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How Many Coats of Epoxy Should I Apply?

When used as a sealant, epoxy resin creates a durable, clear, and waterproof coating on nearly any surface. It's commonly applied to bar tops, countertops, and furniture like table tops, benches, and other seating.

Planning an epoxy project requires careful calculation of the amount of epoxy needed and the number of coatings to apply. This is done through measuring the substrate surface area and determining which coating types are needed.

In this article, we'll you through the process of figuring out just how many coats of epoxy you'll need and which types to plan for.

How Many Coats of Epoxy Should I Apply?

In most cases, an epoxy project will require just one flood coat of epoxy resin. Using high-quality epoxy resin is recommended for ensure full protection of your surfaces but doing so will preserve them for many years without the need for reapplication.

However, several factors can influence the number of coats needed, and some projects may require different types of coatings.

Below are the aspects we'll be focusing on in this article:

  • Types of Epoxy Project—The foundation of planning your epoxy project is deciding what you want to create (e.g., bar top, table top, art, etc.). Some projects tend to require far more epoxy than other types. They may even require multiple epoxy variants.

  • Methods for Coating with Epoxy—When it comes to coating types, there are different application methods and techniques. Some are only viable with certain types of epoxy.

  • Variants of Epoxy Resin—Epoxy resin comes in different forms. At a glance, they're nearly indistinguishable from each other, but they each have their distinct traits that make them more effective in some areas over others.

    Using multiple variants of epoxy resin is rare but sometimes necessary. In these situations, it's often recommended that a topcoat of extra-strong Table Top Epoxy be applied at the end to provide utmost protection.

Let's take a closer look at each of these aspects.

A large, thick wooden epoxy table top in a kitchen.

Aspect #1: Types of Epoxy Project

A project type refers to what you're using the epoxy for. Examples include epoxy bar tops, chairs, table tops, stools, benches, resin coasters, and wall art.

While your project type can be more specific, these are the basics. Each type of project may require a particular epoxy. For instance, a standard epoxy countertop is best suited for our Primaloc Bar & Table Top Epoxy, while a river table typically needs a deep pour coating of our Deep Pour Epoxy to create the characteristic "river" effect.

Generally, a good table top epoxy is sufficient for most surfaces, but it's not designed for deep layers. While you can apply multiple layers of table top epoxy, each additional layer increases the risk of imperfections and extends the time required. Therefore, it's better to use the appropriate resin for the task.

If you're unsure which type of resin your project requires, you can contact us for expert assistance.

A commercial epoxy bar top in a large restaurant.

Aspect #2: Methods for Coating with Epoxy

There are several methods for coating epoxy, with each serving particular functions. We'll discuss 3 of these methods, which are overwhelmingly the types used for epoxy projects.

The three most common coating methods are:

  • Epoxy Seal Coating
  • Epoxy Flood Coating
  • Epoxy Deep Pour Coating

#1: Epoxy Seal Coating

An epoxy seal coat is a thin layer of epoxy resin manually applied to a surface, usually with a high-quality paint brush that doesn't shed bristles.

The purpose of a seal coat is to fill in the tiny grooves and holes on porous substrate surfaces, such as wood. These surfaces can trap air in their pores. When an epoxy flood coat is applied, it tends to seep into these holes and push the air out. However, due to the thickness and viscosity of the epoxy, the air being pushed out often gets trapped within the epoxy resin, forming air bubbles.

While air bubbles can be removed as part of the standard epoxy process, fewer bubbles make the task easier and reduce the chances of missing any.

To prevent air bubbles, an epoxy seal coat is typically applied before any other coating. This thin layer seeps into the pores, allowing the air to escape and preventing bubble formation.

An epoxy seal coat is usually applied and left to cure for at least 4 hours, but no more than 10 hours.

Learn more about epoxy seal coats in our Primaloc Basics guide.

#2: Epoxy Flood Coating

An epoxy flood coat is the main layer in most epoxy projects. This type of application involves mixing a large batch of epoxy resin and pouring it onto the surface.

Many table top epoxies are self-leveling, meaning they spread out until they reach their natural thickness. This is typically the advertised layer depth for that epoxy resin.

For example, our premium Primaloc Bar & Table Top Epoxy has a thickness of 1/8 inch, while many other brands are thinner at 1/16 inch.

#3: Epoxy Deep Pour Coating

A deep pour coat of epoxy is a thick layer created with deep pour epoxy, a distinct resin with much lower viscosity compared to table top epoxies. While less durable, deep pour epoxies can be poured in much thicker layers—up to 1 or even 2 inches deep.

Deep pour epoxy is typically used for projects that specifically require it, such as epoxy river tables, pure epoxy table tops, or certain types of resin art. If your project doesn't need a very thick layer, it's usually best to use conventional table top epoxy, which offers the highest level of protection and durability.

Our premium Primaloc Deep Pour Epoxy is unmatched in layer thickness and finish clarity.

Learn more about Deep Pour Epoxy in our guide here.

A deep pour epoxy bar top with an blue-tinted, ocean-themed epoxy finish.

Aspect #3: Variants of Epoxy Resin

After you've figured out the type of project you're interested in and have learned about the different coating methods, you'll finally need to decide which epoxy resin variants are right for your project.

There are two types of epoxy resin typically employed in DIY or commercial projects for bars and restaurants.

These types are table top epoxy and deep pour epoxy.

Table Top Epoxy

This is the strongest type of clear epoxy available. Not only is it the default choice for most epoxy projects, which only require a singular coating, but it's also exceptional as a topcoating option for deep pour projects.

Standard bar tops, countertops, and table tops are examples of what table top epoxy is used for.

Deep Pour Epoxy

A specialized type of epoxy resin designed for pouring in thick layers. This type of epoxy is ideal for projects that need deep, thick layers such as those which make up the "river vein" in river tables, as well as for deep casting in resin molds.

River tables, pure epoxy table tops, and resin art are typical projects that may require deep pour epoxy.

A wooden epoxy river table with an opaque, black-tinted epoxy river vein.

Primaloc Epoxy: Premium Epoxy for Premium Results

With our premium Bar & Table Top Epoxy and our Deep Pour Epoxy, Primaloc gets the job done. Our epoxy resins are premium-grade, with high performance in every category, including:

  • Unmatched Strength: A Primaloc finish won't buckle, even under high pressure.
  • Long-Lasting Resilience: Primaloc epoxy lasts for many years with minimal care, and can endure high-traffic environments with ease.
  • A Crystal-Clear Coating: With its pristine, transparent appearance, looking at a cured Primaloc coating is like peering through a window.

Epoxy resin can be beautiful, strong, and long-lasting—which is why you shouldn't compromise on quality. With Primaloc Epoxy Resin, you get the ultimate finish in durability and visual appeal.

Protect your surfaces by giving them a rock-solid epoxy finish. Choose strong. Choose reliable. Choose Primaloc.

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