Late Fall Epoxiers Beware!

[GearBeer]

I laid down my epoxy floor this weekend (I didn't level the low spot in the concrete, too much work for little value). Since it was getting on the low side of the curing temperature range (upper 30s at night) we set up my father's kerosine heater to keep the temp up. Unfortunately, we left it too close to the floor.

Our best guess is that the heater spits soot when it fires up (works off a thermostat) the soot sat on top of the epoxy and retarded the curing process (it was still sticky in that area after 15 hours). When we squeegeed out the clear the soot mixed into it and created the rectangular shape.

I'm going to roll with it but it would have been preferable to find a different spot for the heater, even if that required kicking my 'vert out in the rain.

 

[rwhite692]

If it really bugs you, I guess you could scuff it, do a thin wet coat of clear, broadcast more flake, and then lay another heavy coat? Maybe that would mask it?

I have never seen a kerosene heater that didn't (eventually) leave an oily film all over everything in the shop.... That would be my primary reason for never having one of those things anywhere near a (critical) painting project....

 

[thundercow]

bummer...there was just another thread recently about cold weather installations. Electric heaters are the way to go. Also they circulate air throughout the garage as they heat.

 

[sirsloop]

I'm going to be doing my floor in NJ in a few days... I plan in just leaving the water baseboard heat on...

 

[thegarageguy]

You may want to solvent wipe that whole floor before recoating. That soot may not allow proper adhesion.

Some of us use indirect portable fired heaters. Ours are rated 193,000 btu, its temp controlled and could easily heat up a 3000 sqft warehouse. A 165,00 btu version is available and maybe it can be rented for you DIY crazy guys who can't wait for better weather.

 

[Joel 67]

Garageguy,

Wouldn't that thing also exhaust something potentially hazardous to the floor? What I mean is that wouldn't anything that is not externally exhausted could potentially exhaust burnt and unburnt hydrocarbons that could contaminate the floor surface?

I'd like to do an epoxy floor this fall but I am concerned about this aspect of heating the garage with similar type of heater.

Thanks.

 

[thegarageguy]

Garageguy,

WOuldn't that thing also exhaust something potentially hazardous to the floor?

The portable heating unit is designed for placement outside of the garage. A hose is used to extend the heated air exhaust duct into the garage.

Powerful fans ensure high static pressure forcing the heated air through the ducting.

I'm giving away too much of my secrets.