Polyspartic floor smell: 3rd time doing this and I'm nervous

[Dave-H]

Hi all -

Well, some of you may recall my huge debacle when I had a floor installed and they didn't let the first coat cure enough which led to lingering smell, months of stressful dealings, and eventually replaced floor and small claims court.

The first time around (thread here: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=356925&highlight=smell) was pretty painful.

When they replaced the floor, saw how things should work and it was amazing- nearly 100% cured that very first night, and by half way through the 2nd day there was no odor at all.

Well, I just bought a new house and decided to do the same floor in the garage. That was Friday morning they installed it. Now it's Monday afternoon and if I closed the windows for just a few minutes, an obvious chemical smell begins accumulating. This seems very familiar - and it's rattling my nerves because my whole remodeling project is on hold now.

It's only been 72 hours, and it wasn't that cold when they applied the floor. In the 4 hours, or so, that they were here the temp went from about 50 degrees to just under 70 degrees.

I understand that it hasn't been long, but WOW this is bumming me out. Just that familiar smell that caused me months of inconvenience is bumming me out.

I wonder if any of you might chime in and let me know if you've experienced floors that still take a few days to cure up completely - cause this is feeling very familiar.

thanks! Dave

 

[jhl1963]

Not a polyspartic, but your first thread was heartbreaking (hope it’s ok now!) so I felt compelled to respond -standard epoxy/poly smelled inside for about a week then went away completely. Was applied in 80 degree temps.


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[Raisedonadeere]

Just asking but wouldn't the cure be affected by the actual concrete floor temperature. Even on a day with in the recommended temp range a cold floor would cause you to need a warmer day for cure etc?

 

[Dave-H]

Update: we decided to push forward with drywall/paint in the garage, so the floor is currently covered with plastic, but it's not tightly taped or sealed. So, it can still off gas a bit during this time. Obviously it would best if the room was kept wide open while the floor cured, but I learned last time around that just waiting for weeks, and then months, is not going to happen. I plan to push forward with my remodeling project and if the floor stinks in a few weeks, take strong action. No more fooling around only to wind up grinding off the floor!

.. but your first thread was heartbreaking (hope it’s ok now!)

It ended badly, in small claims court, after wasting months. The company settled for the full claim including air quality testing, removal and replacement of new floor by other vendor, etc. but they waited until 20 minutes before the court appearance to do so. Very frustrating ordeal.

Just asking but wouldn't the cure be affected by the actual concrete floor temperature. Even on a day with in the recommended temp range a cold floor would cause you to need a warmer day for cure etc?

This product claims to be able to cure in lower temps, albeit slowly, and the concrete was probably at least 50 on the day they poured it.