What is it?
This is an issue known as “Reticulation”, often identified as pools that are splitting (think of water on a glass pane.)
Common Causes:
Lack of preparation – A lack of preparation can cause reticulation; our recommendations are in place to help prevent coatings from failing. We recommend grinding the surface or, where this isn’t possible, using an acid etcher (such as Etch’n’Clean) as well as thoroughly cleaning and vacuuming the area.
Leaving too long between coatings – This is one of the most common causes of reticulation. During the first 24 hours of an epoxy coating a chemical bond remains (coating is “tacky”), which means any further coatings during this time frame will bond. However, after 24 hours, this chemical bond no longer exists, which means a mechanical bond would need to be produced by "keying" the surface via sanding. If this is not done, however, the new coating will sit on top of the previous coating, rather than bond to it, and this causes the coating to reticulate.
Oil/Moisture contamination – This is most common in garages where cars have been kept, however can occur in floors naturally over time. Rising oils can be a cause of a reticulated coating. The use of a degreaser as part of the preparation process and an oil tolerant primer can often rectify this.
Contamination from debris/dirt – This can be a variety of things ranging from loose dirt/dust from the room, from an open window, insects and even pet hair. Always ensure the room is thoroughly cleaned prior to application and try to keep any windows/doors shut to reduce the risk of contamination.
So, how would I resolve this?
- It is recommended for you to sand down the surface with a fine/medium grit sandpaper, only removing the affected coating where possible.
- The area should then be cleaned to remove any debris.
- Once thoroughly cleaned/vacuumed, you will be able to re-apply the coating.