 Have you been considering updating your kitchen or bathroom countertops? If so, you may have seen some really impressive results that epoxy coatings can do to countertops. The beauty of this solution is that you can keep the countertops you currently have in place, and apply the epoxy over them. Many homeowners have been aware of the effect that epoxy can give to floors and even walls. This is a very versatile material for many renovation projects. One thing that you need to keep in mind is the speed at which epoxy sets and hardens. So often, if an error occurs, it has to be remedied quickly. And for the average DIY project, this can be a more advanced application. It is best to research first, to fully understand some of the pros and cons that you can encounter with the project. Let’s discuss a few of the pros of epoxy applications. Epoxy can be applied to many different surfaces, such as concrete, wood, metal, ceramic, and even laminate. One benefit is that you don’t necessarily have to remove the current surface. You can apply epoxy over it. Epoxy is also extremely durable. It will resist scratches and stains and is not affected by household cleaners and chemicals. Epoxy adheres to porous surfaces very well and can act as a sealant on material such as concrete. It will actually strengthen the material and protect it from dampness, mold, and rot. Once epoxy has hardened and is set, it becomes heat resistant. Putting a hot pan or pot from a stovetop or oven on the surface will not cause any damage (although, with limited time on the contact surface of the epoxy). Cleaning epoxy is very easy. You can use pretty much any household cleaner or chemical on it. And the glossy, polished look lasts for a very long time, unlike many other kinds of countertops. If it should appear to be getting a bit dull, a light touch of mineral oil to the cleaned surface should restore its lustre. With these pros mentioned, we will also mention a few of the cons to using epoxy. Epoxy is a resin that consists of several different compounds, that assist in the hardening process. Some of these compounds are volatile organic compounds (VOC). Therefore, for health reasons, it is very critical that, during the application process, there is sufficient ventilation to dissipate these chemicals. And you should try to not use this area for approximately a week, to ensure that there is no risk to health. You must do detailed preparation of the current surface before applying epoxy. The surface must be sanded well, removing any stain that may linger there. This will ensure that the epoxy adheres correctly to the surface. And you will need to cover household items in the home with plastic, due to the VOC that is released during the process. It will take 24 to 48 hours for the epoxy to cure. Epoxy is very unforgiving and is very hard to correct any error that occurs during the application. As a DIY project for someone without experience with epoxy, results may not necessarily turn out the way that you had hoped. You can redo the process but it will become costly. The entire process of applying epoxy can become very messy. The resin reacts a certain way and drops over the counter edge can occur. Air bubbles can get trapped, causing for an uneven application. Quite often frustration and dissatisfaction can occur while attempting this as a DIY project. We would recommend that anyone looking to attempt epoxy coating as a DIY project, do full research on the method of application. If you are in doubt, reach out to a company that does epoxy flooring in Edmonton and other applications. It may be more cost efficient to have a professional handle this project, while you choose a different DIY project around the house.
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