Epoxy'ing around a water heater

[Zmw]

Hi guys, I am in the prep phase of my epoxy journey. I need some quick help

I have a water heater that sits directly on the garage floor, no stand.

Should I use painters tape around the base of the heater and epoxy around the base, removing the tape when epoxy is still wet. Or, should I put down a layer of caulk around the base of the water heater and use the caulk as a larger more workable base and epoxy around the caulking?

Any tips would be great. Thanks!

 

[astroracer]

Tape it off, do the epoxy and let it dry. Can you get to the heater when the floor is wet? I would let it set up and trim the tape at the floor with a razor knife when you can get to it.
Mark

 

[retrobuilder]

Make sure it is turned off if gas and gas off,
put painters tape around the heater lower shell not the floor.
Caulking seems unnecessary and and may leave a bead if heater is replaced?

 

[Zmw]

It's electric, but my plan was to tape it off (on the heater not the floor ) and immediately after painting the epoxy with a brush around the tape, removing the tape before I lay the rest of the epoxy down.

2 coats of epoxy than a polyurethane clear. Retape and repeat for all three coats I assume?

The heater is in a corner so I either can remove the tape right after applying to that area, or let it dry and use a blade as suggested.