Polyurethane is a plastic polymer; on the other hand, epoxy is a resin that belongs to the plastic family. Both epoxies and polyurethane coat the wooden furniture or ingredients and increase sustainability. Let’s see if you can put epoxy over polyurethane or not.
Can you put epoxy over polyurethane?
Epoxy and polyurethane are plastic polymers used to coat the outer layer of wooden work. You can put epoxy over polyurethane. But, after coating one of them, you don’t need to cover it with another. If you want to put a layer of epoxy over polyurethane, make sure the polyurethane is oil-based.
Walk through this section to find out the detail about the following sorts of polyurethane –
Oil-based Polyurethane:
Oil-based polyurethane coating is used in a large number. As it is cheap and more durable. These coatings provide extra scratch resistance. These coatings are primarily used over wooden furniture, doors, cabinets, railings, and countertops.
These wooden works need more care, which means a more durable coating. Also, the vibrant yellowish-golden layer of oil-based polyurethane gives a luxurious look. After applying oil-based polyurethane, you don’t need to consider the erosion for years.
And it looks better, and the depth of the color is eye-catching.
As oil-based polyurethane has a depth to it, and it is stickier, on the other hand, it can attach epoxy over it. Though it is quite unnecessary to put another layer of epoxy over oil-based polyurethane, both serve the same purpose.
Before using 2-part epoxy over the polyurethane, make sure the polyurethane coating is dry enough and the polyurethane is oil-based.
Water-based Polyurethane:
Water-based polyurethane is not suitable for epoxy coatings. Water-based polyurethane covers have less friction on them. For that reason, the epoxy coating doesn’t attach to the polyurethane.
That means the epoxy doesn’t stick with water-based polyurethane.
As we all know, it is unnecessary to put the epoxy cover on polyurethane. Both epoxy and polyurethane help prevent early erosion of floors or wooden works such as furniture or doors.
Water-based polyurethane doesn’t have the light and depth yellowish-golden color. It is lighter than the oil-based one. Also, it is not as cheap as the oil-based one. And it is highly recommended to avoid putting epoxy coating over a water-based polyurethane.
Does epoxy stick to polyurethane?
Epoxies are made to provide a shiny look to the floor or anywhere you want to have a different touch to it. Also, epoxies have various uses. There is epoxy adhesive as well. So, we can say that epoxy has good adhesive properties in it.
When it is about sticking with polyurethane, you can answer with a yes and a no. The answer is yes when the polyurethane underneath is the oil-based one. The answer is no when the polyurethane is water-based.
That is the biggest difference between both the water and oil-based polyurethane. Firstly, you need to make sure that the polyurethane is oil-based, then put epoxy over it. So that the epoxy will stick to polyurethane.
Ensure to maintain the standard procedures so that the epoxy can stay firmly on the top of the polyurethane surface. So, it can be said that epoxy only sticks to oil-based polyurethane.
Can you put clear epoxy resin over a polyurethane surfboard?
Epoxy resin can give your surface a clear look with sustainability. Epoxy resins adhere to polyurethane coatings. Surfboards are coated with a layer of plastic polymer to keep it safe from water damage.
Ensure that you are not trying to stick epoxy with water-based polyurethane. So, there is a high chance that your clear epoxy resin will attach to your surfboard. Also, the surfboard generally doesn’t need to have any coating.
But, when it gets older, you might have a yellowish hue on your polyurethane-coated surfboard.
Which you can cover with clear epoxy resin coatings and increase the durability of your surfboard.
Rather than coating with epoxy resin, you can also coat your polyurethane surfboard with polyester resin. Just remember not to put polyurethane over epoxy resin. It will not work properly.
4 reasons why you can use epoxy over polyurethane
You can use epoxy over polyurethane surface for the following reasons –
Epoxy Adheres to Polyurethane:
Epoxy resin is clear, and it has strong durability. This resin is also used to make strong adhesive. Also, epoxy resin can be put on surfaces with strong friction to hold the epoxy.
Generally, epoxy doesn’t stick to plastic items where the surface area is too slippery and has less friction.
Epoxy Increases the Durability:
First, epoxy resin gives a vibrant, shiny look to the surface. Second, the epoxy layer helps the surface retain more pressure or scratches. And it doesn’t harm the main wooden layer.
By doing all these things, epoxy resin increases the durability of polyurethane-covered surfaces.
Epoxy Resin is a strong coating material:
Epoxy resin is used to increase the beauty of the wooden surface or any floor. It is strong, and it emphasizes beauty.
Though it doesn’t seem necessary to have a layer of an epoxy coating over polyurethane, it will still bring more beauty with strong damage-reducing properties.
Both these provide safety to wood workings:
Polyurethane and epoxy are materials that help woodworkings sustain for more years. These materials help the wooden surface stay strong against erosion and different insects.
Also, polyurethane and epoxy are plastic-based, so a layer of these materials keeps woods safe from water or humidity.
How to prepare polyurethane for epoxy coating?
You will certainly learn how to prepare polyurethane surface for epoxy coating from the following steps –
Prepare the Surface and Sand it:
A lot of sanding and polishing is needed before putting any coatings over the surface. Before applying polyurethane, make sure the wooden surface is perfect for holding the polyurethane coat.
Because there might be some unwanted layers, sand them so that all the layers become smoother.
Apply Polyurethane Coating:
After preparing the surface, then prepare a polyurethane coating. You can get a jar of polyurethane in the supermarket. After buying a pot of polyurethane, open it and stir it lightly with the help of a stick. Don’t bother to shake the bottle of polyurethane.
Apply the polyurethane evenly and always apply them in one direction.
Don’t make a bubble:
The bottle or jar of polyurethane needs to have extra shaking, or there will be bubble formation inside the jar. If you make a bubble, the coating will have bubbles too. So, stir it properly, then keep the pot open until you finish your work.
Brush it Properly:
Use a perfect synthetic brush. Make sure the brush is not coming out. Sometimes the bristle of the brush comes out. So, before buying, make sure to buy a good quality brush.
Without a good brush, you cannot apply the polyurethane evenly, as polyurethane is thick.
Dry the Surface:
After brushing the surface with polyurethane, rest it for 24 to 48 hours in a dust-proof area. It takes about a day or two to dry the surface properly. And, if any dust particle lands on the surface, then the polyurethane coat will be rough.
Polish it Properly:
If the polyurethane coating dries, then polish it. After polishing the surface, you will have a nice yellowish hue from the surface. Or sometimes, you might not get any yellowish tint.
How to apply epoxy over polyurethane?
You can learn how to apply epoxy over polyurethane from the following steps –
Prepare the surface:
Before applying epoxy over polyurethane, make sure the surface is clean. Clean it with a dust remover brush and brush it evenly. Or use a wet cloth to clean the dust. Then dry the surface.
Sanding is Mandatory:
Sanding is mandatory when there is some uneven area on the polyurethane surface. Sand it properly. Make sure to sand the surface evenly, or the epoxy will not set there.
Wash after Sanding:
After sanding the surface, wash it. Or there will be small dust particles and debris on the newly finished area. Wash it with running water and clean it. Then dry the surface to have epoxy.
Apply the Epoxy:
You can get your epoxy jar from the supermarket. You should stir the epoxy resin, don’t shake the bottle, or there will be bubbles in the epoxy resin. Then you can pour the resin or apply it using a brush. But pouring the epoxy is better than brushing.
Rest the Epoxy to dry Properly:
Rest the epoxy resin to dry. It will need almost 72 hours to dry. Make sure to dry the surface in a dust-free room. And, while drying the surface, don’t run over the epoxy resin. Or it will not stick with the polyurethane.
Final Thoughts
Polyurethane is good to go over epoxy resin. But you can use epoxy over polyurethane too. But it isn’t the suggested procedure. As It will not bring any sort of benefit to the surface. With proper safety gadgets, you need to apply epoxy over polyurethane with enough ventilation in a clean place.