chevynut
10-30-2014, 12:12 PM
I'm getting ready to put down my Epoxy-Coat on my shop floor. I have it cleaned and etched and it's ready for the next step. I'm going to paint the concrete ledge first as well as cut in the edges of the floor about 6" to make it easier for the final coat. My floor has saw cuts in it for break lines, and the floor is cut into 9 sections.
I was reading the instructions and on one page it says:
"Joints and saw cuts can be filled with Epoxy-Coat patch kit EPK 1000 and should be performed after preparation but prior to application. Cracks under 1/8" should be patched with Epoxy-Coat acrylic latex caulk."
Later in the FAQs in the instruction booklet it goes on to say:
"Should I patch cracks/holes/mortar joints prior to coating. How would I do this?
Epoxy-Coat recommends patching all cracks prior to coating. Due to the fact that mortar joints/saw cuts are engineered for movement Epoxy-Coat does not recommend patching them prior to coating. "
So WTF? The two statements contradict each other. I called the company and asked about this, and the girl who answered the phone told me that I should patch the cuts first. When I asked what happens when the concrete moves, she said the epoxy would crack.
How would you deal with this? If I fill the joints first, then apply the epoxy, I'm sure to get cracks in the epoxy. If I apply the epoxy first, then caulk the saw cuts (looks like grout) then the concrete could move without affecting the epoxy. I already have cracks at the end of each saw cut. The problem with doing the latter is that the epoxy would probably run into the sawcuts and disappear.
This is pretty confusing. I need to start and I can't stop until it's finished, about a 2 day job.
I was reading the instructions and on one page it says:
"Joints and saw cuts can be filled with Epoxy-Coat patch kit EPK 1000 and should be performed after preparation but prior to application. Cracks under 1/8" should be patched with Epoxy-Coat acrylic latex caulk."
Later in the FAQs in the instruction booklet it goes on to say:
"Should I patch cracks/holes/mortar joints prior to coating. How would I do this?
Epoxy-Coat recommends patching all cracks prior to coating. Due to the fact that mortar joints/saw cuts are engineered for movement Epoxy-Coat does not recommend patching them prior to coating. "
So WTF? The two statements contradict each other. I called the company and asked about this, and the girl who answered the phone told me that I should patch the cuts first. When I asked what happens when the concrete moves, she said the epoxy would crack.
How would you deal with this? If I fill the joints first, then apply the epoxy, I'm sure to get cracks in the epoxy. If I apply the epoxy first, then caulk the saw cuts (looks like grout) then the concrete could move without affecting the epoxy. I already have cracks at the end of each saw cut. The problem with doing the latter is that the epoxy would probably run into the sawcuts and disappear.
This is pretty confusing. I need to start and I can't stop until it's finished, about a 2 day job.