There is no rocket science behind applying epoxy floor coatings. The process is almost as simple and easy as rolling paint on the wall or across a porch floor. But even if the process of coating a floor with epoxy is easy, it does not mean you can do it all by yourself without any professional help. If you are thinking of getting an epoxy floor coating, it is suggested to hire the best epoxy flooring contractors in Melbourne.  

Regardless of the place, the epoxy flooring experts follow a set procedure which remains the same.  

In this blog, I will explain the steps that the epoxy flooring experts follow.          

Before beginning the procedure, the floor is thoroughly cleaned and patched. If you try to do it by yourself using the epoxy kit, you may only get one coat of coverage but you would require at least two layers.  

After cleaning, the epoxy floor coating process is started. The below given guide is a summary of the steps on how to apply epoxy coating on the floor.  

This guide will suit a simple roller applied floor. Such epoxy coatings are normally applied with a coat of primer and 2 coats of epoxy floor coating. Epoxy floors are good for light and medium wear and tear. Perfect for the places like garages and storage rooms. 

If you are seeking a floor for heavy and industrial goods, then you may want to know the use of a self-leveling floor. This floor type tends to have a larger thickness.  

Now, let us look into the steps that epoxy flooring professionals follow: 

Preparing the Floor Surface  

This is the first step and crucial because it forms the foundation of the entire process. Once the foundation is strong, the rest of the process goes smooth.   

Preparation of the substrate is important because it will ensure adhesion between the epoxy product and the substrate. It is important to keep the floor prepared beforehand. Without proper preparation, the floor could fail. Alos, fixing it will turn out to be more costly too. 

So, one must never underestimate the importance of proper surface preparation. The surface with the slightly rough profile is needed. It allows the mechanical bonding between the concrete surface and the epoxy primer. 

Not just this, the surface needs to be cleaned and needs to be kept free of chemicals and oils. This is necessary because such substances block the epoxy from sticking to the substrate. 

Here are some of the commonly used methods for preparing the surface like: 

•  Grinding using a diamond grinding 
• Shot-blasting 
• Sanding 

• Milling/ scarifying 

Diamond grinding is one of the most popular and widely used method to prepare the surface. To be able to grind the floor, you will have to use number of grinding tools depending on the requirement.  

For instance, to grind the rough concrete, you would require aggressive and coarse diamond tool. In case you want to give the existing surface a light sanding, you can choose a high grit sanding tool. 

Cleaning the Floor  

In this step, you are required to vacuum the floor. Before applying the epoxy, you would need a clean floor free of dust or any residue. This step is important because if cleaning is not done: 

• Dirt particles will make your floor look dirtier.  
• The dirt particles will get trapped within the coat.  
• Adhesion will significantly get weak.  
• The less micro-dust, the less primer you will need. 

Use industrial vacuum to clean the surface as it picks even the smallest dust particle and also has suitable filters.  

Steps to Apply Epoxy Coat  

The epoxy flooring contractors in Melbourne use the following steps like;    

Prime the Floor  

Once you have cleaned the floor, the next step is to create a surface which will allow the epoxy to bond the substrate. To make this happen, the epoxy installers apply epoxy primer. 

Applying primer is important because; 

• It gives the floor a long-life i.e., increases durability  
• Reduces emergence of bubbles and gases in the epoxy 
• Minimizes absorption 
• Increases ease of maintenance 
• It is eco-friendly  

• Also, it is a better adhesion to the substrate.  

Not just this, by priming the floor, the quantity of products used in later stages of epoxy flooring also reduces. At the same time, ensure that the areas are properly ventilated.  

In some cases, if you will apply the primer, you may notice that the product gets really quickly absorbed by the substrate. This happens when the floor is dusty and made of soft cement. After the first one, apply a second coat of primer. Use electrical mixer and mix A and B component of the primer. 

Use Epoxy Grout and Fill the Cracks, Holes 

Before coating, eliminated all the holes, dents and cracks from the floor. Large holes and gaps are filled in advance with the help of fast drying cement mortar. Complete this step in the beginning before grinding and applying the primer. 

If the cracks and holes are small, fill them either before or after applying the primer.  

Types of Epoxy Fillers 

There are different epoxy fillers.  

• Either use 100% clear epoxy resin and mix it in with a filler, such as quartz sand and calcium carbonate. Add the filler as required to get the desired texture and thickness of the product. 

If mixing clear resin and adding filler is too complicated, adding epoxy patching grout will make it less messy. 

After that, leave the epoxy putty to dry. Most probably, it will require sanding before proceeding to the next step.  

First Coat of Epoxy Paint 

All the above steps can take few days. After you are done with the above steps, this is the time that requires applying the first coat. The first coat helps in revealing the floor. The first layer of colored epoxy will show the actual substrate. After the first coat, the remaining cracks and holes will be visible.  

The first coat of epoxy is applied with the help of a roller or a squeegee. If there are many small dents and microscopic holes in your floor, squeegee is used to create a first layer a filler coat.  

Before starting the process of coating, all contents of the hardener are emptied in the component. Mix everything for two minutes with the help of an electrical mixer. Do not skimp on the mixing. This is one of the most important steps because if mixing is not done well, it will lead to a tacky floor.  

The professional epoxy installers work in a group so they have enough helping hands to work on a single project at a time.  

It is never advised to apply epoxy on your own because the product tends to have a short pot life like for 30-45 minutes only. So, you would always need a help whenever applying epoxy.  

If you apply a roller, using a good quality roller is suggested because the poor-quality rollers may start to shed. Also use a paint brush and masking tapes to deal with edges. 

 Final Sanding  

This step is not the final but equally vital as it comprises of final sanding. After 16-24 hours, the first coat must have dried up, making way for the next steps to follow.  

You may come across problems like new cracks and holes after applying the first coat. Also, at the same time, dust and debris may get trapped on the first coat. 

If you apply the first coat with the help of squeegee, lines may get visible. You would need to slightly sand that area to eliminate the marks that may be visible on the final floor. If the dust gathers, use a vacuum cleaner to collect the dust.  

You can also use an epoxy thinner to wipe away the left-out dust. Make sure that all the new holes and cracks are sealed before beginning the process. If necessary, wait for another day for the grout to dry up before re-coating it. 

Application of the Final Coat 

Final step comprises of applying the epoxy coat. Even before the final step, the entire area is cleaned and taken care of. For this step, use a high-quality roller. Some like to spread the coating mixture with a squeegee. Then use a roller to get a uniform surface.  

If the surface you are applying epoxy coating to is too problematic, then you may need a third coat to make the surface look perfect.  

If you hire the epoxy flooring contractors in Melbourne, you will see the epoxy experts following the similar steps as described above. To get the best services, contact the best flooring contractors, i.e., Tuff Build and know more about the services.