But it’s the residential uses that are now more interesting, with a huge range of epoxy coatings and flake colour finishes available to improve homes of all ages.
This example is on a second-storey tiled veranda in Fremantle where heavy rain was forcing water through the grout onto the ceilings below. The expensive conventional solution was to remove the 25-year-old tiles and timber under them, then cover the veranda in concrete sheet, double seal it, and re-tile. The cost of this was around $14,000.
The epoxy solution was to check the tiles were basically sound. Clean out and fill a couple of areas on the edge where tiles had fallen away. Then the whole veranda was hit with the grinder to etch the tiles and ensure a good bond. On the same day, the grout was brushed out and sealed with epoxy trowelled into the joints. This step alone made the veranda waterproof.
The second day was applying about 30 litres of epoxy and the decorative flake which gives the soft finishing look.
On day 3 a final layer of epoxy and the fashionable finish.
If you’re in a rush you can put the furniture back and walk on it after 24 hours. This home-owner had used epoxy before on a very large upstairs al fresco veranda in Broome, so he said he would give it three days to cure, by which time it would be bullet-proof.
Almost forgot. The cost? An economical $3,000.
The value and peace of mind? The owner says this is inestimable.
The process
Step 1: Grinding the tiles to provide grip for the epoxy coating. The grout joints
have been brushed out and sealed with epoxy. The veranda is already waterproof
at this stage.
Step 2: Finishing coat, grey toned epoxy flake. Leak problem solved, and the colour blends with the white
2-storey white house. An excellent result.