Applying epoxy floor coating [manual]

With this manual, you can easily apply an epoxy floor coating yourself. Advantages of epoxy are that the product is easy to process and resists heavy mechanical loads. In addition, epoxy floor coating has a high chemical resistance, giving the material a long lifespan. Epoxy always gives a high-gloss surface after curing. For a matt-gloss epoxy floor, another PU layer must be applied.

Polyestershoppen's epoxy floor coating is a relatively thick coating with high filling power and is distributed with a floor squeegee.

The roadmap for finishing a floor with epoxy floor coating consists of the following five steps:

• Step 1. Provide a proper surface.
• Step 2. Mix the floor coating with the hardener.
• Step 3. Apply epoxy floor coating.
• Step 4. Add anti-skid properties.
• Step 5. Curing and continuation.

Supplies

• Epoxy floor coating (approx. 700-800 grams per square metre)
• Floor squeegee
• Spiral mixer
• Spiked shoes
• Mixing cups
• Flat brushes
• 18 cm coat roller + roller holder
• Extension stick for roller holder
• Sprinkle sand for anti-skid properties (option)

Step 1. Provide a proper surface

Before applying an epoxy floor coating, it is important that the substrate is of the right quality. What you need to do depends on the circumstances. Is it a concrete or cement floor? Do you want to apply a floor coating over a tiled floor? Or do you have a wooden subfloor? In our article on Which primer do you need? You can read what you need to do based on the substrate.

After you have applied the right primers, etc. and they have cured sufficiently before applying epoxy floor coating, it is important to check whether the floor is still dust-free. In most cases this will still be the case, but if in doubt we recommend vacuuming the floor.

Use masking tape to tape the areas that do not need floor coating.

Step 2. Mix the floor coating with the hardener

You can almost start applying the epoxy floor coating. The components consist of the floor coating base component in a can, a pack of pigment paste and a jerry can of floor coating hardener. All packages have clear labels so you can distinguish the raw materials. Check in advance that you have received the right colour/quantity and components. In doubt? Then contact our specialists!

First add the pigment paste to the A component and mix it through with a spiral mixer. Then add all hardener to the bucket of floor coating and mix it for at least 5 minutes with a spiral mixer on the drill (not a cordless drill) until it is a homogeneous mass.

Step 3. Apply epoxy floor coating

Now the coating is ready for use. It is important to note that the coating mixed in high volumes has a relatively short processing time. If you are working with several people, it is advisable to divide the mixed resin into another bucket so that two people can then apply the resin directly to the floor.

Also pour a small amount of floor coating into a mixing cup. Using this content, finish the edges with a flat brush. The beginning is best done by one person. Once a small area is done, you can immediately start pouring out the coating. Try not to wait too long with this, the processing time in the can is a lot shorter because a lot of heat is released here. When the coating is poured, you have a processing time of about 35 minutes at 20 °C.

When you have poured the resin, spread the resin with a floor squeegee to better distribute the resin across the floor. Do this in strips, from left to right. Then roll out the floor coating crosswise with a coat roller. You can walk on the floor with spiked shoes, even if it is in just-applied floor coating. When the floor coating is well distributed roll it out again in 1 direction.

Stap 4. Add anti-skid properties

Want a floor with anti-skid properties? Then apply anti-skid granules into the still wet coating. The scattering sand gives a fairly coarse anti-skid. Sprinkle the granules as evenly as possible by throwing it diagonally up into the air. Sprinkle the entire floor in this way and then roll the floor again.

Stap 5. Curing and follow-up

After the floor coating is applied, it needs to cure for 48 hours before you can walk on it. From 72 hours, heavier loads are possible. We recommend treating the floor afterwards with a matt gloss coating. This coating gives your floor a scratch-resistant protective layer. Read more about the processing of the matt gloss coating in the information article: Matt gloss coating for epoxy floors.

Do you have any questions?

Do you still have questions about the application of epoxy floor coating or interested in a no-obligation quote? Then feel free to contact our customer service team. We are happy to help you with your project!