When having something as important as the flooring of your commercial business coated in epoxy, it’s important to make sure that it is done correctly. Your flooring is an investment, and the last thing you want to do is find out that you’ve invested in something that isn’t going to last as long as you expected. This can be especially problematic because the issues related to poorly installed epoxy may not show up for months or years after installation. That’s why Colorado Concrete Repair is your go to company for concrete repair epoxy.
There are several different ways in which a coating installation can be done improperly. Everything from the mixture been used, the amount of time the mixture is allowed to set between applications, and even the temperature of your facility during the installation can affect the overall outcome. The contractor that you hire should be well aware of this, but accidents and mistakes can still happen.
What Does an Improperly Installed Epoxy Coating Look Like?
It can be hard to know exactly what to look for if you’re not an expert in epoxy installations already. There are a lot of naturally occurring issues when it comes to flooring that may or may not be attributed to the quality of new coating on your floor.
Shortly after your epoxy coating installation, it is important to look for the following signs if you are concerned the flooring was not properly installed:
- Hard Bumps and Lumps – If you are seeing bumps or lumps in your flooring after an epoxy coating, this is most likely because the contractor did not properly clean their equipment before the installation. This can also be caused by the use of low-quality resin or hardener when mixing the coating, as that can lead to lint or other deposits in the mixture.
- Bubbling – When you find small bubbles across your flooring, this is most likely due to a process that is called outgassing, in which gas is allowed to seep out of the epoxy due to heat or cavities in the flooring finish. The epoxy bubbles will form into small groups and be no larger than the tip of a finger normally. Bubbling can also be caused by an improper mixing prior to the installation, or a rushed application during, so does import to keep an eye out for them shortly after an installation.
- Sticky or Tacky Finish – The mixture of resin and hardening that is utilized for the epoxy coating needs to be continually pressed down and mixed throughout the application process. When this is not done correctly the result can be areas of your flooring that are hard and dry, while others will remain tacky or even gooey to the touch and not harden. This sort of issue can also occur if the installation was done without proper temperature control and the environment was too cold.
- Water Consistently Pooling – Normally when an epoxy coating is installed, a system involving different grooves or “falls” will be made to allow liquid to run directly to your drains, saving both time and money in the long run. If you’re noticing puddles of water forming in places and not running towards the drain system, your flooring was most likely installed without these “falls” in mind. While not an incorrect installation per se, it is something we would suggest having fixed.
- Peeling, Chipping, or Flaking – Now while most flooring will eventually peel or flake off naturally due to wear and tear, if you notice your epoxy coating peeling shortly after the initial installation, most likely your flooring was installed incorrectly. This can happen due to and number of factors that are similar to the reasons listed above, but the most likely culprit is a rushed installation.
What Do I Do If My Epoxy Coating Was Improperly Installed?
It is always the hope that the contractor you hire will be able to complete your installation correctly the first time. When things go wrong though, it is good to be able to recognize the signs yourself and reach out to the original company for repairs.
You want to look for a flooring contractor with the knowledge, experience, and equipment needed for a complete epoxy coating, as well as a good reputation and track record. This way when issues do begin to arise and you have to reach out to your original contractor, you have the best chance of getting an accurate report on the causes of these problems.
Don’t allow an improper epoxy coating to go unnoticed or unrepaired for too long, and be sure to double checking the warranty all of your installation, as there’s a chance that any repairs may be included in the initial installation contract.
