Epoxy-How Cold is Too Cold?

[OldtruckDude]

My concrete floor temp is holding about 50 degrees. The daytime temp is in the 50's and night temps are in the 20's. Rel. humidity is about 17%.

I have no heat in the barn yet, but it is insulated.

I purchased Coronado Silver Epoxy. It says the minimum floor temp is 50.

I have about 7800 sq feet to do and I don't want to have to redo it!

What would you experts do? Apply it or wait till spring?

Thanks

John

 

[rikmeister]

wait till spring and do it right

 

[jmack]

wait till spring and do it right

+1

for something that big, why risk it when you are already at the min threshold.

 

[lambeau]

Do not risk it, your excited and thats okay. It will peel up and you will
regret your decsion. If your emotions get the best of you, test a little
section in a corner, but you will be wasting the mixed product if you
do not use it all. Is portable heat available?

 

[AlphaGarage]

Understand that unlike a wall paint, epoxy coatings cure by exothermic chemical reaction, and when mixed the components react and produce heat. That heat is not just an interesting byproduct, it is also an essential part of the curing process. Without specific temperatures at specific points during the process certain necessary reactions may not occur, and if they don't occur the epoxy may not fully cure. That could result in a coating that doesn't harden, or doesn't adhere, or fails to perform as expected.

Both slab and air temperature are two major factors that can effect the exothermic reactions, if either is too cold, the temperature of the mix might not reach the minimum thresholds required to properly cure.

No doubt there's some fudge factor involved with the recommended 50f minimum, but no way would that allowable window open up down to 20f. Also, the slab temp is more critical than the air temp, if nights have been in the 20s I wouldn't be surprised if the slab doesn't get over 40f during any day-part.

 

[OldtruckDude]

Thanks for the replies!

I am excited, but mainly I want to get all my junk put in the shop SOON! I still need to put in a 2 post lift, compressor, and build work benches and shelves.

Alpha,
The slab is staying right at 50 degrees all the time. At least that is what the thermometer on the floor is reading. The air temp outside the barn is getting into the twenties, but the barn is staying about 50 for now. The longer I wait, the colder the inside will be.

I am going to put radiant tube heating in ( probably two 50' tubes ). What if I wait untill the heat is in and warm the barn up, turn off the heat and apply the epoxy? I know this stuff is very flamable ).

All replies are greatly appreciated.

John