How do you tell when an epoxy floor has cured?

[bmwpower]

Other than waiting the recommmended time period (which is dependent on temperature, humidity, film thickness, etc), what's the best way to tell when the epoxy floor is fully cured?

 

[RonBou]

Find a hidden corner and scratch it with a screwdriver...OR...just wait the required time and be sure of it. I planned mine around a weeks vacation so I would not be tempted to start moving stuff in too soon.

 

[bmwpower]

Find a hidden corner and scratch it with a screwdriver...OR...just wait the required time and be sure of it. I planned mine around a weeks vacation so I would not be tempted to start moving stuff in too soon.

If you scratch it with a screwdriver, what should happen? It shouldn't scratch?

I'm going to definitely wait the alotted time, I just want to be sure because of film thickness differences (I put on 4 coats) that the floor is ready to use.

 

[Luckydevil]

Take something with a sharp point and see if you can poke through the epoxy with it.

 

[RonBou]

If you scratch it with a screwdriver, what should happen? It shouldn't scratch?

It should leave a LIGHT scratch mark and NOT lift the epoxy. With 4 coats I still would be a might careful when bringing in equipment in the beginning. eg; don't drag anything heavy accross the floor if you can help it.

 

[Roadster]

It should leave a LIGHT scratch mark and NOT lift the epoxy. With 4 coats I still would be a might careful when bringing in equipment in the beginning. eg; don't drag anything heavy accross the floor if you can help it.

Hell, my epoxy floor has been cured for 2 years, and I still abide by that rule!

If you drag heavy steel with sharp edges across epoxy, it will scratch, regardless of how long it has cured. We're talking about epoxy here, not corundum (9 on Mohs scale of hardness) or diamond (10 on Mohs scale). Epoxy's primary benefit is easy clean-up (e.g., oil & chemicals), not hardness or resistance to scratches.