Second, the epoxy is much harder to apply. Cold temperatures make it much more difficult to coat and wet-out surfaces with epoxy. In coating applications at low temperatures, the epoxy mixture will not flow out as easily resulting in thicker, uneven coats that require more sanding to achieve a smooth finish. In bonding applications, the thicker epoxy may not wet out or penetrate porous surfaces enough for a reliable bond. Third, air bubbles may be introduced during mixing or application and held in suspension due to the chilled epoxy's increased viscosity.
Air bubbles reduce epoxy's strength in a bond and a coating's effectiveness as a moisture barrier.
In addition, air bubbles show through clear coating applications. We've told you all of the reasons why using epoxy in cold weather is difficult and risky. However, this doesn't mean that you can never use epoxy in cold weather. With a little advanced planning and by observing the following eight precautions, most of these problems can be overcome and their consequences avoided. We've used these techniques for over 20 years, because they help assure dependable epoxy bonds in cold weather.