Epoxy/Polyaspartic on trim and steps

[kickstart26]

I am looking into having the concrete floor in our garage coated with epoxy as the base coat and polyaspartic as the top coat. The company that came out recommended against coating the trim and the wood steps due to concern for cracking with expansion/contraction of the wood.

The trim (baseboards) are made of pine. The steps are plywood.

Is this a legitimate concern? Or would you have the baseboards and steps also covered with epoxy and polyaspartic?

 

[Shea]

I am looking into having the concrete floor in our garage coated with epoxy as the base coat and polyaspartic as the top coat. The company that came out recommended against coating the trim and the wood steps due to concern for cracking with expansion/contraction of the wood.

The trim (baseboards) are made of pine. The steps are plywood.

Is this a legitimate concern? Or would you have the baseboards and steps also covered with epoxy and polyaspartic?

The trim is not a problem. It can't create enough expansion force to make a difference. The problem is the steps. Though epoxy cures extremely hard, it is not flexible. If the steps flex or give under weight, the epoxy will crack in places, leading to delamination.

A good solution would be a polyurea base. It's flexible like polyaspartic and will withstand the flex from the steps.

 

[kickstart26]

The trim is not a problem. It can't create enough expansion force to make a difference. The problem is the steps. Though epoxy cures extremely hard, it is not flexible. If the steps flex or give under weight, the epoxy will crack in places, leading to delamination.

A good solution would be a polyurea base. It's flexible like polyaspartic and will withstand the flex from the steps.

Thanks. What are your thoughts on using polyurea base for the entire garage instead of epoxy? Not sure I would want just polyurea base on the stairs and epoxy for the rest

 

[Shea]

Thanks. What are your thoughts on using polyurea base for the entire garage instead of epoxy? Not sure I would want just polyurea base on the stairs and epoxy for the rest

It really depends on the circumstances. A high solids polyurea base can be a good option as well. It is UV-stable, which is a benefit if you are not doing a full color flake broadcast.

Was your concrete tested for moisture vapor transmission? Some installers prefer 100% solids epoxy, which exhibits moderate MVT blocking, if the client is unsure whether a moisture vapor barrier was installed before the concrete was placed.

 

[kickstart26]

It really depends on the circumstances. A high solids polyurea base can be a good option as well. It is UV-stable, which is a benefit if you are not doing a full color flake broadcast.

Was your concrete tested for moisture vapor transmission? Some installers prefer 100% solids epoxy, which exhibits moderate MVT blocking, if the client is unsure whether a moisture vapor barrier was installed before the concrete was placed.

The concrete is supposed to have 6 mil visqueen under it. Moisture contant was measured at 4%