Epoxy floor question?

[Jarvis]

I am getting ready to epoxy paint my floor. It's new and I power washed the mud the builders left on it. I am about ready to etch it and the paint guys at the paint store were saying that is the concrete doesn't have plastic under the concrete before it was poured that moisture will come up and lift the epoxy off the concrete. I don't buy it.... Any one have these issues?
I am going to duct tape some plastic down and see if it has any moisture.

Thoughts?

 

[The Bramptonian]

Yes, that is very much a real risk. The solution is very expensive if you find unacceptable level of moisture. Better buy a cheap calcium chloride test kit and measure your slab's moisture vapor emission level. Search the forum and you will find hundreds of pages on this. I have a lot of moisture in my slab and I am using moisture barrier epoxy. It is very expensive and I would probably be better off not doing epoxy and go for tiles. But I really like the shiny epoxy floors.

 

[retfr8flyr]

I don't know how "new" new is but you need to let the slab cure for about a month before you try and epoxy it.

 

[Jarvis]

Concrete is 45 days old

 

[dcs Inc]

Jarvis, they questimate it takes 30 days an inch for concrete to hydrate. Depending on how much water was added at time of placement will effect the cycle also. Checking for vapor issues isn't really a big deal and should be done. There are vapor barrier epoxies that can be applied topically as a primer to hinder moisture from blistering the epoxy.

If you are considering having this done, I have installers around Evansville.

 

[Jarvis]

I will call you Monday. I was planning on doing it myself.

 

[Jarvis]

Plastic is under the concrete. I have had plastic taped to floor for 4 days and dry!

 

[dcs Inc]

Sorry for the late reply. I taught a class this weekend and just getting caught up. the plastic test isn't a great test. Better than nothing though. The concrete doesn't have to be wet under the plastic, it could just be slightly darker to have moisture present. I could have one of my staff mail you a couple calcium chloride test kits if you like. We sell them for $11.00 a piece, plus shipping. Cheap insurance....

They're easy to use, just follow the directions provided. It also has a pH test kit with each unit. The pH is important.