Will Epoxy Stick to Cured Epoxy?

Epoxy resins are the best finishes that you can use on your furniture, such as tabletops, kitchen cabinets, and other wooden structures. This finish offers your structure a lustrous look that will be appreciated by any eye. 

Epoxy adheres properly to a well prepared bare wood surface or a previously stained one. However, what if you are looking to add epoxy to a surface with an epoxy finish? In other words, will epoxy stick to cured epoxy?

Yes, here’s what happens, because your epoxy finish has cured, there can never be a chemical bond with another epoxy coat that you add. Instead, there’s the development of a mechanical bond. To create this bond, you’ll need to lightly sand the cured epoxy before applying the next coat. For the best results, I recommend that you use a glass paper of 80-120 grit.

Sometimes after applying your first coat of epoxy, you might realize the formation of blush or bloom on the surface, ensuring that you remove it before sanding. You can remove it by washing with warm water that has a few drops of cleaning detergent. Alternatively, you can use a sugar soap solution to remove the blush.

Why You Might Want to Coat Existing Epoxy With an Epoxy

Epoxy resins are great formulas to use as a finish for hardwood flooring and more so in rooms with high and severe traffic such as in workshops and garages.

These products are tough and last longer on surfaces and usually withstand items that drop over them and many forms of spillages.

Much as epoxies are durable, they are not indestructible, and sometimes you might not even apply them the right way. Those are some of the reasons you might want to coat an existing epoxy with another layer of epoxy. Below is the detailed discussion of the two instances:

• Damage on the Surface

Epoxy coating is tough; however, there comes a time where heavy objects that fall over the surface are too much for it, and such an impact would result in damage. In case the damage happens, you will have to rectify that by applying another layer of epoxy so that you don’t have a non-uniform garage floor.

• Mistakes During the Application

One other reason that may demand that you apply another coat of epoxy is when looking to fix a mistake that you made during the application of the formula. Mistakes are common during the application, and they could lead to a mess, they include:

1. Inadequate preparation of the entire project
2. Stretching the epoxy to fit your project after you miscalculated the amount you require for a given surface
3. Problems such as humidity or temperature that affect the drying and curing time of epoxy
4. Wrong mixing of the formula
5. Presence of moisture in the concrete or wood when applying the coating

Therefore, you must remain vigilant and ensure you prepare and apply your finish in the best way possible. Proper preparation and application minimize the chances of making mistakes and requiring to reapply once the finish cures.

• Thickening

Another reason that may lead to the application of epoxy over a cured epoxy finish is the need to have a thick protective coat. This action is preferred mostly in hardwood flooring or even on concretes. You may have to do this, especially when you have large and bulky equipment drags or regularly drops over your surface. Heavy epoxy over the floor will help minimize the damage due to such impacts.

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Epoxy Resins

Most people have seen structures finished using epoxy resins without even realizing it. Much as most people have heard about this formula, a good number still does not know much about it. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about epoxy that you’ll likely come across from time to time:

• How safe is epoxy resin?

Much as most epoxy products have no solvents and are safe today, you cannot take any chances when handling them. Your body or skin may be sensitive to these formulas, and you might realize some form of itching if it comes into contact with your skin. 

Sensitivity to epoxy could manifest in your body by the appearance of some dermatitis effects such as sores on the forearms, wrists, and hands. You can avoid such events by ensuring that you have your gloves on during the application. Such action will prevent the formula from reaching your skin. If you experience respiratory complications, ensure that you have nose masks on.

• Does the dust particles from the sanding of epoxy cause skin irritation and breathing complications?

Not everyone has a problem with the dust from the sanding of this formula. A lot of people are comfortable using wood sanders to work out dried epoxy surfaces. A few people develop complications upon inhaling the dust or even when it comes into contact with the skin. One best way to prevent these complications is by wearing nose masks so that you don’t breathe in the dust.

If you have issues such as skin irritation due to these dust particles, then ensure that you have long-sleeved overall clothing as well as gloves. The two items will help cover your skin as much as possible hence minimizing the chances of coming into contact with the particles.

• What amount of filleting blend must you add to epoxy to make perfect fillets?

Mixing for fillets is more of an art than a science. The major factors that affect the number of fillers that you require are the temperature and humidity. For a base mixture, you should depress the pump on each bottle once then mix well and add a heaped teaspoonful of microfibres and two heaped teaspoonfuls of the wood flour filleting into the mixture. From this base, you need to add more wood flour until the mixture becomes thick enough such that when it is applied as a fillet, it does not slide out of shape. 

Overall, the wood flour allows the mixture to become thicker while microfibres are responsible for the extent of sliding.

• Can you paint over epoxy?

The most important thing to do here is to ensure that you have prepared the finished epoxy surface properly before you can apply it. The preparation includes cleaning and sanding over the surface; sanding ensures that the paint finish you are going to apply over the epoxy will form a strong bond for proper adhesion of the two surfaces.

A high-grade marine paint finish would do great on your epoxy surface as it offers enhanced protection against water and UV light hence protecting your surface from losing its color.

• Why does the epoxy go white when I spread it out?

Your epoxy appears white while you are spreading it because of the air bubbles present inside it. It should not be a cause for alarms because these bubbles will go away as your finish continues to dry and to cure.

So what causes the bubbles? You can attribute this to the brush’s back and forth as you spread out the formula. Overall, you should not worry about those bubbles.

• Can you apply epoxy in cold weather?

Yes, you can apply this formula in cold weather as long as the epoxy remains warm. Every day we construct structures under sheds of large trees where the room temperature and cold weather can make a room too cold, so it is not a new thing. However, you should not apply epoxy to a cold concrete floor. 

The increased cold makes your epoxy resin thick and crystalize. Thick epoxy products are hard to mix, which can compromise your project. One way that you can use to restore your formula is by heating it gently; however, it will take you several hours to restore your epoxy formula.

• Should I purchase another epoxy formula if the one I have solidified?

You don’t have to necessarily abandon your epoxy formula that has turned into crystal due to cold temperatures. Instead, you can choose to heat the formula so that it can liquify. Even so, heating the solid epoxy will consume a lot of your time and may not be appropriate, especially if you are working on a short timeline.

If you have time on your side, I’d advise that you just sit back, relax and heat your epoxy that has solidified until you can use it again. This move helps you save on extra cash that you could have used in buying a new product. To avoid situations where you have to heat your epoxy so that you can use it again, ensure that you properly store the formula, usually in a cold and dry place.

• Why has my epoxy coated wooden surface turned yellow?

As time goes by, it is not unusual to notice that your epoxy finish on a surface starts to turn yellow. You can attribute this yellowing to the effects of ultra-violet (UV) light, these rays are notoriously dangerous, and you can limit their impact by offering your epoxy surface-enhanced protection by painting or applying a wood varnish.

I prefer using varnish in this case because it improves the look of your wooden structure.

• Can you get a UV stable epoxy?

Yes, there are epoxy resin formulas that have UV inhibitors. These inhibitors are sensitive to the destructive UV rays hence help protect your structures from their damaging effects.

If UV is so much of a worry for you, I’d recommend that you go for marine varnish as a final finish over your epoxy finished surface.

• How Should I repair cracks and scratches in epoxy?

Having cracks and scratches over the surface of your epoxy finish can be discouraging as they make your surface look less attractive. These cracks are even worse if they go deep such that the surface of the wood underneath the finish does not get enough protection. Even so, this is not final, and you can repair such occurrences.

All you need to do to repair the damage is to remove the varnish in the area with cracks and sandpaper for sanding it lightly until you see a matte white surface. Remove the sand dust from the surface, clean, apply your epoxy formula and allow it to dry before you can finish it off with varnish.

• Can I apply a second coat of epoxy resin?

Yes, it is okay to apply a second coat of epoxy resin over your surface. However, the cases where you need to use a second layer could include where there’s a need to fix a mistake or imperfections that occur on the surfaces after you have applied. Additionally, if you desire to have a surface with thick epoxy layers, you can add the finish.

The Key Properties of Epoxy Resins

This formula is reputable among the woodworkers due to the many properties that it offers. Additionally, its versatility allows for its usage over different surfaces. Some of the critical attributes of epoxy resins include:

• The formula provides so much strength
• Epoxy resins do not shrink easily
• It comes with excellent adhesion on different surfaces
• This product gives you effective electrical insulation on your surfaces
• It comes with high levels of chemical and solvent resistance
• The formula is less expensive and, above all, less toxic than other finishes such as polyurethane.

Conclusion

Epoxy resin is everything that you need if you are looking for a reliable finish for your woodworking projects or structures. It is versatile such that it offers your surface stability and can resist different kinds of traffic, impacts, and even a great deal of scratching effects. This formula will stick to most surfaces; however, one question that people keep asking is…

Will Epoxy Stick to Cured Epoxy?

Yes, as I have stated before, the epoxy formula can stick to a surface that has a cured epoxy resin. You must do to ensure that you have prepared the surface properly so that an adhesive bond forms between the cured surface and the fresh finish. One of the preparation practices includes sanding using 120-grit sandpaper, cleaning before applying the formula.

Did you find the contents of this post helpful? Do you have all your questions regarding epoxy resin answered? Kindly share your thoughts, opinions, and views in the comment section below!