How Long Does Epoxy Resin Take to Cure?

How long does it take for epoxy floors to dry? What epoxy cure time can I expect? - Great questions! They are what every proud owner wants to know.

The good news is that full chemical epoxy curing time is about 7 days – this means it takes a week for the final coating to completely harden.

Drying times are different. For a coating to dry, this mostly happens overnight.

However, not all epoxy coatings are created equal. You could be using water-based epoxy or solvent-borne epoxy (the stuff that smells quite strong), and you could have a higher or lower percentage of solids. The technical data sheets determine factors like dry times, reapplication times, and other basic rules and guidelines.

Let us take a closer look at how long it takes for epoxy floors to dry.

What Epoxy Cure Time Can I Expect?

Epoxy curing time is typically 7 days. Of course, there are variations, but if you want a rule of thumb, 1-week is your answer.

While it takes 7 days for the epoxy to cure, your floor may be dry enough to walk on after 12 hours or so, and ready for light use after 24 hours. Please be careful, however, because these timeframes do not apply to all situations—the colder and less humid an environment, the longer the process.

For example, at a temperature of 20?C and 60% humidity, you may be able to return furniture and other items to your floor in 2 to 3 days.

If you are returning furniture or racking onto your newly finished floor before the 7-day mark, understand that, like a new concrete slab, the floor will feel hard and indestructible, but there is more going on underneath. Always be sure to cover furniture feet to minimise damage. Avoid dragging furniture, too. Lift and place instead.

Finally, if the work is occurring outdoors, the weather forecast and conditions for the time surrounding your planned work need to be calculated. Your floors require consecutive days of fine weather to dry. If rain is predicted or other conditions are adverse, be patient. Your applicator will provide guidance.

How does The Product Type Affects Epoxy Curing Time?

The product itself plays a pivotal role in the epoxy dry time. Some believe if they maximise ventilation by opening all the windows, their new flooring will dry faster – like paint. In certain instances, this is true. In most, it is not. You may be better off creating a humid environment instead, as some epoxies are ‘moisture-cured’ – meaning they require moisture and heat to dry and harden.

Therefore, in hotter environments, we can apply coatings during the times of day in which the concrete is cooling – around mid-afternoon. Coating epoxy to concrete that is warming can cause a host of issues.

How Can I Speed Up the Epoxy Curing Process?

Depending on the epoxy product you are using, you can speed up the epoxy drying time by creating a humid and warm environment, or a free-flowing ventilated environment, as mentioned with some products.

There are also epoxy products that dry ridiculously fast. They are, however, expensive, and sometimes require significantly more labour to accurately control the application process. These fast-drying epoxies are specifically engineered for areas that need to be open for traffic fast; cold areas like fridges; commercial kitchens; and businesses that cannot close without suffering pecuniary loss.

A speedy return to service sounds ideal! However, you can end up with serious problems later. For instance, if you had a sub-standard concrete slab. On the day of the concrete pour, it was hot and, to give themselves more working time with the concrete, the contractor adds more water than is suggested & appropriate. What this can do, is compromise the integrity and overall cured hardness of the concrete, along with raising the ‘fines’ of the concrete to the top.

In the worst case, a fast-drying epoxy-based product cannot ‘grip’ onto the surface properly, because it needed slower processing times to work effectively.

Most epoxies are made from two components: Part A (resin) and Part B (hardener). These two components need to cross-link with each other as well as the concrete to fully bond. When the concrete quality has been compromised, combined with the use of a fast-drying product, the result will not be good. Within months, the coating can tear off and need to be redone.

It is worthwhile asking yourself:?Do I need to have the work completed so quickly? Another question I raise is this: Who is benefiting the most from faster-finished work?

It certainly sounds appealing to know you can have your garage completed in a day, but there is a quote I like which states:?‘One minute of patience, ten years of peace’ –?Greek Proverb.

Chances are, waiting the extra time is worthwhile – and not just for now. Too often, the faster-run jobs produce instant results, and the applicator is paid, but then the work fails, and the applicator is…well…gone.

Do your homework and view products with a critical eye. Everybody has the ‘best’ products but, they need to be ‘fit for purpose’ and that mostly comes from a conversation about?YOUR project. A technical datasheet will reveal more information, but you almost need a degree or advice from an expert to ascertain what it all means to you and your project requirements.

How Long Do I Have to Wait to Epoxy New Concrete?

The typical concrete slab requires 28 days before coating – as a very bare minimum. Just round it up to a month! Even then, the moisture will need to be assessed and physically tested to ensure the concrete is ready for coating. This is a general rule, so keep in mind the variables at play:

• The thickness of the concrete
• Curing conditions
• Components in the concrete
• What the concrete will be coated with

Moisture is a key culprit that we want out of the slab before an epoxy coating is laid. Slabs may have excess moisture for several reasons, and a moisture vapour treatment or barrier (such as a damp-proof membrane or DPM) can be applied to counteract it. This prevents moisture from rising within the slab and can withstand vast amounts of water pressure.

If your concrete slab has a coating that completely seals the surface, the water pressure (also called hydrostatic pressure) can build up and rip through epoxy. Investing in moisture treatment can be crucial.

One Final Word of Warning:

What might be an appropriate use of a product in Southampton UK will not necessarily be suitable for an epoxy application in Melbourne AUS. Understand the limitations if you are willing to research and ask lots of questions.

Much of what is used in the industry is imported, relabelled, and sold to epoxy applicators. Warranty?information and support on these products can often be close to non-existent, as few people know what is (really) in the tin, how it should be applied, and what to do if something goes wrong.

The moral of the story: Choose Your Installer Wisely and Do Not Rush the Process!

How To Get a Fast and Accurate Quotation for Your Review and Approval?

Ready to transform your outdoor space, garage, commercial or industrial premises?with epoxy? Contact the friendly and dependable team here at Floortrak (Romsey). We are industry experts and are here to provide you with a fast and accurate quote. Call the office today on 01794 885 996 for further information, you can reach me (Alex) on 01794 885 284 / 07376 982 035, or email [email protected].

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and please feel free to share it with your network!