Welcome. You’ve come to the right place if you’ve ever asked yourself “Can I use self-leveling concrete over epoxy?”
Epoxy is a resin used to create coatings on floors, or as a bonding agent for resisting chemicals. It’s typically applied using a brush, roller, or trowel.
Self-leveling concrete is an advanced form of cement that can be poured directly over existing surfaces and doesn’t need leveling by hand after application, as the name implies.
Self-leveling concrete is usually used when creating decorative flooring in residential and commercial settings – it varies from conventional cement in that it has higher flow characteristics, allowing it to spread out with minimal effort.
Can you pour self-leveling concrete over epoxy?
You can pour self-leveling concrete over epoxy, but you’ll need to take certain precautions in order for it to be successful. Many people choose to use epoxy as a finishing coat over their concrete floors. The finished floor will have a glossy and smooth appearance, which is great if you want something that’s easy to clean.
It’s important to make sure that the concrete subfloor is well prepared before applying epoxy. A surface that hasn’t been properly prepared will cause the epoxy sealant to peel up once it’s applied, making for an uneven and unattractive finish.
To avoid this problem, make sure that any moisture has had sufficient time to evaporate from the concrete surface before applying an epoxy sealant over it. This may require waiting several days after pouring your self-leveling compound so that all moisture is able to evaporate from its pores.
Table of Contents
- Can you pour self-leveling concrete over epoxy?
- How do you level an epoxy floor?
- Can you put self leveler over sealed concrete?
- Can you level a concrete floor with epoxy?
- Does epoxy flooring self level?
- Do I need to level floor before epoxy?
- Can you pour epoxy over cured epoxy?
- Do I need to seal floor before using self-levelling compound?
How do you level an epoxy floor?
Epoxy flooring is one of those things that sounds really complicated, but you don’t actually need to do much. The hardest part about epoxy flooring is getting the proper product for the job.
Epoxy floors are not self-leveling, so you’ve got to be careful about how you prepare your surface. If there is any significant degree of slope in a room, it will require extra attention.
You can install epoxy floors in less than an hour and have them harden overnight; proper tools are paramount to this process.
You’ll need a cheap plastic or rubber hammer to break through the sealant, a stiff brush/sponge applicator to apply the floor material and an angled trowel (or something similar) for spreading out and smoothing out any bubbles or imperfections as you go along.
Can you put self leveler over sealed concrete?
Generally speaking, yes, you can use self-leveling concrete over an epoxy floor coating. As long as the surface has been cleaned and prepped appropriately before installation and cured for the amount of time specified on the packaging, you should be good to go! It also helps if the surface temperature is at least 50º F (10º C) when pouring.
If you’re planning to apply a sealer on top of your new self-leveling concrete, make sure it’s not too soon after application. If you try to apply a sealer only a few days after pouring your fresh concrete, it will lock in moisture that needs to evaporate naturally. This could cause bubbling or blistering on your newly laid floor.
Can you level a concrete floor with epoxy?
To level a concrete floor with epoxy, you’ll need to:
- Prepare the floor by applying a bonding agent to the floor. Be sure to follow manufacturer’s instructions carefully.
- Apply the epoxy self-leveling compound to the floor. As you apply, continue to spread in a circular motion with a trowel, until the surface is even.
- Let your fresh layer of an epoxy cure for at least 24 hours before exposing it to foot traffic or further construction work.
Does epoxy flooring self level?
Yes, epoxy is self-leveling. It’s also self-priming and very durable. Epoxy has become a popular choice for garage floors due to its ability to withstand the wear and tear of grease, oil, chemicals, and even dropping heavy tools without damage. It’s also super easy to clean—sweep or vacuum up dust and debris, then wipe down with a damp cloth or mop.
Do I need to level floor before epoxy?
Self-leveling concrete is a great way to smooth out rough or cracked concrete floors. It’s not intended for use over epoxy, though. If you have a floor with a thin layer of epoxy coating and you want to pour self-leveling concrete over it, the best thing to do would be to strip the epoxy off first.
If you want to apply self-leveling compound over an existing epoxy coating, here’s what we recommend:
- First, make sure that the floor is clean and dry before applying any new material. You can achieve this by using light sandpaper and degreasing detergent to wash down your floor after stripping the old layers of paint or epoxy off if necessary.
- Make sure that there are no cracks in your concrete floor before applying any additional materials so as not to cause further damage later on—if there are cracks present, fill them in with appropriate filler material like polyurethane caulk which will hold up better than most other types of sealers when used underneath self-leveling compounds (and also prevent water from seeping through).
- After application has finished curing completely (usually around 24 hours), sand down any uneven parts on top of where the new material was poured until smooth then apply two coats of good quality latex paint following manufacturer’s instructions carefully before applying another layer!
Can you pour epoxy over cured epoxy?
Yes, you can pour epoxy over cured epoxy. As long as the floor is clean and dry, you should be able to get a nice, smooth coating that will look great for years to come.
If your floor has any unsightly cracks or stains that make it unpleasant to look at or difficult to clean, epoxy is a great choice for covering them up. Epoxy is scratch resistant and much easier to clean than concrete, making it a smart choice if your floors are going to see a lot of traffic.
Do I need to seal floor before using self-levelling compound?
Before you pour the self-leveling compound, it’s important to double-check that your floor is properly prepared. You want to make sure that there are no cracks, that the floor has been thoroughly cleaned, and that it’s dry.
If you’re applying over an epoxy surface, you don’t need to seal it before using the self-leveling compound.
Conclusion
Now you know all about whether or not you can use self-leveling concrete over epoxy. While epoxy is a great choice for flooring, it’s important to think about the surface underneath it. A rough, uneven surface will show through the epoxy and make your floor look lumpy and uneven.
Self-leveling concrete is a great option because it will stick to your subfloor and give a smooth surface for the epoxy to adhere to. It also doesn’t have any problems with moisture or gases in the substrate that could cause bubbles in your final layer of epoxy.
Though self-leveling concrete can be messy and difficult to work with, once you’ve applied the layer properly, it’s worth it to see how great your floor looks! You end up with a smooth finish that looks professional and high quality, plus your project costs stay low because you’re only using one product instead of needing primer or sealer on top of the epoxy like you would if you’d used a wet pour method for leveling out your floor.