Metallic Epoxy Flooring

[dawgs18]

Hello all. New to forum.

I just got my basement floor done. I had carpet and tile and had it all ripped up and replaced with Metallic Epoxy. Everything seemed to go as planned but the day after the cure I was able to walk around and from the outdoor lighting and indoor lighting you can see what the contractor called dust.

Take a look and let me know what you think.

 

[roscoe2000]

More like dust under the finish, and some look like solvent bubbles.

 

[benwah]

Looks like out-gassing to me.

 

[dawgs18]

Yea he called it dust and said its normal but to me it seems like too much.

 

[benwah]

Yes this is a normal thing that happens when a floor is not primed before applying 100% solids epoxies sometimes. ESPECIALLY when applying metallic epoxies. You can't just sand over it and fix it without affecting the appearance. And yes, it is too much.

 

[dawgs18]

I am working on getting other epoxy people out to take a look. I have tried to look up more info about this but can't seem to find much about dust. Just FYI he did epoxy then topped it with urethane.

So what should I do?

 

[benwah]

You probably can't find anything because no one uses that terminology, "dusted". I've never even heard of that before. Google "epoxy floor outgassing."

I would contact the applicator and have them fix it. He should use a floor buffer with a sanding screen/sand paper and uniformly de-gloss the entire surface making sure all of those bubbles are taken care of. Then re-apply the entire floor. What a PITA. Each one of the bubbles or high spots are failure areas.

This is a common issue when people want to short cut steps and not do the job properly. Granted it DOES happen from time to time, but it is easily preventable. If they would have applied a penetrating primer and it out gassed, all you have to do it sand it, then apply your next steps. What method of surface preparation was used?

 

[dawgs18]

There was a base coat that I believe helps with preventing moisture?

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

It likes like job-site debris got into the roller, in addition to some bubbles.
This type of floor shows every little inconsistency. It's dark and glossy, very tough to make it absolutely perfect.

If this was a gray flake floor it would have passed muster.

He might be able to screen it, fix any bubbles and re-coat with clear urethane.

 

[mnavillus]

It likes like job-site debris got into the roller, in addition to some bubbles.
This type of floor shows every little inconsistency. It's dark and glossy, very tough to make it absolutely perfect.

If this was a gray flake floor it would have passed muster.

He might be able to screen it, fix any bubbles and re-coat with clear urethane.

I concur with scotty.....Hard to get this system perfect (dust minuscule free) particularly with darker colors....lighter colors show a little less surface defects!

However from what I can see from the pics it appears to have more debris defects then normally should exist...mixed with some possible outgassing.

do you know what products he used for installation?

might be worth asking your contractor if he would lightly sand and reseal with another coat of polyurethane?

let us know what he says?

good luck!

 

[dawgs18]

I don't know what products he used. I have learned more about my floor from the problems than I did before the installation. Back assward I know...

I am gonna ask him to sand and reseal. Again, I understand there will be some things you can't control from happening but overall the floor should not have this many bubbles.

Thanks for your quick replies and will post back what he says and hopefully new pics with us being happy.

 

[thegarageguy]

these floors are manufactured on site, so site conditions can affect final results. The picture looks like dust and debris as opposed to outgassing.

We do not use rollers to apply these designer epoxy systems. We have found that the action of rolling back and forth can create a friction that could possibly attract dust.... well at least that's my theory

We typically use an air scrubber to maintain the area free of dust and debris while applying our systems. This ensures a clean and dust free environment for the absolute best results

 

[workhurts]

Got any better pictures? I personally had a hell of a time keeping dirt/dust/fibers out of the urethane. I think since urethane is so thin that just about everything shows up and doesn't really get a chance to sink in.

Did you see any bubbles in the intermediary steps?

 

[PT Doc]

these floors are manufactured on site, so site conditions can affect final results. The picture looks like dust and debris as opposed to outgassing.

We do not use rollers to apply these designer epoxy systems. We have found that the action of rolling back and forth can create a friction that could possibly attract dust.... well at least that's my theory

We typically use an air scrubber to maintain the area free of dust and debris while applying our systems. This ensures a clean and dust free environment for the absolute best results

Very interesting decor in the home. Then I noticed your location. Was this in NJ?

 

[thegarageguy]

Very interesting decor in the home. Then I noticed your location. Was this in NJ?

My shop is in NJ but this project was in an all Russian community of Brooklyn called Brighton Beach

 

[tncatadjuster]

One unnoticed pile of debris the size of your thumb in the corner can ruin the entire floor, that's dirt plain and simple. You can do three thousand feet and the roller will deposit dirt that it collected on the first foot of the job on the last foot rolled.

 

[mnavillus]

Garageguy

I've always liked the idea of utilizing an air scubber particularly for my metallic floor applications with the darker colors?

We have a small air scubber (purchased at an auction) but I'm not convinced of its effectiveness?

What type model and brand of air scubber are you using?

Have you found it to be noticeably effective at removing the "fugitive dust" floating around.

I was considering purchasing another larger unit but would like some feedback from other folks that are using them for the same purpose.

let me know your thoughts?

thanks?

 

[workhurts]

So, with all this said. What is the best way to clean a floor and keep it clean prior to rolling urethane? Can you use one of those wide sticky tape rollers for pet hair?

The other thing to remember is the garage doors, raising them up and down may drop dirt down from either the tracks or the doors and of course outside wind will blow stuff in.

With urethane I think they recommend open doors so it can cure and not form a film.

 

[Shea]

From the time you start applying the first coat to the last coat of a garage floor project you should treat the garage like a clean room. If you are worried about dirt falling from your garage door tracks, clean them prior to cleaning the floor.

Don't apply if you know it will be windy outside and you are worried about dust and debris. You don't need to apply epoxy or urethane with the doors wide open anyway, but you should wear the required respirator for solvents and shut off any ignition sources.

These products cure and do not dry like paint. Of course you should be using the proper high quality shed free rollers and run them across some tape to catch any loose fibers before using them.

If you do this then debris should not be an issue. I helped the neighbor a while back with his floor. The primer was laid down in the evening and then we closed the doors. The next day a nasty wind had picked up. We kept the doors closed and worked our way out the side door when applying the color coat and the final polyurethane top coat. No issues with debris in the floor.

 

[Sovereign-1]

We do not use rollers to apply these designer epoxy systems. We have found that the action of rolling back and forth can create a friction that could possibly attract dust.... well at least that's my theory

Might I ask what you do use? A sprayer?

 

[benwah]

Probably trowel ^. Troweled metallic floors look boss and you can really do some cool effects

 

[thegarageguy]

@mnavillus - We use a Syclone Mk4. The trick is sealing the place off to create negative air pressure.

@Sovereign - we use a combo of trowels, smoothers and squeegees depending on the movement we are trying to achieve