Frequently Asked Questions

What surface preparation is needed for Nitoflor Epifine and can it be applied to a new concrete floor without grinding?

The surface preparation requirements for Nitoflor Epifine are the same as for any applied epoxy floor coating — the concrete substrate must be mechanically prepared to provide a clean, sound, open-pored surface for the epoxy to penetrate and bond to. The minimum preparation standard is light shot blasting or grinding of the concrete surface to remove the laitance (the weak cement paste surface layer formed by bleed water during concrete placing and finishing), any existing coating, contamination (oil, grease, mould release agent, curing compound), and loose material. Without this preparation, the epoxy coating bonds to the laitance or contamination rather than to the sound concrete below, and adhesion failure (peeling of the epoxy coating as a sheet) is the predictable result — particularly in areas subject to thermal cycling or cleaning with hot water. For a newly placed concrete floor that has been trowelled to a smooth finish and cured, the surface must be prepared by shot blasting or grinding because the trowelling creates a very dense, smooth skin with minimal porosity that the epoxy cannot penetrate. For an older floor with an open-pored, rough surface from natural traffic wear or existing aggregate exposure, light grinding may be sufficient. The concrete must be dry (surface moisture content below 75 per cent relative humidity for solvent-free epoxy) and must have cured for a minimum of 28 days (6 weeks preferred) before Nitoflor Epifine application.

How long does Nitoflor Epifine last and when does an epoxy floor coating need to be recoated or replaced?

The service life of a Nitoflor Epifine thin-film epoxy coating on a light-duty concrete floor is typically 5 to 10 years before recoating is required, depending on the traffic intensity, the cleaning regime, and the UV exposure. Thin-film epoxy coatings in the 150 to 250 micron DFT range have a limited wear reserve — the thin film gradually wears through in the highest-traffic zones (main aisles, doorways, areas in front of counters) while remaining in good condition in lower-traffic areas. The indicators that Nitoflor Epifine has reached end of service life and needs recoating are: visible wear-through of the epoxy in high-traffic areas revealing the grey concrete below; loss of the smooth, closed surface in worn areas (the roughened worn surface is difficult to clean and harbours contamination); significant colour fade in areas exposed to UV light (epoxy is not UV-stable and yellows or fades over time when exposed to sunlight through windows); and adhesion loss manifesting as edge lifting or peeling of the coating at wear-through edges. Recoating with a fresh coat of Nitoflor Epifine over the still-adherent existing coating is possible where the existing coating is sound and well-adhered — light scuff sanding of the existing epoxy surface and an intercoat adhesion primer (Nitoprime Epoxy or similar) are needed before recoating. Where the existing coating has failed adhesively or is extensively worn, full removal by grinding and a new system application is required.

Can Nitoflor Epifine be used in a wet or damp environment like a kitchen or food processing area with frequent washing?

Nitoflor Epifine can be used in food preparation areas and institutional kitchens that experience regular wet mopping and cleaning, but the specific suitability depends on the frequency and intensity of water exposure. As a thin-film epoxy (150 to 250 microns DFT), Nitoflor Epifine does not have the same degree of waterproofing capability as a thicker self-levelling epoxy system (500 to 2,000 microns DFT) — very thin coatings at the lower end of the DFT range may have pinholes or thin spots through which water can penetrate to the substrate. For areas with frequent wet mopping and occasional water spillage but without continuous immersion or high-pressure hosing, two carefully applied coats of Nitoflor Epifine building to 200 to 250 microns total DFT provide adequate protection and a hygienic, washable surface. For areas with daily high-pressure cold or hot water hosing (commercial kitchen floors, food processing plant floors, dairy or beverage production areas), the more appropriate specification is the thicker Nitoflor Epoxy SL (1 to 2 mm DFT) which provides a more robust, impermeable surface resistant to regular high-pressure wash-down. For food processing areas subject to acidic cleaning agents, hot fat or oil spills, or thermal shock from hot liquid spillage onto a cold floor, specific chemical resistance of the coating to the actual chemicals and temperatures encountered should be confirmed with the Fosroc technical team before specifying any floor coating system.