

[salukijac]

Well definitely don't throw out a smart *** remark to a pizzed off installer. You'll have the tribe and the dandy dans circle you. I emailed handmedown and explained the hows and the whys with a direct apology to him. Hey, my reply was not meant as it came out. That being said, you thin skins need to toughen up. I don't sell my products to the untrained. Sure, a little vapor barrier epoxy, colorants.... stuff that's hard to mess up but there are so many things that can and WILL go wrong. Do you actually think that the other sellers on here don't have problem installers. Of course they do. What they do to keep the noise down on the boards is they keep in contact with the installers. They also push the installers to give a thumbs up to the many different boards they sell on to give them credence to do what???? Sell more material! The winner is the one that can keep a positive "glow" and throw out a one line quicky answer to give them authority.

This is online salesmanship and there are a couple that have learned to do it well. Good for them. Are you getting better product.... NO. It's all perception. Now I really think with this type of sell would be the technical support. I cover 4 states and my phone is on fire most of the day helping guys out. Guys that have been trained.... I couldn't imagine what it would be like with untrained installers......yikes! But hey, you guys settle for a lot less than someone getting paid to do it for you. My 2 friggin cents.

Note to self...don't deal with anyone like this.

 

[thegarageguy]

I am also tired of the Pro installers bashing the DIY people. If you don't like the DIY stuff, stay the hell out of their threads, what are you doing to help and be productive??

The only basher here was Gene (Dcs Inc) and I don't think he is a pro installer but rather a competitor of yours

 

[dcs Inc]

I don't deal with diy'rs so no worry. I originally tripped across this site and saw all the bull that was being thrown out on prep, 300 a sq. ft. epoxy applications, 6 hours to wait for a wet floor to dry and then epoxy? Acid etch....Power wash... sheesh.

I've seen some changes in a couple of sellers on here on their recommendations on prep, good for them.

Hey garage guy, I'm attempting to slow down on my installs. The only thing I try to offer on here is instructional classes and I don't even attempt that anymore.

 

[dcs Inc]

Oh.... Christine, you can control outgassing.

 

[salukijac]

I don't deal with diy'rs so no worry.

So what makes you think that everyone here is a DYI'er?

 

[dcs Inc]

By some of the installs I am seeing with the mistakes made. I'm not going to defend my outburst. I screwed up and made appoligies. If that's not good enough, so be it.

 

[87handmedown]

Ho ho hum... nothing to see here.

 

[87handmedown]

Epoxy Coat's record is well known and well-proven on here. That's the main reason I've gone with them myself. You simply can't make everyone happy. And the customers that go on forums ranting and raving ... well, they'll never be happy anyway, so why spend the effort.

My two cents.

Remember to wash behind your ears kids!

 

[mrobins297aaa]

just for the record, before I did my epoxy coat floor I did the moisture test for 3 days and let the floor dry for the same amount before I coated............not even a hint of moisture, still got the bubbles although not as bad as you got.

After I talked with epoxy coat I kinda came away with the same feeling that I was on my own.
i will say that I'm very happy with my floor and once you get all the stuff in there its hardly noticeable. (its been down a year and a half)

also I didn't prime the floor

 

[VOODOO DIABLO]

Has anyone on here used U-Coat it epoxy on their floors? All this talk about moisture in the concrete. I believe with U-Coat it the concrete ha sto be wet/damp before applying the first coat.

 

[ekraft84]

You HONESTLY think that had I been able to even speak with Christine the first time I called she had said the words "I'm sorry" and nothing else, rather than a receptionist trying to sell me more of their stuff that this thread would even exist?

REALLY?

Not sure to be honest. Keep calling and get through to her in person, not on here. Call first thing in the morning when they open - you'll probably have better luck then. If not, call until you get through.

Your issue likely isn't going to get solved on here.

 

[rugerlady]

I have send a PM yesterday. I admit, I got too busy and dropped the ball and also lost his number in the process. It's also hard to keep customers "handles" and real names straight. I will fix this for him.

 

[mrobins297aaa]

Has anyone on here used U-Coat it epoxy on their floors? All this talk about moisture in the concrete. I believe with U-Coat it the concrete ha sto be wet/damp before applying the first coat.

Yeah i used it at my last house. your right you actually wet the floor with a slight mist before you apply the first coat.
U-coat is a latex based epoxy for the first two coats and then the final clear was oil base.
That floor was down about 7 years when I sold that house and it looked great. I had no complaints.
I didn't use it this time because of the cost. it was something like $1800 compared to epoxy coats $1100...........just trying to save a little money.

and it work out ok, I'm not sorry I did.

 

[Familyof8kids]

My 2nd page of instructions as shown below said on the first line under Typically asked questions - Epoxy-Coat can not control bubbling and fish eyes. When I saw that it made me think if they are not able to control them I better see if I can. I contacted another MFG that is also on this forum and they said install a primer and no bubbles will happen. I did install a primer and no bubbles anywhere.

 

[87handmedown]

Ok, so here's your update.

Christine and I were able to make our schedules align and have a phone conversation, the results of which, were far and above anything I had expected. We discussed my slab, the application, and a few of her other customers that had been having similar issues. We came to a resolution that I am more than satisfied with and has changed my perception of Epoxy Coat 180°!

So people of Garage Journal who are still on the fence about which flooring option to consider, in spite of all I have dealt with, I am not only recommending you do an epoxy floor, but I am recommending that you do business with Epoxy Coat.

Thanks Christine!

 

[dandan111]

Cool 87 glade it ended well.

 

[c7fx]

Glad to hear +1 for epoxy coat

 

[green.bubbly]

Dang, did she put her Ruger to your head?

I like it when a vendor and a customer can turn a bad experience into a good experience, everybody wins!

 

[burleyfarm]

Glad to hear it all worked out. Can I be the last post here?

 

[dizheafta]

so whats the verdict? install a primer before you epoxy coat?

 

[bdamico]

What a shame

 

[ekraft84]

Good to hear.

 

[ericcg82]

I just did mine and ended up with some bubbles as well, not quite like yours but there seems to be small ones popping up mind you it has only been 4 hours so could get worse....


I see everyone say moisture, enviro, etc... which can cause bubbles but I just talked to an epoxy guy or whatever you want to call him and was told that the bubbles can for if you use a drill or something to mix it and are using too fast a speed or causing the mix to create bubbles on the top then that basically will put air pockets in the mix and cause bubbling on your floor...

Anyone else out there know about this who is an epoxy guy?

 

[c7fx]

I honestly don't think drill speed will be an issue since it would need to be foaming up for that type of issue. The epoxy is mixed poured, spread and rolled let to sit and rolled again if any bubbles still in the mix would be pulled out with all that.

I mixed mine aggressively with my second attempt and didn't get bubbles. Personally I think the primer is needed to prevent gasses coming out of the concrete.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Prime, prime, prime!!
It will help keep the bubbles away!

 

[ericcg82]

I don't believe drill speed was my issue as I was using low speed but I was just curious if anyone else heard about it because it was the first I have....

I totally agree with you Legacy, next time I will be shot blasting the floor as well as priming, you live and learn. Mind you I have few bubbles that are small so not a big issue and if you pop them while wet then they cave in instead of volcano shape, I had maybe 20 all around the same area, its close to the door entry into the house...Cheers!

 

[AlphaGarage]

And if you do prime (and you really should) do so later in the day when air and slab temps are dropping. Cooling temps = less air expansion = will help mitigate the air bubbles in coating.

Should you get some bubbles.. if you can't feel them when running your hand over the coating, just ignore 'em.