About a year ago I had a moisture blocking epoxy primer applied to my garage slab. The plan is to finish remodeling the space then finish the floor with an epoxy topcoat. I wanted to get the primer down first so I could frame walls on top of it and not worry about moisture migrating through the slab and into the walls (the slab is 60 years old so no vapor barrier). But as these things go its been a year and the remodel is still in progress.
I've noticed that there is a lingering odor from the epoxy primer. It isn't too strong but enough that most people notice it when you point it out. But if you get the floor wet it is pretty smelly. If you dampen the epoxy and get you nose down on the floor it is real bad--smells like solvent.
The contractor says there is nothing wrong, that it is just a primer and is not intended to be a stand-alone coating. But he acknowledges that he has not used this particular product often and has never seen this problem.
My intuition is telling me that, primer or not, a properly cured epoxy should be pretty much inert. I would think it should not be off-gassing or reacting with water. Possible this is a sign the primer did not cure properly and might be a problem long term.
I don't know of any reason the epoxy wouldn't have cured properly, the space was dry and warm and has been heated all year. There has been plenty of ventilation.
What do you all think? Is this a problem or is the contractor correct in his reasoning?
Thanks!
I've noticed that there is a lingering odor from the epoxy primer. It isn't too strong but enough that most people notice it when you point it out. But if you get the floor wet it is pretty smelly. If you dampen the epoxy and get you nose down on the floor it is real bad--smells like solvent.
The contractor says there is nothing wrong, that it is just a primer and is not intended to be a stand-alone coating. But he acknowledges that he has not used this particular product often and has never seen this problem.
My intuition is telling me that, primer or not, a properly cured epoxy should be pretty much inert. I would think it should not be off-gassing or reacting with water. Possible this is a sign the primer did not cure properly and might be a problem long term.
I don't know of any reason the epoxy wouldn't have cured properly, the space was dry and warm and has been heated all year. There has been plenty of ventilation.
What do you all think? Is this a problem or is the contractor correct in his reasoning?
Thanks!
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