Winter is well underway and with every new season, new challenges arise. During the winter months when temperatures drop it is very important to take certain precautions to avoid having flooring failure when installing. If possible we always recommend to apply our coatings during the warmer months but we understand this may not be an option.
Let’s discuss some of the key considerations when applying epoxy coatings in cold weathered environments.
Shipping and Transit
With COVID-19 still causing delays for many transit carriers it’s important to consider if this means your shipment may experience extra time in transit. Please speak to a sales representative to find out different shipping options to avoid extra transit time. This is important because many times transit facility storage areas may not be heated and can cause products to freeze.
There are certain products that are more prone to freezing than others. If you are purchasing one of these products be sure to ask your sales representative to ship in a heated truck instead of a flatbed that is exposed to the outside elements.
Storage
Never store epoxy coatings below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. This can lead to damaged products that will no longer be usable. When epoxies are stored in low temperatures for prolonged periods of time a process called crystallization occurs. This is bad and if the materials are applied without un-crystalizing them the product will most certainly lead to a failed floor installation. You can reverse the crystallization state of epoxy by warming the material. Reach out to your technical sales professional to find out more information on this process.
Please note many of ArmorPoxy products are extremely crystallization resistant.
Cure Time
As temperatures decrease the time it will take for material to dry will increase. An approximate cure time schedule can be found below. Please note these are just approximations. Please read the technical sales sheets on your specific product for detailed information.
Be sure to understand:
The cure time schedule for the specific material you are using
The temperature you are applying the material in.
This may lead to more down time than anticipated so be sure to plan ahead. If you are working on a tight time schedule please look at some of our polyaspartic products that have extremely quick cure scheimes.
Any coating which is not fully cured should not be exposed to any water, outside machinery, or traffic. For the first week be sure to clean up spills quickly and limit to only sweeping. No heavy power washing or scrubbing! Any aggressive cleaning methods should be avoided until the floor has fully cured otherwise you run the risk of discoloration
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