What Is Epoxy Resin And How Is It Applied? - Expert Home Improvement Advice by Philip Barron

Over the years, experts seem to have found more and more uses for an epoxy resin floor. But what is it? And how is it applied? Let’s learn more!

What’s Epoxy Resin?

Originally, the word ‘epoxy’ was used to describe fibre-reinforced polymer composites. Today, use of the word has expanded and it covers many adhesive products found in local hardware stores. By mixing two matched components, all that’s needed is a hardener to cause a chemical reaction. If the resin isn’t applied within a couple of hours (less on a warm day), the resin will turn to solid and you won’t be able to apply the adhesive to anything.

Depending on the type of resin you want, it’s possible to mix the resin and hardener at different ratios. For example, some will use a ratio of 1:1 while others will use 1:2. With this flexibility, it has lots of purposes as an adhesive, for painting, electrical systems, repairs, coatings, and more.

How Is Epoxy Resin Applied To Flooring?

First and foremost, it’s essential to follow the instructions on the packaging of the product. As mentioned, epoxy resin is a flexible product and one that forms a chemical reaction. If you don’t act quickly enough, you could be left with a solid that cannot be applied to whatever project you need. If you aren’t confident with the application process, feel free to contact a professional service since they will have experience and knowledge in this area.

Protection – Be sure to follow the precautions stated in the instructions. At all times, you should wear latex gloves or another form of hand protection. If this is your first time, you should just mix enough resin and hardener for around 10 minutes of work. This way, you get the right viscosity and don’t feel rushed to use the whole lot quickly (and end up making mistakes!).

Equipment – Although you can use bristle brushes to apply epoxy resin, the problem with this is normally the uneven coat. Therefore, experts suggest foam roller brushes for a more even application.

Application – With the activated resin ready, apply a uniform coat and use long strokes (start with small areas rather than trying to cover a huge area at once). With a foam roller, it’s easy to apply a thin and even layer across the surface. Just like painting, this first layer is a base coat so don’t worry if the surface is rippled.

Depending on the material, wait a while before coming back to check. Whether applying to wood or a garage floor, the absorbency level of the material will determine how long you need to wait. If bubbles start to form, don’t panic because this is entirely normal. If any nicks or cracks have appeared, gently fill them.

After this first coat has dried, remove a light surface layer with a hand block sander. In the past, plenty of people have attempted to use power tools but this simply removes too much of the epoxy. At this stage, use a dust mask to protect your face and lungs.

From here, you want to avoid contamination by applying a second coat as soon as possible. The longer you leave it, the more debris will sit in between the layers when you’re finished. Depending on the surface, you might need two, three, or even four coats. Either way, you don’t need to sand after the first layer; it just needs to dry before a new layer is applied with a foam roller.