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A normal concrete mix must cure for at least 28 days before coating. We highly suggest 45 or more days of curing (depending upon weather conditions). Faster curing concrete can be used, but discuss it with Stronghold Floors staff first.
How long should concrete cure before epoxy coating?
Standard specifications recommend a minimum 28 day cure period for “green concrete”, before an epoxy floor coating or other resinous system can be applied.
Can you epoxy over fresh concrete?
New concrete can restrict penetration of epoxy even more than older concrete does. The reason for this is that the surface has been freshly troweled smooth. This creates even less mechanical grip and access to the pores at the surface. Concrete surface profiles are often referred to in the industry as CSP.
How do you know if concrete is ready for epoxy?
The concrete will immediately, or at least within a minute, darken as the water absorbs in areas with no contaminants. You would immediately notice whitening or a frosty hue in areas that have silicone-type contaminates. Further, check to see if the water beads up and then takes more than a couple of minutes to absorb.
How long does concrete need to cure before you can paint it?
Curing New Concrete Allowing the new concrete to cure for at least 30 days can reduce the alkalinity and moisture content to levels low enough for the concrete to take paint. But it can take as long as 60 days before new concrete has cured enough for painting, depending on climate and weather, reports Jon-Don.
How do you prep concrete before epoxy?
To finish preparing an uncoated concrete floor, you need to etch, acid wash or grind the floor, as a smooth floor will not allow the epoxy to adhere well. You can rent a sand blaster or diamond grinder and rough up the surface. Or you can etch, or acid wash, the floor using a product designed for concrete floor prep.
How long should concrete cure before putting weight on it?
Curing time of concrete is typically 24-48 hours, at which point it’s safe for normal foot traffic. After one week, concrete is typically cured enough to handle continued construction including heavy machinery.
Do you need to grind new concrete before epoxy?
However, for larger commercial jobs, older concrete, or worn floors we always recommend grinding before epoxy installation. The concrete floor will fail if the coating doesn’t bond mechanically to the concrete floor, so the preparation is the most important part before applying any type of epoxy!Feb 18, 2019.
Do you need to prime concrete before epoxy?
One of the most common questions I get with epoxy floors is if it is necessary to prime the floor before applying the epoxy floor coat. The right primer will guarantee better adhesion of your floor coats to the substrate. It will give your floor a longer life and will reduce the risk of the coat chipping or breaking.
What happens if you don’t etch concrete before epoxy?
In Closing. New concrete must be etched before applying the epoxy. The smooth surface of unaltered concrete won’t bind with other materials, such as epoxy or paint. As a result, epoxy will peel and lift away, failing to adhere to the surface.
Does concrete need to be primed before painting?
Generally speaking, priming is so essential to successful painting outcomes, concrete will always needs a primer. However, the existing surface needs to be primed before painting if: It is unpainted. It is peeling.
How long does 4 inches of concrete take to cure?
Your concrete should be solid enough to walk on, without leaving footprints, after anything from 24 to 48 hours. By seven days, your concrete should be cured to at least 70 percent of its full strength.
How do you know if concrete is dry enough to paint?
Moisture will prevent the primer and paint from adhering properly. An easy way to tell whether the floor is dry enough is to place a small piece of kitchen plastic wrap (about 12” square) to the surface of the concrete floor. Seal all edges with tape. Wait overnight and then check the plastic.
How long should concrete cure before removing forms?
Walls and columns can be removed after about 24-48 hours Slabs, with their props left under them, can typically be removed after 3-4 days. Soffits, with their props left under them, can be removed after one week. Props supporting slabs under 15 feet can be removed after one week.
Do you have to acid wash concrete before epoxy?
Concrete floors require preparation before applying an epoxy coating system. The preparation usually involves cleaning the surface to remove oil and other unwanted contaminants and “profiling” the concrete by etching with acid or by mechanical abrasion (ie; shot-blasting or etching with a diamond grinder).
Can I put epoxy over sealed concrete?
For example, you cannot apply epoxy garage floor coverings over a concrete floor that has been sealed. Therefore, if your floor is sealed, epoxy coating or any other kind of paint cannot be applied to it because it will never stick and it will never be as effective as intended.
Does epoxy paint seal concrete?
Epoxy sealers form a high-build protective film on the concrete surface, producing a hard, long-wearing, abrasion-resistant finish. Water-based epoxies bond well to concrete and provide a clear finish, but they are nonporous and do not allow trapped moisture to escape.
