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  2. FAQ
  3. Potential Issues (and Solutions!)

Why is the Epoxy floor flaking/peeling?

What is it?

This would most likely be a standard flaking issue, typically identified as the resin flaking off or coming away from the bonded surface below.


Flaking

Common Causes:

Lack of preparationA poorly prepared concrete surface is the main reason for a coating to flake, the main problems associated with this are bad surface profiles and laitance. To obtain the correct surface profile for a coating and to remove laitance, we recommend grinding the surface or, at a minimum, using Etch & Clean if the surface does not have an existing coating. Please see "How to remove Laitance" for more details.


Coating over an existing coating – We never recommend coating over an existing coat of paint due to the risk of the initial coat lifting, causing any new coats to also lift. We cannot guarantee compatibility of any previous coating with our products therefore we recommend removing all coatings via grinding/sanding prior to application.

Contamination – Contamination can occur in many forms, ranging from debris, dust and algae to moisture, such as oil and water. To ensure you don’t run in to this issue, ensure the area is fully cleaned down, any loose material is removed and ensure the area is fully dry.

Lack of priming – Whilst a primer isn’t always 100% necessary, it is 100% advised. Priming can eliminate a lot of issues that occur on bare substrates as the primer will act not only as a sealer but will also highlight any issues prior to coating with your paint.

Failed substrate – Over time, the concrete substrate can become worn and damaged, which would make it unsuitable for application. If this is the case, we would generally recommend first restoring it to a good standard, using our range of repair products, prior to any new coating being applied. If the coating beneath has started to fail, subsequent coatings will also fail due to a lack of bonding.

Low Temperatures – If the temperature is too low during application this can cause poor coating finish and flaking due to low adhesion.

So, how would I resolve this?

  • It is recommended that you start by removing all existing coatings as best as possible, either via grinding or sanding (Dependent upon substrate) ensuring all loose flaking material is removed.
  • Once all material has been removed, ensure the area is vacuumed thoroughly. If the floor has been washed to help remove any coating, this needs to be left to fully dry to prevent moisture contamination prior to re-coating.
  • Once cleaned and fully dry, a further coating can be applied.