Unbelievable Transformation: How Flake Floors Revived an Abandoned Pool Area

Introduction

For two generations, this Family enjoyed their indoor pool, before it had to be abandoned due to failing sidewalls and groundwater damage. Left with an empty, unusable space for over a decade, the family was at a loss for what to do with this part of their home. But then they hired Horizon Coatings, and Wayne showed them Purepoxy's epoxy coatings for garage floors and outdoor patios – and the transformation began! With a little help from us and a lot from Wayne at Horizon Coatings, this forgotten pool area is now truly unbelievable. Thank you to Horizon Coatings Ltd. for sharing this story and their pictures with us. Read on to discover how flake floors helped revive this Family's abandoned pool area. ​

The Product

Many products were used to complete this project. We will name them as they were used but here we are highlighting the products used to flake the deck and pool bottom.

PE-VRM is a clear 2-component, 100% solids, low odor, low viscosity epoxy that is specifically formulated as a moisture barrier coating to treat new and existing concrete floors with high moisture and high pH. It penetrates deeply into the concrete substrates to create an effective moisture vapor barrier. The low viscosity formula also promotes higher adhesion properties and greater water resistance.

PE-VRM

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The Flake Floor system uses Purepoxy's PE-100 and Torginol Flakes, combined with a Polyaspartic topcoat to create a functional and beautiful terrazzo-like seamless flooring system. The multi-coat broadcast concrete coating is available in a variety of colors and can be custom-made to match any color or design. The pigmented basecoat, the pigmented primer, flakes, and the clear topcoat help to create an incredibly wear-resistant and durable surface that is also aesthetically pleasing.

Standard Epoxy - 100% Solid

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The Transformation

The level of disrepair in the pool itself required all of the seams and corners to be filled with an epoxy crack-filler, twice. Then a layer of concrete bonding mix was applied to the floor and curb of the pool. At the same time, Wayne repaired the metal walls of the pool with Corotech Rust Arrester, and then primed with Sherwin Williams(SW) Pro-cryl Primer and finished with SW All Surface Enamel HP.

Step 1: Prepare the Substrate - Since the pool was situated in a basement, Wayne opted not to use Horizon's heavier diamond grinder; instead, Clean & Etch from Sherwin Williams would serve as an effective substitute. By thoroughly cleaning the existing concrete of the deck and pool with this product beforehand, it will guarantee a more consistent surface and provide better adherence to our new coating system.

Step 2: Apply PE-VRM - Wayne applied the VRM, to the pool bottom and curb. This will create a moisture vapor barrier and promote higher adhesion properties and greater water resistance.

Step 3: Apply PE-100 Basecoat - To create a consistent foundation for the primer coat and flakes, a pigmented basecoat was applied to the prepped surface.

Flakes 1/4"

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Step 4: Apply PE-100 Primer and Torginol Flake Broadcast - Apply the pigmented primer to the cured basecoat. This helps to create a uniform base for the flakes to be applied. The colored flakes were broadcast over the primer before the primer was cured. Throw your Flakes into the air and let them float down to the surface. This creates a unique texture and look to the surface.

Step 5: Apply Polyaspartic Topcoat - Finished with a clear poly aspartic topcoat to seal and protect the flake floor system. This will make it incredibly durable while also maintaining its aesthetically pleasing appearance.

Polyaspartic 85% Solid Hybrid (Slow/No Odour)

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Conclusion

The transformation of this abandoned pool area is a testament to the power and beauty of flake floors. With PE-VRM acting as a moisture barrier, and Purepoxy’s PE-100 basecoat/primer and Torginol Flakes combined with a Polyaspartic topcoat, the space was completely transformed from unusable to unbelievable. The new breath-taking terrazzo-like flooring is not only incredibly durable and wear-resistant but also aesthetically pleasing. With this transformation, the family was able to turn an unused area into a space that they can be proud of and enjoy for years to come.

Flake floors truly have the power to revive any room!

If you have an area that is in need of a transformation, look no further than flake floors. Whether it’s for a residential or commercial space, D's Epoxy Creates... has the perfect product and/or installer to fit your needs. Contact us or visit us today at, www.dsepoxycreates.com, to learn more about how we can help you revive any room with stunning Flake floors. We look forward to hearing from you!

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Trial and Triumph: Lessons Learned from Applying Epoxy to a Weathered Spruce Farm Table

Introduction

Craving a unique addition to your homemade furniture? Look no further! Join us on this journey as we use epoxy to create an eye-catching piece of work. Our expert team, D's Epoxy Creates, has the pleasure of helping one Maker customize their handmade farm table with spruce corral boards that have been shaped by his horses' hooves! Let’s get crafting and show off our creative creation for all eyes to see.

I. Overview of D’s Epoxy Creates

D's Epoxy Creates is a leading epoxy-based company that provides professional craftsmanship, top-of-the-line products, and expert support. We specialize in creating custom projects with epoxy to help customers achieve the highest quality results.

II. The Project: Adding Epoxy to a Custom Table

For this project, D’s Epoxy Creates was commissioned to help a Home-owner (the Maker) add epoxy to their handmade farm table. The table was constructed using old spruce corral boards that were weathered and "contoured" by his horses. These boards were laid out side by side, framed with 45-degree corners, then glued and screwed to a plywood board. The Maker then belt-sanded the top of the table for a smooth finish.

III. Preparation Before Applying the Epoxy

A. Safety First

Before starting any project involving epoxy, make sure you practice proper safety protocols. Wear protective gear such as eye protection, long sleeves and pants, and nitrile gloves to protect yourself from any potential spills or splashes. Use a respirator to limit your exposure to the fumes that are released when epoxy is mixed and epoxy dust when sanding. Lastly, make sure you're working in a well-ventilated room.

B. Cleaning the Surface

To begin the process of adding epoxy to the custom table, it is important to make sure that the surface of the table is clean. This can be done by wiping down the surface with a damp cloth and then vacuuming all cracks, holes, and seams to remove any dust or debris.

C. Prepping for the Pour

Make sure to tape over all seams and holes (and in this case screw heads) on the bottom of the table. This will prevent any leaks.

WARNING: Epoxy will find the smallest of cracks and pinholes to leak through.

IV. Step-by-Step Guide on Filling in Voids with Epoxy

A. Mixing the Epoxy

Once all dust and debris have been removed, you can start mixing the epoxy according to the product's instructions. In general, this involves combining equal parts of a resin mixture with a hardener solution in order to create a solid bond that will fill in any gaps or voids between pieces of wood. We used ICE EPOXY'S ICE Thin, made for pours up to 1" deep.

ICE THIN - UV resistant (1"<)

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B. Applying the Mixture

Once the epoxy is mixed, you can use a fine-tip applicator or syringe to get into the narrowest cracks and larger voids can be filled by pouring from the mixing cup. Overfill just a little to account for any shrinkage that may occur when the mixture cures. In the video below you can see us on our second day of pouring.

C. Sanding

When the epoxy has cured (24 - 36 hours), you can start sanding the surface. Start with a 40-grit paper and work your way up to a 320-grit paper for a smooth finish. The spruce wood was a mixture of soft wood and hard knots making sanding somewhat tricky. When planning a project like this consider alternating the soft unblemished boards with the hard knotty boards.

D. Final Touches

To complete the project, we used Walrus Cutting Board Oil to treat the wood and polished it up with Walrus Wood Wax to make it look new again!

ICE WALRUS

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V. Project Challenges

The main challenge when working with epoxy and filling voids in a bespoke table is that the wood used here was spruce, which is a softwood. This meant extra care had to be taken when sanding the filled areas, as any over-sanding could damage the softer parts of the wood. Additionally, the boards used for the table were not flat on both sides, which meant that more epoxy was necessary in order to fill any voids as much of the epoxy disappeared between the board and plywood. It took 3 days and 182oz of epoxy to bring the epoxy level to the top of the boards.

VI. Conclusion

By following the steps outlined in this guide, anyone can successfully fill voids in a bespoke table with epoxy. The process is not as intimidating as it may seem and with the right tools and knowledge, great results can be achieved! D’s Epoxy Creates provides quality products and expert support to guarantee that your project will turn out exactly as you envisioned. Contact us today to get started on your dream project!