Waterproof Epoxy – Is Epoxy Waterproof?

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Is Epoxy Waterproof? Apart from Epoxy having a great filling and adhesive qualities, its best quality is its ability to seal and provide a waterproof and non-corrosive protective layer. Epoxy Resin is a very versatile material and is used in countless applications, not only in the industrial and commercial sectors but also for residential purposes. It is an indispensable and helpful material to have for all those necessary repairs, construction projects, and maintenance. Epoxy is used by many homeowners as well as professional engineers and contractors.

 

 

 

The History of Epoxy Resin

The first discovery of Epoxy was made in the 1930s, and soon the many industrial uses for the material became evident. Epoxy is a material that is achieved once a thermosetting epoxide polymer is mixed with a hardening agent.

This process is described as curing or hardening when the polymer molecules are crosslinked and then transforms from soft Epoxy into a solid material. This final product is extremely waterproof, a fact brought to the attention of those pioneers many years ago.

This resulted in Epoxy Resins being used extensively as a waterproofing and sealing agent, especially in the construction and industrial sectors but also by the homeowner.

 

 

What makes the best waterproof Epoxy Resin?

  • The film thickness: It all depends on the amount of waterproofing you require, which will make the thickness of the coating important. If you intend to use the Epoxy to keep moisture out, then you will need extra thickness.
  • The type of Epoxy Resin you use: There are many different types of Epoxy and none of them is the same. All the different Epoxies are specially designed for different functions. If you are going to immerse your item in a liquid, you need to select the right Epoxy for that purpose.
  • Epoxy curing time: When the Epoxy you want is to be used on an item that is to be immersed, the manufacturer will clearly state the minimum curing time needed. This curing time will be different for each Epoxy Product. In general, a suitable time will be 7 days at 75° If you fail to comply with this curing time, you will find that you have solvent entrapment (the solvents are trapped within the coating film).
  • In some cases, some products claim you can apply the Epoxy when the item is still wet. This is not a good idea; you should always make sure your item has a completely dry and clean surface before you apply your Epoxy.
  • The base material or substrate: If your base material cracks then inevitably your Epoxy will crack as well, even if it is a hard material. There are flexible epoxies on the market but let us be honest, everything will break at some point or another.

 

 

Is Epoxy waterproof?

It is a known fact that Epoxy has a waterproofing function; however, we need to be careful not to label it as a conventional waterproofing material as it is not suitable to be used for waterproofing exterior walls.

 

Epoxy Resins classification has not yet been properly incorporated. This means that their characteristics have generally been classified according to heat resistance and strength. There are sixteen main types of Epoxy Resins that include structural adhesives, low-temperature resistant adhesives, general-purpose adhesives, high-temperature resistant adhesives as well as wet surface and water adhesives.

 

There are also sixteen types of glue: spot weld glue, optical glue, conductive glue, strain glue, sealant, soft material bonding glue, Styrofoam, an epoxy resin film, civil construction glue, latent curing glue and special glue.

What about Epoxy Resin as a non-corrosive material? Well, it has certain characteristics such as high strength, water resistance, compactness, and good leak resistance. Besides this, it also has excellent technical properties like normal temperature operation, strong adhesion, and easy construction and of course, the price is reasonable.

 

 

Painting with Epoxy Coating and waterproofing your swimming pool

 

Epoxy Paint is a very hard-wearing and long-lasting type of pool paint. However, if you fail to prepare the surface properly or incorrectly apply the paint, you will pick up problems.

 

Preparing the surface for Epoxy Paint

Using Epoxy Paint will give you a hard, waterproof, and chemical-resistant finish, which makes Epoxy Paint the right choice for your swimming pool. If you apply it correctly it will last for up to 10 years. However, if you fail to properly prepare the swimming pool surface, no matter how good your Epoxy Paint is, you will pick up trouble later on.

 

So, how do you go about proper surface preparation? Firstly, you need to get rid of any loose particles and grime, which you can do by blasting the surface of your pool with water. If your pool has been painted previously or if it is unpainted fiberglass, the surface needs to be roughened by using some sandpaper. The rough surface will allow the Epoxy Paint to stick.

 

Next, you need to use some Trisodium Phosphate Solution, which will make sure all the dirt has been removed. Now your pool is ready to paint, but first, let it dry completely before you apply the Epoxy Paint.

 

Colors fading away

Unfortunately, the bright and brilliant Caribbean Blue color that is on the walls of your pool may fade after a few years, as it is exposed to bright sunshine and harsh pool chemicals. Many times the pool paint color appears to have faded and looks dull; by applying some light acid wash you remove the dirt from the paint and this restores its brilliant color. But this will only be effective if your paint coating is still undamaged.

 

What about Chalking?

What is Chalking?  Over the years your paint tends to break down and it releases small particles into the water, which causes the surfaces of your pool to look hazy and dull. When your paint deteriorates like this it is called chalking, which is the same effect chalk has on a blackboard. This residue is rubbed off the walls and floor of your pool and attaches to the swimmers.

 

All is not lost, as you can prevent chalking from occurring. All you need to do is keep your pool’s alkaline concentration at the correct level, which is 150 to 200 ppm (parts per million). Try to make use of a pool shock chemical that is not too harsh, like dichloro or lithium.

 

Peeling paint can be a huge problem

If you have failed to prepare your pool’s surfaces correctly, it may cause the paint to blister or peel. Blistering can also occur if the surface of the pool has not been thoroughly cleaned and dried before you have applied the paint.

These types of problems can also occur if the paint applied is too thick, or if the paint was applied when the surface was hot. The good news is that if the blistering only appears in small areas, you can repaint that area without having to paint the entire pool surface again.

 

 

Questions and Answers

 

Can the shower floor be Epoxy Painted?

To apply epoxy to your shower walls, or your bathtub is an excellent way to give it a beautiful finishing touch. Any high-quality epoxy provides you with a completely waterproof and seamless finish and all your worries of water damage will be over. It also makes keeping your shower and tub, clean a whole lot easier.

 

Can you use Epoxy Resin outdoors?

Epoxy Resin, just the same as Polyester Resin, is perfect for those outdoor projects like tables and bar tops that are kept outdoors. Epoxy resin can also be used on outdoor water features. Just be warned, even although your Epoxy Resin has a UV filter, if left outdoors for a long time it will start to yellow.