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Can Epoxy Flooring Be Applied In Cold Weather?

Can Epoxy Flooring Be Applied In Cold Weather?

With quality epoxy and an established plan, it is possible to apply an epoxy coating in cold weather. The benefits of slip-resistant epoxy flooring are well-established and can drastically improve a concrete floor with proper application.

Working with epoxy in the cold is doable but requires special care. Read on to learn more about applying an epoxy floor in lower temperatures from our epoxy professionals at EMC Concrete Coatings.

Why Is It More Difficult to Apply Epoxy in Cold Weather?

Applying epoxy floor systems during the winter can be a challenge. Epoxy resin relies on temperature and works most effectively when applied to floors that are over 55 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature matters because epoxy hardens through an exothermic reaction. Warmer temperatures accelerate the chemical reaction that sets epoxy, but the cold slows or stops this process.

Concrete is typically colder than the air above it and will immediately lower the epoxy’s temperature to match. Taking away the heat takes away the energy needed for the chemical reaction.

This chemical reaction makes epoxy appropriate as a durable garage floor coating but complicates working with the resin in the colder months. When the air and concrete are too low in temperature, the epoxy takes longer or may not harden at all. The bonds created during the chemical reaction are weakened, threatening the overall flooring system and lowering its durability.

How to Apply Epoxy in Cold Weather

Understanding why it is challenging to lay epoxy floors during the winter is crucial to understanding how to combat the cold. Epoxy is useable in winter if a professional takes specific steps to ensure its effectiveness. You can take certain measures to appropriately apply epoxy resin to concrete, providing a durable, attractive coating for your workspace.
For best results, warm up your workspace with the following:

  • Propane heaters
  • Warming blankets
  • Heat guns
  • Water bath to warm the liquid epoxy

Use electrical heating appliances for the best results. If you use gas heating, you are introducing outside chemicals to your epoxy environment, which may affect the chemical reaction.

The first step to practical winter epoxy work is heating the surrounding air, but that alone is not enough. The concrete must also be warm, or the epoxy will lose its temperature. Warming both is the most effective.

Maintain an environment of at least 55 degrees for optimal hardening. Control over humidity levels in the room is equally important, as water can affect the epoxy’s adhesion. Applying a vapor barrier to the concrete can prevent water vapor from entering your workspace. Run moisture tests and ascertain the level of humidity before using the epoxy. Keep the moisture level below 85% for best results.

Benefits of Polyaspartic over Epoxy

While creating the optimal environment is crucial to applying epoxy flooring, each brand and type of epoxy is different. Thoroughly examine all instructions for your epoxy, and do as written. Not following the rules will result in damages to your property.

The epoxy may never harden, harden unevenly, or pool in places giving you an uneven floor. It will take longer and potentially cost more during cold weather. You can mitigate those risks by hiring an experienced team to do your epoxy work.

Work with an alternative material if it’s difficult or impossible to warm the environment. You can polish concrete flooring systems during the winter. You can use a polyaspartic topcoat instead of epoxy since its curing time is shorter. It works in temperatures as low as 15 degrees.

If You Want Epoxy Floors, Contact EMC Concrete Coatings

Working with epoxy in the cold requires special care. In over ten years in business, our epoxy experts at EMC Concrete Coatings have done it all. If you still have questions, reach out to us, and we will help you through the process.

EMC Concrete Coatings can help you install an epoxy floor during winter. We also offer polyaspartic top coats that are quick and easy to apply even in cold weather. With our quick-cure materials, we can deliver quality coatings in one day.

When you hire us, we put our decades of experience to work. Laying an epoxy floor is more challenging during the colder seasons, but it is doable with a specialized team and the right equipment.

You don’t have to wait till spring for the floor you want. Our owner-operated business works with epoxy, polyurea base coats, and polyaspartic top coats to ensure that you get the best floor coat for your needs, regardless of the weather. Call us today at (210) 430-4181 to schedule a free epoxy flooring consultation.

What are the benefits of coating my garage or patio floor?

There are a multitude of benefits to coating your concrete surface. Our prep phase will eliminate high spots or surface deficiencies through diamond grinding or shotblasting. In addition, our trained technicians will fill in any cracks, holes, or spalls on your concrete surface prior to any coating being placed. This ensures a smooth and uniform appearance throughout your slab. Concrete is very porous and can make stain removal difficult. With a high-performance coating installed, you will be able to remove otherwise tough stains with a spray of your water hose. And lastly, our floors look amazing! The garage is often overlooked when it comes to renovation/upgrades, but a professionally installed resinous coating will add $$$ to the value of your home.

How long does a typical installation take?
In most cases, our highly trained technicians can wrap up your residential project in as little as 2 days. We do offer a state of the art 1 day system, where you can walk on your new floor the next day, but we do not recommend these rapid cure systems during the summer months. Commercial projects and larger residential projects (1K sq. feet or more) can certainly take more time to complete. As always, our sales team will visit your site to take accurate measurements and offer a realistic timeframe.
Do you offer free on-site quotes?
Yes, we do. EMC Concrete Coatings always prefers to visit you at your project site to take
measurements and go over your coatings/color options. Our quotes are valid for 90 days and there is never any pressure. We are not here to make you feel uncomfortable or pressured. Our process is smooth and easy for everyone involved.
Can you give me a “ball-park” price over the phone?
Yes. However, this is not the way we prefer to quote jobs. Each project is unique and a
“standard 2 car garage” is going to be different for every homebuilder in town. Square footage’s, linear walls, garage aprons, and condition of the slab all play a very important role in providing you with an accurate quote. This simply cannot be done in a matter of seconds via a phone call or messenger.
How much does it cost to install a decorative coating on my garage floor?
A typical 2 car garage coatings installation in the greater San Antonio area will cost between $2’400 and $3’000. Our pricing is based on square footages and other aspects of the project, including the linear footage of any stem walls, aprons, or repair work.

Oversized or multi-car garages, patios, or other areas will result in higher priced estimates.

Do you use epoxy or polyurea for garage coatings?
We use all the above. Resinous coatings do not come in a one size fits all application. The
details and specs of each project will help our trained technicians determine what coating is best for your project. Typically, we use polyurea coatings for our garages and patio installations. However, shop floors and other commercia/residential spaces will call for epoxies, urethanes, or water-based materials. Rest assured, no matter which products we use, they are from reputable coatings manufacturers and TDS sheets are always available to our customers upon
request.
Is this service affordable?
We are not the lowest priced team in town. We are also, certainly not the most expensive outfit on the block. Our pricing is determined by the costs of materials, inflation, demand, labor, and level of service. When choosing EMC Concrete Coatings, you have done yourself a great favor by hiring the best in the business. EMC does run specials throughout the calendar year for discounted floors and we always honor first responders, military, and front-line workers discounts.

Our team is always mindful of our customer’s budget. We are a locally owned and operated
small business, and we know the value of our hard-earned dollars and how much they mean to each one of us. We strive to provide our customers with the best possible pricing throughout the year. EMC honors our warranties, we show up on time, every time, and will go above and beyond to ensure you are 100% satisfied at the end of each project. If we miss the mark, we will rectify it. Simple as that.

Does my new floor come with a warranty?
Yes! We offer an excellent written warranty with all our floor coatings installations. Depending on which option you choose (stain, seal, epoxy/flake, solid color, or polish) the length of time will vary from 5 years to a limited lifetime homeowners’ warranty. We HONOR our warranties.
Who am I hiring if I choose EMC Concrete Coatings?
The best crew in town. From our brand-new trucks, wrapped-trailers, uniformed employees, and state of the art equipment – we are the best. Our technicians are certified and experienced installers. EMC is bonded, commercially insured, and experienced. Multiple professional references are available for commercial projects at any given time and our online reviews speak for themselves when it comes to our residential portfolio. You have made the right choice by calling the team at EMC Concrete Coatings. Most importantly, the owner of the company, Eric Calderon is personally involved in every project that comes through our door. Generally, Eric and his sales team will be the person you meet with at your project walk thru. You will then see Eric and his crew upon the day of installation. We never sub out our projects, our employees are in-house guys and Eric is there each step of the way to ensure maximum customer satisfaction!
(210) 430-4181