Epoxy floor in cold weather

[accord driver]

I appologize if this has been covered elsewhere, I did a search and didn't quite find my answer.

Is it possible to lay epoxy down in cold weather in an unheated garage? I am faced with coating my floor now before winter and it seems like winter is about to arrive with the low temps we have had lately.

I am going with the Rustoleum Profesional Solvent based epoxy and the instructions indicate the floor temp needs to be 60 degrees or higher. Epoxy is a chemical reaction so wouldn't it just dry slower correct? Is it more an adhesion issue? Cold floor hot epoxy, layer of condensation between???

Has anyone laid epoxy in an unheated space in the fall or winter?

 

[chadster1]

I used the epoxy kits they sell at Lowes (dont remember the brand) in my garage. It was January when I did it. I was pressed for time and ended up having to put stuff in the garage before it was completely cured. I have had a few areas where the epoxy has come up but overall it has held up well. It is going on 3 years now. If you do it in cold weather, it will take longer to cure and I would say that poor adhesion to the concrete is the reason that I have had some places come up.

 

[AlphaGarage]

With epoxies up to a point lower temps (slab temp being more important that air temp) will just result in a longer pot life and slower full cure. However, below a certain temperature some of the chemical processes simply don't occur correctly at all, at that point the epoxy may never fully cure - regardless of elapsed time and/or higher temperatures. That may result in a coating that remains soft, won't adhere well, or other issues that will negatively affect product performance.

Our epoxies can be applied down to 40f, some only work down to 50f or 60f. As always, check product documentation for specific guidelines.

 

[accord driver]

Thanks guys,

I am familiar with the consequences. Have had that happen with fiberglass resin in the winter. I will take my chances and pray for warmer weather when I do the actual application. Hoping to get the garage empty and etched this weekend and then its time to wait.....

 

[nate379]

How big is your garage? If it's not huge a couple cheap electric heaters would be insurance. Or a forced air kero heater. They are about $200 though. I used to heat a 12x22 uninsulated shed with one and it worked great!

 

[accord driver]

I'm working with a 600 sq ft garage with a 15' gambrell roof. Basically a 22 x 28