Epoxy finishing concrete countertops, sinks, water ornaments and garden statues is a good way to get a smooth surface that is waterproof and easy to keep clean. The concrete will no longer collect dust and is no longer sensitive to stains, juices or acids. In this way, concrete countertops can be neatly finished and water features can be made waterproof again, even if they are cracked.
Protecting concrete with epoxy is relatively simple and can be done by a handy person without any problems. 3 to 4 layers of epoxy are applied to the concrete to give the concrete a beautiful appearance. Depending on your taste, the whole can be finished with a high-gloss or semi-gloss paint. This way the concrete can be finished to everyone's liking.
The concrete will take on a dark, warm colour and the structure of the concrete will be accentuated. The composition of the concrete determines the final colour. If you want an indication of the final colour, you can wet the concrete. This gives a very good indication. You can influence the colour by playing with the composition of the concrete. A different cement, sand or gravel colour will give the concrete a different look. You can also add colour powders to the concrete or work with colored sand or gravel. Do you want to keep the concrete as light as possible? Then add white or very light gray pigment to the concrete.
New concrete must be thoroughly dry. Allow approximately 1 week of drying time per cm of concrete thickness. In a warm environment this will be slightly faster.
Clean old concrete thoroughly. If the concrete has been left outside and has turned green due to algae, it can be cleaned with a high-pressure cleaner. Let the concrete dry thoroughly.
Make sure the concrete is in good shape. Sand away any sharp edges and unwanted protrusions with, for example, a diamond file or coarse sandpaper.
For good adhesion of the epoxy, it is important that the surface of the concrete is not too smooth. In that case, it is wise to first coarsely sand the concrete with an orbital sander. Make sure that after sanding you thoroughly degrease and clean the concrete with, for example, acetone (or ammonia diluted with water) and a sanding sponge. It is always advisable to first do a test with a small amount of epoxy to see how it reacts with the surface and/or whether the adhesion is optimal.
Broken concrete can be repaired by bonding it with epoxy. Mix an amount of epoxy with the correct amount of hardener and mix thoroughly. Apply the epoxy to the fracture surfaces with a brush. Now mix the remaining epoxy with some stewathix or cotton fiber to approximately paste thickness. Also apply this to the fracture surface. Now place the other part and fix it for a day. Remove any excess epoxy immediately after installation if it has not yet hardened.
Unwanted holes in the concrete, chipped pieces and chips can be repaired by brushing them with prepared epoxy and then applying a mixture of epoxy and dry sand. Make the mixture so that it is quite dry. It can most easily be processed with a trowel.
Because epoxy is generally quite slippery, we first apply a special primer for smooth surfaces. This primer ensures that we can apply the epoxy coating later without any problems. Pour both components together and mix very carefully. Scrape the bottom and walls of the mixing bowl frequently. Then apply this primer to the concrete with a roller. Then let the primer harden for a day. In some cases the primer will be partly absorbed by the concrete. Apply primer again in these places and let it harden again. Then sand the primer with 80-120 grit.
Epoxy primer for smooth substrates (approx. 250-500 gr/m2)
To coat concrete, use transparent epoxy coating. This epoxy coating is easy to apply and is virtually colorless. Prepare sufficient epoxy, but no more than can be processed in approximately 30 minutes. Count on a consumption of approximately 200-250 gr/m2, depending on the structure and porosity of the concrete. Apply the epoxy with a velor roller and, if necessary, a brush for the difficult corners.
Wait for the epoxy to harden. Then lightly sand the epoxy again with 120 grit. This is only to remove loose grains of sand that have ended up on the surface. Remove the dust and then apply a second coat of epoxy. Count on approximately 200-250 gr/m2 consumption for the second layer and any subsequent layers. Apply as many layers until you are satisfied with the result. In most cases, 3 layers are sufficient. If desired, you can sand the penultimate layer again to obtain a very flat result.
Transparent epoxy coating (approx. 600-750 gr/m2 for 3 layers)
After applying the epoxy you will have a smooth, almost high-gloss surface. If the object is located indoors, this is sufficient to enjoy the coating layer for years. If you want more shine, you can polish the epoxy layer with one of our polishing pastes. You can also fine sand the layer with 320 grit and apply a layer of Double Coat High Gloss Transparent. If you want a semi-gloss effect, you can sand the surface with 1500 grit or 320 grit and apply a layer of Double Coat Silk Gloss Transparent.
If the object is outdoors you need to further protect the epoxy. This can possibly be done with the Double Coat Double UV. This gives a high-gloss finish with extra UV protection. It is also possible to use Double Coat Silk Gloss Transparent for a satin finish.
No further protection is necessary under water in fountains and water features. The Double Coat paints cannot be applied under water.
My concrete turned dark after applying the epoxy. Will this get any lighter?
No, the colour that results after applying the epoxy is the final colour. Test in advance what colour it will be by wetting the concrete.
I want to give my concrete top a different colour but keep the concrete structure. Is that possible?
You can roll the top again with a colored epoxy. We recommend doing a few tests on a paving stone, for example, so that you can assess the effect before applying the epoxy to the concrete top.
When I apply the resin it seems like it wants to pull away. Why does that happen and what do I do about it?
It is possible that the epoxy is repelled by certain fillers in the concrete or by contamination on the surface. Apply the epoxy again with a brush during the curing process. You can repeat this until the epoxy is thick enough not to crater anymore.
Can I put a hot pan on the counter?
We recommend not putting hot pans on the counter. The epoxy has a limited heat resistance of approximately 50 - 60 degrees. Especially when a pan comes straight from the heat, it can be much hotter and the surface can deform or even discolor.
Can I cut directly on the countertop?
We don't recommend that. On the one hand, so as not to damage the countertop, and on the other hand, so as not to damage your knives.
Is this finish food safe?
Yes, you can use your kitchen counter for food preparation without any problems.
Is this finish resistant to, for example, acids from soft drinks?
Yes, the finish is resistant to most acids, soaps and dyes. The semi-gloss finish (by sanding or paint) is slightly more sensitive to stains, but can be cleaned easily in most cases.
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