Epoxy flooring glossary of terms & specifications
15 technical terms, diamond grinding profiles and resin specifications explained in plain English.
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Key epoxy flooring terms explained
Aliphatic Polyurethane Topcoat
UV-stable clear or pigmented sealer applied over aromatic epoxy coats in sunlit kitchens, showrooms, and glazed garages to prevent ambering or chalking.
Amine Blush
Waxy, slightly greasy surface film formed when uncured epoxy hardener reacts with atmospheric moisture and carbon dioxide in cold or damp curing conditions, requiring sanding and solvent wiping before overcoating.
Broadcast Quartz Aggregate
Kiln-dried natural or colour-coated quartz sand scattered into a wet resin base coat to build slip resistance (PTV 45+) and impact thickness in wet rooms and commercial kitchens.
Captive Diamond Grinding
Dry mechanical surface preparation using walk-behind planetary diamond grinders connected to H-class HEPA vacuums to strip laitance and open concrete pores to CSP 2–3.
Concrete Surface Profile (CSP)
International Concrete Repair Institute scale from CSP 1 (acid-etched smooth) to CSP 9 (heavy scarifying) grading substrate roughness; roll-on epoxy requires CSP 2 and self-levelling resin requires CSP 3.
Cove Skirting Detail
Radiused trowel-applied epoxy mortar fillet turned 100–150 mm up the perimeter wall junction so wash-down water and food debris cannot lodge in a 90-degree corner.
Cure Schedule (Foot vs Vehicle)
Staged polymerisation timeline after mixing Part A resin and Part B hardener—typically 16–24 hours for light foot traffic, 48–72 hours for pallet jacks or cars, and 7 days for full chemical resistance.
Dew Point Margin
Safety rule requiring concrete substrate temperature to sit at least 3 °C above the room air dew point during resin application and initial cure so invisible condensation cannot cause amine blush or delamination.
Epoxy Mortar Screed
Heavy-duty trowel-laid blend of 100%-solids epoxy binder and graded silica aggregate applied at 4–9 mm to rebuild spalled plant rooms, loading bays, and forklift aisles.
High-Build 100%-Solids Epoxy
Solvent-free two-component epoxy resin formulation that cures solely by chemical cross-linking without evaporation shrinkage, yielding a dense 300–500 micron dry film in two coats.
Induction & Pot Life
Working time window (typically 20–35 minutes at 15 °C) once Part A and Part B are mechanically paddled together before exothermic reaction heats the bucket and makes the resin unworkable.
Moisture Vapour Barrier Primer
Two-coat surface-tolerant damp-proof epoxy primer engineered to hold back residual rising slab moisture up to 92–97% RH where an under-slab membrane is missing or punctured.
Outgassing Pinholes
Tiny craters or bubbles formed in a curing resin coat when warming air expands out of porous concrete capillaries; prevented by priming on a falling slab temperature cycle.
Pendulum Test Value (PTV)
Standardised wet and dry skid-resistance reading measured with a swinging rubber slider; a wet PTV of 36 or higher indicates low slip potential under Irish workplace safety guidance.
Polyaspartic Fast-Cure Resin
Aliphatic polyurea-ester coating system that cures within 2–4 hours per coat even at temperatures down to 0 °C, allowing single-day turnaround on busy commercial or garage floors.
Questions people ask
How much does epoxy flooring cost in Ireland?
€30 to €120 a m² for most jobs. A roller coat in one colour is €30 to €50 a m²; a full system with diamond-ground prep is €50 to €120 a m²; flake and metallic floors are €60 to €100 a m². See our price guide.
Can epoxy go on any concrete floor?
On sound, dry concrete, yes. It won't hold on a slab that's damp, dusty, oily or painted unless that's dealt with first, which is why the grinding and the moisture test matter more than the resin. A new slab needs time to dry out before it's coated.
How long before I can use the floor?
At 20°C, about a day before you can walk on it, about 4 days for light use and about 7 days to a full cure. In a cold garage it's slower. See cure times.
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