Epoxy floors are susceptible to damage, especially if they are not installed by professionals. If you wonder does epoxy floor crack, the answer is yes. Damage to epoxy can be in the form of cracks and also, holes, peelings, and flakes. The main causes of cracking are mechanical pressure from foot traffic or other objects, sudden temperature changes, and weak underlying substrate.
In this article, we inform you everything about epoxy cracks, and epoxy floor maintenance for preventing them.
Why Do Epoxy Flooring Chips Or Cracks Happen?
When epoxy resin cures and solidifies, it becomes tough and loses flexibility. Therefore, it cannot adapt to harsh changes in the environment. So if you are planning for epoxy flooring services, and you think to yourself does epoxy floor crack, you should know about the important factors that cause cracks or damage to your new floor:
Heavy objects and mechanical stress
If you drop heavy objects on the floor, it can create cracks or gouges. Also, mechanical stress from foot traffic can be the reason for cracking. Note that cracks that appear from foot traffic, show themselves in the long term — when your floor is weakened.
So if you want garage epoxy floor coating, you should note that the car weight and movement can cause epoxy to crack. But don’t worry! You can protect your floors with a solid epoxy floor maintenance plan.
Uneven substrate
To prevent cracks in your flooring or worsening existing ones, make sure your substrate is appropriate. Many people overlook the condition of the underlying floor. However, the substrate determines the longevity of your epoxy floors. The underlying surface shouldn’t have dips, bumps, or ridges.
Frequent Temperature Change
Just like every other material, epoxy resin is susceptible to contraction and expansion by thermal changes. If your environment has sudden and frequent changes in temperature, it might make your floors crack. Additionally, the cracks will probably be around corners and edges. Indeed, you can prevent the cracks with something as simple as proper ventilation and temperature control.
Plasticizer Migration
A plasticizer is a substance added to a material to enhance the softness, flexibility, and plasticity of epoxy and minimize friction during manufacturing. Some of the lower quality epoxy floor coatings contain plasticizers. Sometimes, the migration of the plasticizer may separate the base coat and result in visible cracks.
If you have a big project like Industrial epoxy flooring Brisbane, you might consider using low quality epoxy coating in order to lower the costs. Meanwhile, you don’t know the plasticizer inside the low quality coating systems is going to cost you an arm and a leg to fix! So, it’s better to prevent cracks by using a high quality epoxy in the first step.
The Benefits of Using Professional Resin Flooring Installers
Since you spend most of your day in your home or workspace, it’s essential to use high quality materials and ensure professional installation. Our experts are here to help. They assess your area before installing epoxy flooring and recommend the best materials for your needs. With decades of experience, our specialists will install your floor properly, ensuring it retains its shine and durability for many years to come.
How To Prevent Epoxy Floors From Cracks
If you wonder about does epoxy floor crack, then you should know the common causes of cracks, you can tackle each of them accordingly. We provided you with precautionary steps in the table below.
How To Repair Cracks In Epoxy Flooring
Does epoxy floor crack? You know the answer because cracks have appeared on your epoxy floor and you want to repair them, but you don’t know how! Although there is more to epoxy repairment, here is a simple guide to follow:
Step 1 – Clean the area around the epoxy crack
Preparing the area is an important step. You want to clean around the cracks with either warm water or vinegar, and a scrub. Cleaning provides you with a surface that is ready for epoxy repair to adhere effectively.
Step 2 – Prepare the epoxy resin mix
Mix two-part epoxy resin with the proper ratio prescribed on the epoxy container. If you are not sure about the combination ratio, you can reach out to our professionals and we will guide you with pleasure.
Step 3 – Apply the mix and the coating
Fill the cracks with your mix and just leave it to dry for 12 hours. This is an important step and make sure you let the mix dry for at least 12 hours. Then you can add your epoxy coating on top of the cracks. Moreover, you should wait for another 12 hours so the coating will dry too. Be cautious and most importantly, don’t walk on the repair surface while it is drying.
Step 4 – Upkeep the filled cracks
You have filled the cracks successfully. However, you should not put mechanical stress on it for about another 24 hours. Finally, avoid walking, moving things, and sliding on the surface until 24 hours have passed.
FAQ
Does epoxy flooring crack easily?<br />
Epoxy flooring is a strong coating and withstands wear and tear greatly. You should not worry about cracks, as they only happen in extreme conditions.
How to fix cracked epoxy floors?
Clean the area around the cracks. Prepare a two-part epoxy resin mix as instructed on the label. Apply it to the cracks and let it dry for 12 hours. Add the epoxy coating and let it dry for another 12 hours.
What can make epoxy crack?<br />
Among the most common causes are heavy objects and mechanical stress, uneven substrate, frequent temperature change, and plasticizer Migration.
What happens if you don’t repair epoxy floor cracks?<br />
If your epoxy flooring has cracks on it and you don’t repair them quickly, it can cause permanent damage to your epoxy, especially in high-traffic areas.