People seem to think that stirring the epoxy mixture with a stick or shakingthe bucket will somehow create a uniform mix of the epoxy screed. Epoxy is not like an acrylic emulsion! It actually requires significant power to be mixed in order to get a uniform product. Unless the quantity is very small (less than2-3 kg or4-5 lbs) you must always use a mixer.If you don’t have an electrical mixer go get one. Otherwise don’t start the work.

2. The “a little bit of A and a little bit of B” mistake.

The flooring team is close to finishing the project and there’s just a couple of square metres left to cover. There is obviously no need to open a full pack,so instead you opt to take out partial quantities. Problem is if you don’t exactly measure the required quantity of A and B according to the manufacturer's specs, but you do a guesstimate, you may get improper bonding. Epoxies allow for a very small margin error when measuring A and B quantities. A measuring error of more than 5-10% can lead to major curing problems. Sometimes workers who are familiar with other types of 2-component products like plasters, cements or polyesters may underestimate on the importance of measuring accuracy.

3. The Confusing weight with volume mistake.

This mistake is an extension of the mistake that I describe above. The applicator reads on the product labeling that the per weight ratio of A:B is for example 5:1. So he automatically assumes that the volume ratio is the same and therefore measures 5 cups of A and one cup of B. Huge no-no! Hardeners tend to have lower densities than resin components. This means that an epoxy system with a 5:1 weight ratio can easily become a 3:1 system if we measure per volume. If you end up adding excessive hardener to the mix could end you could get an oily floor finish.

4. The product expiration mistake. 

Epoxy productsthat are near or past their shelf life expiration tend to have their fillers sink to the bottom of the pack. This leads to the so called muddy bottom of the bucket. If you want to use the product you need to tip it into a new bucket and properly scrape the bottom. Then mix thoroughly before adding the B component.Otherwise the product stuck at the bottom will never be mixed in with the hardener properly, and you could get sticky patches on the floor.

5. The mixing of components from different products mistake. 

It never seems to surprise me how many times workers mix up components from different products. For example I often get people adding the B component of aprimer to the A component of the paint. I have done everything in my power to minimize these mistakes happening (like changing the colors of the labels on my products, increasing the letter size of the product name) but these mixups still happen. Such problems tend to occur on disorganized project sites, where no-one seems to be keeping track of supplies and what is going in and what goes out. Keep aproperly organized site and appoint someone in charge of supplies!

Final point to remember! Every company has different products based on different formulations and differentraw materials. Ratios, densities and product composition isdifferent. Just because company A’s products works one way, don’t assume thatcompany B is the same.