The Most Common Resin Flooring Problems and How to Solve Them

Resin flooring can cure into a beautiful, shiny finish that protects surfaces. Unfortunately, improper treatment can affect and change the appearance and texture of your floors. Epoxies, and resins in general, are tricky materials if you do not have professional experience in applying them.

The flooring product needs resin and an activator to be a true epoxy. Because epoxy flooring is a two-part product, it requires professional installation to get the perfect ratio. If an inexperienced individual tried to use the product, your floors are likely to end up with imperfections. Even installation from qualified flooring contractors can sometimes go wrong for several reasons, including due to:

? Regular wear

? Weather conditions

? Improper installation

These conditions, among others, can lead to a variety of resin flooring problems. Do not despair, though, because there are always solutions to these issues with your floors. Read on for the most common commercial and residential resin flooring problems and how to solve them.

Problem: Resin Floor Peeling

If you notice areas of your resin floor coming up or tearing away, then you are likely to be experiencing resin floor peeling. This creates an uneven surface and an unprofessional appearance, which could also damage the concrete flooring under it.

A resin floor can peel for varied reasons, some related to the surrounding conditions as professionals apply it. Epoxy floors can peel if during application or setting:

? The temperature is too high

? The temperature is too low

? The humidity is high

Resin and hardener need the right conditions to set. If the humidity has been high at your business, moisture can seep out of concrete floors under your epoxy. The build-up of moisture can cause different problems, peeling included. Temperature changes may also cause condensation, adding to your moisture problem.

Even if the weather does not fluctuate between hot and cold, either extreme may cause it to peel. When the temperature is too hot or cold, either in your building or outside, it may affect how the resin cures. If it does not harden correctly, it will not adhere correctly to the concrete or substrate. You will see peeling and uneven resin floors as a result.

Preparation of surfaces is vital for smooth resin flooring finishes. A professional will make sure your floors meet the following conditions:

1. Are clean of oils and debris: These substances spell trouble for resin. Oil and other materials can get trapped under epoxy. The coating cannot correctly adhere to concrete floors if something obstructs their application. Grease and oil on your floor will also cause the resin to set improperly, which leads to peeling.

2. Have opened pores: If a surface is too smooth, the resin cannot adhere to it. When that happens, you end up with peeling floors because the resin could not bond as it set.

3. Are completely dry: Whether you washed your floor, or a professional removed previous resin flooring, it needs to dry. Allow at least 24 hours between washing your concrete flooring and having a professional apply new resin. Wet flooring creates the same problems such as a dirty floor, where resin cannot adhere to the concrete.

If your floors are dirty, too smooth, or wet, the resin will not harden correctly. If you’ve yet to have a professional apply your resin flooring, you are in luck. Some straightforward precautions will help prevent peeling in future applications. If your resin is already on and you notice peeling, you still have options to rectify the situation.

Solution: Resin Floor Peeling

To avoid resin mistakes that cause peeling, professionals take great care before and during application. To prevent peeling in your new resin floors, be sure the expert takes the following steps.

1. Cleans surfaces: While you can sweep and wash flooring before the installer arrives, an expert should clean the floor or make sure it is clean before application. Use water at least one day before the professional is scheduled to arrive, so everything is dry for the resin application.

2. Prepares the concrete pores: A professional knows the perfect balance between profiling the surface and creating a surface that is too porous. They may use a grinder to rough up a concrete surface.

3. Works in the best weather conditions: The weather needs to be exactly right to guarantee the resin applies without any issues. If you have a climate-controlled environment, talk with a professional to see what the best temperature is.

Even after careful applications, you may notice peeling in your resin floors over time. Consult a professional who can determine the best way to fix epoxy mistakes from other applications. If the problems are severe, they may decide they need to replace your resin flooring. To do that, experts must first remove the old and damaged epoxy. Removing resin floors requires a trained professional who takes safety precautions during different removal processes.

1. Grinders: Floor grinder machines and handheld tools for corners make easier work of resin removal. Again, this process may create dust from the resin, so professionals will be sure to wear the right gear. Experts will vacuum the particles as they go, so they can see if they have removed all contaminants. Before applying new resin, a flooring installer will also make sure the area is clear of dust and debris.

Replacing all your resin flooring may not be ideal, but it is the best way to repair a floor with problems. Unfortunately, peeling is not the only issue you may see on your resin floors.

Problem: Resin Floor Blistering

Pinholes, cratering, and bubbles are common resin flooring problems that give surfaces a blistered look. When your resin floor blisters, similar causes of resin peeling may be to blame. If conditions are too cold or direct sunlight hits your curing resin, you could see bubbles. Other issues that cause resin floor blistering are as follows.

1. Incorrect mixing: If the individual applying your epoxy floors mixed the resin and hardener too quickly, it would have created air bubbles in the mix. Even during applications, these bubbles will remain in a viscous epoxy.

2. The surface is too porous: Too many pores in concrete flooring will allow air to rise under resin as it cures. As air rises, the resin above traps it, which creates bubbles. The air pockets may rise as the resin hardens, which can lead to pinholes or craters if they are larger bubbles.

3. The wrong proportions: Epoxy resin and hardener must be in perfect balance. This tricky ratio varies from product to product, which is why it is best to stick with professional installation. If there is not enough hardener, your floors will not cure correctly, which can cause blisters or other issues. If there is too much hardener, installers will have to rush or apply resin that is too viscous to put down in a smooth coat.

4. Rushed application: If whoever applied your resin flooring did so in a rush, you may notice air bubbles. While professionals do work with some speed, so the resin does not cure before application, they do so carefully to avoid creating bubbles. Even between coats of epoxy, it is possible to rush a job. Each coat needs adequate time to dry, or you risk applying fresh resin to a base that has not cured.

Resin floor blistering may create an uneven surface. Severe enough blistering could be hazardous. Even if you have small bubbles or pinholes, they create an unprofessional finish for your floors. Pinholes invite in moisture or other spills, which could eventually compromise the concrete. Avoid any of these issues with some precautions and solutions to bubbled resin floors.

Solution: Resin Floor Blistering

Whether you have a small cluster of bubbles or the whole surface of your floor has pinholes or blisters throughout, a professional will know what to do. An easy fix is for experts to sand away a layer of the epoxy. By buffing the surface, professionals prepare the floor for a new coat of resin. With luck, the bubbles are only temporary.

To avoid blisters, bubbles, or holes in the first place, find an expert to apply your new resin floors. You will see a difference with a professional resin application. A trained individual will:

? Make sure the concrete floor is not too smooth or porous

? Mix resin and hardener carefully

? Take their time for neat application

? Work quickly enough so the mix does not cure before applying

Remember, resins are tricky to work with unless you are an expert. Even professionals may face unexpected bubbles or blisters, but they know how to solve those problems. Choose experienced applicators to minimize blistering in your resin floors.

Again, if the problems are too severe, a professional may decide the best thing to do is replace the resin. They will follow the same safety steps from above before correctly applying a brand-new resin floor.

Problem: Resin Floor Discolouring and/or Yellowing of Epoxy

Yellowed or uneven floors are a sign of resin floor discolouration. Because resins are tricky substances, discolouring is a frequent and common problem. Your resin floor may result in discolouration if you or the person who applied the flooring made any of the following mistakes.

1. Exceeded the pot life: The shelf- life of resin equals the amount of time it takes the combined resin and hardener to double in viscosity. As the term implies, the hardener works to solidify the resin. If an installer waits too long to apply the epoxy, exceeding the pot life, the resin may not apply correctly. It will also have discolouration or yellowing. Even if the mixture seems workable, if it exceeds its pot life, it is likely to turn out low-quality.

2. Used the wrong hardener: Every resin needs the right balance of activator to harden. During application, the wrong type or amount of hardener will compromise the colour and consistency of the final product. If your resin is the wrong colour or has yellowed, the root of your problem may be an activator error.

3. Allowed chemical exposure: Carbon monoxide and other chemicals can react with new resin to discolour it. Depending on the type of chemical, your resin floor may become yellowed or turn other colours.

4. Allowed UV exposure: Sunlight or UV light causes the resin to darken, even if it is already set. You may notice a pattern or shades of discolouration, depending on how often sunlight shines onto the resin. If the resin is exposed to direct sunlight during the application, you might see discolouration and air bubbles in the finished product.

Discoloured resin has an uneven and sometimes unprofessional appearance. In addition to cosmetic issues, discolouration could be a sign of other problems with your resin.?

Solution: Resin Floor Discolouring

Check the flooring by scraping away a bit of the top layer with a knife. Try to do this in an unobtrusive area to avoid leaving a scraped section of the floor in the middle of your space. If you can see a drastic colour difference between the top layer and what is under where you scraped, you have discolouration.

Discolouring in a small area of your resin floor or on the first layer may be a simple fix. While some tips suggest cleaning discolouration with bleach or steam, it is best to let an expert manage the problem. A professional can recoat the flooring after proper maintenance, leaving your floors looking new.

Resurfacing your resin floors may not be enough to solve the problem depending on how deep the discolouring goes, though. If every layer of resin flooring is discoloured, something may have gone wrong during the application. In this case, a total replacement could be necessary.

On your new application, try to limit the floor’s exposure to chemicals and sunlight. Use window coverings to prevent too much UV exposure on your flooring. Keep chemicals stored up off the floor or in areas away from resin floors. With proper maintenance, your resin flooring will last longer, and you will see less of the above common problems.

If you have any resin flooring problems, our professionals at Floortrak can help. Whether you need resin resurfacing, non-slip flooring, decorative resin, or any other option, we supply competitive pricing on all resin flooring solutions.

We have been providing resin flooring for over 30 years, and with the help of our experts, we will make your business shine like new! We proudly serve the entire United Kingdom as well as some parts of Europe like France, Spain, and Tenerife.

Contact me today to learn more about our services: [email protected] / 01794 885 284 / 07376 982 035