What surface profile does epoxy need on an Ottawa slab?
What surface profile does epoxy need on an Ottawa slab?
ICRI concrete surface profiles (CSP) are the scale contractors and data sheets use to describe how rough a slab needs to be before coating. For epoxy, the data sheets we have read ask for roughly CSP 3 to 4 on a resinous system, and the exact requirement is set by the data sheet for the specific product.
Ask the contractor how far your slab is from that profile and what prep it needs: old adhesive, paint, a failed coating or contamination all change the work. One epoxy data sheet also requires the slab to have cured for a minimum of 28 days before coating is applied.
Moisture is a separate check from profile. The data sheets we read ask for a slab at or below about 75 to 80 per cent relative humidity (tested to ASTM F2170) or within the moisture vapour emission rate the product allows (tested to ASTM F1869). If the slab tests above those limits, a moisture-tolerant primer or a different system may be needed. ASTM F2170 notes that test results reflect the slab's condition only at the time and location tested.
On the regulatory side, floor coating work in an occupied commercial building is likely construction work under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Before any contractor starts, OHSA s.30 requires the owner to determine whether designated substances, including asbestos, are present and to give the contractor a list. Old vinyl tile or black mastic may contain asbestos and should be tested before any grinding takes place.
When reviewing a quote, ask the contractor to specify the surface profile they are preparing to, the prep method they will use to reach it, the moisture test results and what product they will use if the slab is too wet, and the data sheet for the specific epoxy product so you can confirm the profile requirement yourself.
One place where cost can quietly grow on a job like this is the moisture test result: if the slab reads above the product's limit, a moisture-mitigation primer is an added line item that was not in the original scope.
Related service: Grinding, Prep and Moisture Testing What it costs: Condo garages and common areas
Want quotes for your floor?
Tell us about the floor and we'll send it to local Ottawa floor coating contractors, who reply by email. We send it out to local contractors for you. Free, no pressure.
Coatings IQ -- Built from the Ontario Building Code, Ontario regulations and City of Ottawa sources and real construction experience. Answers are for informational purposes only and are not a professional assessment.
Ready to Get Quotes?
Find local floor coating contractors in Ottawa. Free matching, no obligation.