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Yellowing - big concern or not?

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iceman536

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Mar 23, 2010
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91
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Michigan
From my research I believe all epoxy floors will yellow over time. The consensus here seems to be applying a poly top coat will minimize the onset and severity of the yellowing.

Others are of the opinion that a top coat is not necessary, and that yellowing onset is slow and very hard to notice with the "naked eye".

Some vendor's sites say it is optional; others basically say you're crazy to not clear coat.

Questions:
Does the formulation / "quality" of the epoxy affect the yellowing process (i.e. could Company A's epoxy yellow quicker than Company B's)?

Does a poly top coat really delay yellowing, or is it mostly used for aesthetic purposes?

Those who have not top coated - have you noticed yellowing? How long after application?

FWIW, I am leaning toward a broadcast to rejection flake application which would require the top coat. But Plan B is no flake, and no top coat (much less $$).

Thanks for all opinions!
 
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nate379

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Palmer, AK
I did my floor about a year ago with the Lowe's stuff and it's still the same color with the 6" or so that is outside vs the inside.
 
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GeorgiaHybrid

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nate379 said:
I did my floor about a year ago with the Lowe's stuff and it's still the same color with the 6" or so that is outside vs the inside.
Click to expand...

Not surprising, you only get to see the sun 1 month out of the year up there....:bounce:

Let us know what it looks like in another 11 years.....That should give you a year of sunshine.
 
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TheBanker

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Feb 22, 2010
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Franklin, Tn
I used alot of flakes and it appears to me that it would be very difficult to see yellowing if it did occur. I'm not that worried about it considering my garage gets very little sunlight.
 
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GeorgiaHybrid

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iceman,

If your garage is in northern climates (like yours) and does not get direct sunlight thru the open door or windows, you should not have a problem with yellowing for many years. A garage in more southern climates or that has a door opening to the south or windows on the south side will often turn yellow in less than two years. Those garages with western or eastern exposure will range somewhere inbetween those extremes.

Some epoxies will resist yellowing better than others but they will all yellow eventually if they are exposed to direct sunlight. The urethane coatings provide UV and decorative chip protection and are very easy to top coat compared to epoxy if you ever need to re-coat your floor. With urethane, you just scuff and roll on another coat for a brand new looking floor.
 
OP
I

iceman536

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Michigan
Yep, my garage faces North and I am in Michigan - the least sunniest state in the country. In the winter the sun doesn't come within 20 feet of my garage opening.
 
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gabeancounter

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east bumble
I put dwn the hpu747. GA seems to be the new FL. I would put urethane on any floor. Main reason UV second chemical resistance ! Did a brake job before redoing my yellow floor and the brake cleaner stained the @#$% out of the floor. good luck
 
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Ruddy

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Mar 13, 2010
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205
Location
Pollock Pines California
so far, no yellowing for me, but 1; I'm not there all the time and 2; it faces the North-East.
My Bronco II did leak some motor and ****** fluid on it, but that wiped right up with no discoloration. Yeah!
 
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nate379

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Palmer, AK
Huh? What drugs are you on?

We have close to 24hrs of light right now. Actual day is about 20hrs but it doesn't get fully dark.


GeorgiaHybrid said:
Not surprising, you only get to see the sun 1 month out of the year up there....:bounce:

Let us know what it looks like in another 11 years.....That should give you a year of sunshine.
Click to expand...
 
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gabeancounter

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east bumble
Ruddy,
I really think using the cyclo epoxy slows the process. You get maybe a year - 2yrs before the floor starts to darken. It also has more chemical resistance than alphatic epoxy. To extend to 10 -15 yrs then you need to use a urethane. Just my 2 cents.
 
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GeorgiaHybrid

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Extreme NW Georgia
nate379 said:
Maybe you can explain that to the wicked sunburn I got last weekend while working outside? :bounce: And no... I'm not albino or a ginger :bounce:
Click to expand...


You need to get out more..... down here, it would not have took all weekend to get a sunburn, an hour or so would have cooked you....

Are you guys still wearing fur hats, boots and mittens when you go outside????:bounce:
 
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gabeancounter

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east bumble
Don't let nobody ******** you.Epoxy yellows ....period. Read what garage guy and Alpha are telling everyone. Don't listen to some vendor telling you otherwise. You need a urethane topcoat. I think it will slow the process for 5-10yrs.

There was a guy on here that had an EC floor with no topcoat and he used flake. The EC standard kit. He posted some pics of the floor after a couple years and it had gotten much darker. I think he removed the pics if I remember correctly. Everyone was telling him to seal the flakes.
 
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nate379

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I'm sure after a while it does, but it's not the end of the world. I put the epoxy down to extend the life of the slab, make oil pickup easier, etc. As far as I'm concerned the coating is a "consumable"
 
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