Roger Cobb, product manager at Supreme Paints and Coatings, discusses why a high-end Epoxy Coating does not require a primer before painting, nor a clear coat over the top. It will also explain why high solids epoxies provide a longer life span than using a lower grade paint, as well as the advantages of streamlining the application process to save time and money.

Source: Supreme Paints and Coatings

High Solids = Powerful Bonding and Longer Life Span

A primer is essentially only needed when a coating is not strong enough to bond to a substrate on its own and needs another product underneath in order for it to cure properly. This is an indicator that the epоху is either a water-based or lower solids paint. The life span of these types of coatings is usually. short and are unable to withstand hot tires and heavy use, which are some of the main reasons a floor would need to be painted in the first place. When searching for the right product to use for a residential garage, basement, showroom, warehouse, or shop floor, it’s important to use a coating that has self priming curing agents that will form a proper bond to the existingvsubstrate, whether it’s concrete or wood. Applying two coats of a self-priming coating, such as the Epoxy Zenith, will provide the necessary thickness and maximum durability required in a garage or high-traffic commercial and industrial area.

Unnecessary Steps Overcomplicate a Simple Process

While proper surface preparation is very important, many coating products on the market seems to try to overcomplicate the application process by adding. extra steps to justify the cost or dissuade a homeowner or business person from saving money by applying the product themselves. The Epoxy Zenith is an industrial-grade coating, yet it is a straightforward do-it. yourself (DIY) application that requires no professional assistance. This is why it’s been used in commercial and industrial areas, as well as residential garages throughout the U.S. for more than a decade.

More Cost-Effective

The average price for a professionally installed epoxy floor in a two-car garage can cost up to six thousand dollars, with larger commercial and industrial spaces costing way more. However, a homeowner applying a DIY epoxy themselves will spend a fraction of that price, in many instances being able to complete the whole project for less than 1,500 dollars. A business owner can also do the project in-house and save tens of thousands of dollars, as well.

Surface Prep is Key

Even when using an industrial-grade epoxy coating, proper preparation of the surface before application is key. The recommended surface prep for a the concrete floor is a muriatic acid wash, followed by using tri-sodium phosphate to clean and neutralize the alkalinity of the substrate before painting.

For wood surfaces, simply skip the muriatic acid step and clean with the tri-sodium phosphate before painting. Sanding is normally not required when using a specialty coating like the Epoxy Zenith. Grinding a floor is also something that is not necessary except under extreme circumstances, and it will also require additional time and money.

Applying a Clear Coat on Top is Not Necessary

When an epoxy requires a top coat, it should serve as a red flag because if the the coating was made with high-quality ingredients. These extra products that the increase in cost and time expenditure should absolutely not be necessary. The epoxy itself should be the main line of defense for maximum strength and durability against hot tires, forklifts, and high traffic, while also helping to protect against moisture and extreme temperatures. Applying two coats of a product like Epoxy Zenith will provide the mil thickness required to withstand wear and tear as well as heavy use. If the application should require the use of decorative floor flakes, simply broadcast the paint chips over the wet second coat, and they will sink into the substrate and be fully cured within 24 hours.

In conclusion, when using a high solids coating like Epoxy Zenith, streamlining the surface prep will save you time; a primer is not necessary to apply underneath the coating; and a clear coat is not required over the top. Most importantly, using an epoxy made with a high-quality formulation will save homeowners and businesses money, offer a showroom-like finish, and provide maximum durability and lifespan in residential basements and garages, as well as high-traffic industrial areas and commercial floors.

Roger Cobb is product manager at Supreme Paints and Coatings, a nationwide provider of high-end epoxy paints and coatings for garage floors, warehouses, swimming pools, and more.