epoxy flooring not drying.....

[c6 rocket]

I installed a part A paint with the part B epoxy additive and it states that the drying time is 6 hours at 70 degrees. Thirty six (36) hours later and the floor is tacky but not dry. It did go down to the lower 40's the other night and the concrete is cold. Could this be a reasin why it has not cured?

 

[PAToyota]

Most definitely! If the concrete temperature is lower than it should be it may never fully cure correctly.

 

[c6 rocket]

When you say never, are you serious or just stating that it will take a long time?

 

[ron in sc]

It did go down to the lower 40's the other night and the concrete is cold.

I live in Charleston too and I just checked the temp of my concrete in a few places and it was between 69 degrees and 70 degrees.

Do you know what the humidity was when you applied epoxy?

 

[c6 rocket]

I installed it on Monday of this week and as you know, it cooled down quite a bit.

 

[ron in sc]

it cooled down quite a bit.

I kind of doubt your concrete was down to anything near 40 degrees.

 

[c6 rocket]

What do you think happened? I still have a two part color and a two part clear to install. Do you think it will eventually dry?

 

[AlphaGarage]

You should be asking the manufacturer.

 

[ron in sc]

Who makes the product, maybe they have a tech line where they can help you.

I'm no expert but was concrete prepared according to the manuf. directions?

Is it getting harder or just stays the same.

 

[PAToyota]

When you say never, are you serious or just stating that it will take a long time?

No, I'm serious... Epoxy is a chemical reaction between the two parts. If that reaction does not take place you will be left with a mess...

 

[boiler7904]

Was the material mixed according to instructions? Paint stick or a paddle in a drill?

They usually say to mix for x amount of minutes and then let set up for y amount of minutes before applying the coating. The mixing and sitting time allow the chemical reactions to start. If the chemicals don't react properly, you're left with a big mess. I'm guessing that this could be part of the problem here.

Another thought that comes to mind is application method and applied film thickness. If the material goes on too thick it will take forever to cure. I rolled my garage with thin knap rollers and it cured fine. The material left on mixing paddle on the other hand was still tacky a year later.

 

[jskco]

OK,

This information is based on the products we sell, but most of it will hold true across many epoxy products.

Reasons for not curing

 Low temperature can inhibit the cure of an epoxy product. Although epoxies due not cure like paint the lower temperature can slow down the chemical reaction that caused curing. If your garage is heated, turn it on. If you have another source of heat use it. This may work but it may not as the concrete will be cooler then the ambient temperature. I have seen epoxy cure even after a month of cool temps. WARNING: Check with the manufacturer as to what types of heat sources are safe at this stage in the curing process.
 Often it is caused by improper mixing. If you did not get the ratio correct (even by leaving more of one than another on the side of the can) or did not get it mixed enough that may inhibit the cure. Usually when this happens it will result in a spotty cure. I do not know of a good fix for this.
 Did you check for moisture? If the slab has a moisture issue it can cause the issue described.
 Was the slab previously treated or repaired: I have seen certain fillers; repair agents and cleaners slop an epoxy cure cold!
 There are lots of reasons why do-it-yourself epoxy projects fail, BUT if you read and follow all the directions and do good floor preparation a good DIY epoxy job is possible!

Justin Krauss
http://www.jnkproducts.com

 

[c6 rocket]

Who makes the product, maybe they have a tech line where they can help you.

I'm no expert but was concrete prepared according to the manuf. directions?

Is it getting harder or just stays the same.

It is curing but it is taking along time.

 

[AlphaGarage]

A good mix is pretty important. Not that this is the cause of your situation.

When you mix typical wall paint, like a Behr latex from Home Depot, you just need to blend two liquids that are essentially the same, and differ in just variations of their tints. If you do an okay mix, and the color seems somewhat homogeneous, you be fine.

With a two part epoxy the process is considerably more involved. It's not just blending 2 liquids, it's initiating a chemical process between those two dissimilar substances. So it's not sufficient to eyeball it or guess. Be sure to have good mixing paddles, and follow the directions.

 

[c6 rocket]

It seems to be drying, but I am into day 4 and we still have spots that are tacky. I have brought in fans to help circulate some air. I hope this works.

 

[WolverineCoatings]

My first reaction was... uhh ohh... impropper mixing. I'm really curious what product you used, how you mixed it, what the weather was like when you applied it, how many gallons did you use for how big of an area... etc.

There are many reasons you could be having problems.

Most definitely! If the concrete temperature is lower than it should be it may never fully cure correctly.

When you say never, are you serious or just stating that it will take a long time?

There is a phenomenon known as 'B-Staging'. B-Staging is when the epoxy begins to cure and then the cure is stopped by a drop in temperature... the reaction NEVER restarts. Even if you add heat the reaction never restarts. It is a big mess when that happens.

Epoxy products MUST be formulated to have resistance to B-Staging. Most epoxy products specify 50f as the minimum cure temperature.

Based on the VERY limited information here, I'm going to guess that even if this product gets hard it's going to have low internal integrity (pulls away from itself) and low adhesion. Again, we have hardly any information and we really don't even have enough to make a guess. The statement I'm making above is basically just a 'feeling'. (I'm right alot about these... 'feelings')

 

[c6 rocket]

My first reaction was... uhh ohh... impropper mixing. I'm really curious what product you used, how you mixed it, what the weather was like when you applied it, how many gallons did you use for how big of an area... etc.

There are many reasons you could be having problems.





There is a phenomenon known as 'B-Staging'. B-Staging is when the epoxy begins to cure and then the cure is stopped by a drop in temperature... the reaction NEVER restarts. Even if you add heat the reaction never restarts. It is a big mess when that happens.

Epoxy products MUST be formulated to have resistance to B-Staging. Most epoxy products specify 50f as the minimum cure temperature.

Based on the VERY limited information here, I'm going to guess that even if this product gets hard it's going to have low internal integrity (pulls away from itself) and low adhesion. Again, we have hardly any information and we really don't even have enough to make a guess. The statement I'm making above is basically just a 'feeling'. (I'm right alot about these... 'feelings')

At what point do I give up and realize that it will not dry? How do I remove it if I have to?

 

[ron in sc]

How do I remove it if I have to?

I asked that very question to the contractor that did my floor today. He said that the way he removed epoxy, the types he uses, from floors was chemically. Now that applied to floors where the epoxy had hardened. I understood it to be expensive.

 

[c6 rocket]

I asked that very question to the contractor that did my floor today. He said that the way he removed epoxy, the types he uses, from floors was chemically. Now that applied to floors where the epoxy had hardened. I understood it to be expensive.

Can you find out what chemical is used and the process for me?

 

[WolverineCoatings]

At what point do I give up and realize that it will not dry? How do I remove it if I have to?

If you want definitive answers you'll need to let me know the answers to the questions I have already asked.

 

[c6 rocket]

If you want definitive answers you'll need to let me know the answers to the questions I have already asked.

I don't have the answer's. Can you still help me remove it?

 

[Kevin54]

I live in Charleston too and I just checked the temp of my concrete in a few places and it was between 69 degrees and 70 degrees.

So that would be like 69 1/2 degrees?

 

[sneezer41]

i had this happen to me with a solvent based epoxy. It was probably ventilation issues. Get some air in there and keep it warm. I 'think' that with solvent epoxies the solvent has to blow off before the epoxy cures and if it doesn't[bad vent or cold] it messes with the chemistry.

I had lifting issues on that always, but I cleaned[not removed] and successfully recoated the floor with the same product some months later. I have a small area that lifted but it was not in the area that I had trouble with.

 

[c6 rocket]

i had this happen to me with a solvent based epoxy. It was probably ventilation issues. Get some air in there and keep it warm. I 'think' that with solvent epoxies the solvent has to blow off before the epoxy cures and if it doesn't[bad vent or cold] it messes with the chemistry.

I had lifting issues on that always, but I cleaned[not removed] and successfully recoated the floor with the same product some months later. I have a small area that lifted but it was not in the area that I had trouble with.

I have had the fan and air on in the garage since Thursday of last week. Some areas are still not dry. I am pulling my hair out.

 

[Jaguar Fan]

I have had the fan and air on in the garage since Thursday of last week. Some areas are still not dry. I am pulling my hair out.

so... why don't you tell the readers here

1) the name of the product
2) method & tool you used to mix it (or did some one else mix it)
3) how long you mixed it (even an approximation)
4) how long you let it sit prior to putting it on the floor

?

 

[boiler7904]

so... why don't you tell the readers here

1) the name of the product
2) method & tool you used to mix it (or did some one else mix it)
3) how long you mixed it (even an approximation)
4) how long you let it sit prior to putting it on the floor

?

Given the fact that he hasn't answered those same questions the first 5 or 6 times he was asked, I don't think he'll be answering you either. Who knows? You might get lucky. It can't possibly be this hard for him to remember what he used on his floor last week.

 

[WolverineCoatings]

I don't have the answer's. Can you still help me remove it?

Alright... I'll bite... Yes, I can get you some help... Call me in my office tomorrow...

Eric

(864) 342-9292

 

[awakeinAZ]

Way to step in Eric!! Wahoo!!!!

 

[c6 rocket]

so... why don't you tell the readers here

1) the name of the product
2) method & tool you used to mix it (or did some one else mix it)
3) how long you mixed it (even an approximation)
4) how long you let it sit prior to putting it on the floor

?

The only answer's I have are that I mixed the two parts for two (2) minutes. Question #4 = I immediately poured it onto the floor.

Given the fact that he hasn't answered those same questions the first 5 or 6 times he was asked, I don't think he'll be answering you either. Who knows? You might get lucky. It can't possibly be this hard for him to remember what he used on his floor last week.

I am not holding back answer's, I do not have them. I posted a inquiry for help, not sarcasm.

 

[boiler7904]

I am not holding back answer's, I do not have them. I posted a inquiry for help, not sarcasm.

You're starting to answer the questions but not in enough detail.

#2 - You mixed it for 2 minutes. How? With a paint stick or a paddle in a drill? Paint stick will not give the same results.

#4 - Poured immediately on the floor. If we knew what the product was, we could see if that is a problem. Some epoxies want it to sit in the can or bucket for a few minutes before you start to use it.

Do you honestly expect us to believe that you applied an epoxy coating to your garage floor last week but you don't know what brand of coating it is? Rust Oleum, Rust Oleum Pro, U Coat It, Wolverine, etc. It isn't that hard of a question.

Without being sarcastic, my point is that you are asking for help on a particular product but won't tell anyone what that product is. Knowing what the product is and how you applied it will go along way towards helping people understand your problem so that they can help you with your problem.

Another potential problem that just came to mind is that you might have gotten an old batch of material that sat on the shelf too long - either at the warehouse, the store, or your home before it was applied.

 

[PAToyota]

So you had two containers with no labels and you've forgotten the tools that you've used to mix it?

Sort of like saying you have a deficient peanut butter and jelly sandwich without telling us if you even used bread, peanut butter, and jelly...

The sarcasm is because it is exceeding difficult to know how to proceed with any help when we have no idea what the product is, what process was used to mix it (was it mixed by hand, with a drill mounted mixer, paint shaker, etc), or any other details that might help answer your question...

 

[c6 rocket]

So you had two containers with no labels and you've forgotten the tools that you've used to mix it?

Sort of like saying you have a deficient peanut butter and jelly sandwich without telling us if you even used bread, peanut butter, and jelly...

The sarcasm is because it is exceeding difficult to know how to proceed with any help when we have no idea what the product is, what process was used to mix it (was it mixed by hand, with a drill mounted mixer, paint shaker, etc), or any other details that might help answer your question...

The product is a private label material. It does not reference the manufacturer. I mixed it manually with paint paddels. I am sorry that I do not any more information.

 

[PAToyota]

So, what is the private label? It isn't that hard...

 

[AlphaGarage]

What leads you to believe that the two mystery cans held components that were designed to work together?

Two part epoxy systems are not like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. They're more like your house key and your front door lock. And mixing a no-name "Epoxy Part A" with a no-name "Epoxy Part B" has about as much chance as working as opening your door a key you found on the beach.

 

[thegarageguy]

I was at one of my manufacturers plants today learning a new cementious system. While eating lunch the techs laughed about people stealing containers from jobsites and those people calling and asking how to get the floor to dry.

This post is either;
A. the manufacturer goofed and put a hardener label on a resin, therfore you mixed resin with resin or..
B. stolen material and only one component used.

I wonder which this could be??

 

[AlphaGarage]

I vote for

C: the manufacturer goofed and put a resin label on a both resin and hardener And both buckets were stolen. Therefore someone mixed a hot resin with more hot resin, resulting a very cold pot of some hot resin.

OP - chase down whoever sold you the goods and get your money back.

 

[WolverineCoatings]

I spoke to c6 rocket today when he called. He has a unique situation and just can't spell out all of the issues. We spoke at some length about it. I'm not going to mention the company that this came from but will say... it wasn't us! (lol... wooo hooo)...

Anyway, this company has basically one stance that they have given when something went wrong... "You screwed up... bye". Basically, c6 has come here out of frustration because he can't get any straight answers from the manufacturer. And, it's because the manufacturer is NOT the manufacturer. c6 is really frustrated as I'm sure that you can all imagine. So, please try to cut him a little slack. I'm not sure whether the problem is his fault or not at this point but I think he would have been a whole lot less frustrated if the 'manufactuer' could give him any clue about how this could even happen.

Alot of people get burned this way... In fact... This subject probably deserves it's own thread.

 

[Dave88LX]

What kind of thread? An informational/what-not-to-do type thread? Or a "stay away from xyz" thread?



That has got to be frustrating.

 

[Jaguar Fan]

I spoke to c6 rocket today when he called. He has a unique situation and just can't spell out all of the issues. We spoke at some length about it. I'm not going to mention the company that this came from but will say... it wasn't us! (lol... wooo hooo)...

Anyway, this company has basically one stance that they have given when something went wrong... "You screwed up... bye". Basically, c6 has come here out of frustration because he can't get any straight answers from the manufacturer. And, it's because the manufacturer is NOT the manufacturer. c6 is really frustrated as I'm sure that you can all imagine. So, please try to cut him a little slack. I'm not sure whether the problem is his fault or not at this point but I think he would have been a whole lot less frustrated if the 'manufactuer' could give him any clue about how this could even happen.

Alot of people get burned this way... In fact... This subject probably deserves it's own thread.

It is unfortunate. It sounds like the vendor's customer service reps moonlight at my HMO.

Regardless of who is at fault (kinda irrelevant at this point), what kind of advice did you give? In your opinion, should he try to get the coating off the floor? Grinding? or something else? anything the rest of us could learn?

 

[WolverineCoatings]

It would be hard for me to point out those companies since we are selling in this market again. So, I started a pretty general discussion.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=214864#post214864