Epoxy resin is a magnificent material. It's strong, durable, and beautiful, with a transparent appearance and a rock-solid glasslike finish.

But how does epoxy fare with different levels of heat? Is epoxy heat resistant? These are important questions about a material that is commonly used on bar tops, kitchen countertops, and dining tables.

In this article, we'll be explaining how low and high heat effect epoxy, as well as providing some tips how to easily avoid heat damage, so you can keep your epoxy finish looking good as new.

High-Quality Epoxy Handles Heat Well

There are many different claims about epoxy resin's ability to handle heat, some which are absurd (500°F?—not likely!), and some which simply underestimate what a good epoxy can withstand.

Let's try to clear things up a bit.

Medium-To-Low Levels of Heat (At or Below 135°F)

Yes, epoxy resin is indeed relatively heat resistant.

At moderate or lower levels of heat, a high-quality epoxy resin performs quite well. Once cured, an epoxy finish will reliably handle up to 135°F without any issues. This is quite high for most purposes, and—as a reference point—is more than enough to cause a person severe burns after a few seconds. In other words, this is a heat level that's already well beyond what you'll typically encounter.

As long as your epoxy finish is within this range—while the surface may warm up quickly, it won't deform or soften.

High Levels of Heat (135°F+)

At heat levels higher than 135°F, epoxy will start to gradually soften. The higher the temperature, the faster this occurs. If the heat level is extremely high, it can cause severe distortion in the finish and irreversible heat damage almost immediately. Thus, it's essential to make sure you don't place anything at such high heat directly onto your epoxy resin surface.

For hot cooking equipment such as pots and pans, you can use trivets to protect your finish. Trivets are small objects that help prevent heat damage; instead of placing your hot items directly on the hard surface, you place them on the trivet. Instead of transferring directly into the epoxy finish, the heat will be dispersed by the trivet due to its shape and material.

Similarly, for things like hot cups and bowls of food that haven't finished cooling, you can use trivets or coasters, which can also adequately delay heat transfer to prevent any potential for damage.

The Brand of Epoxy Resin You Choose Matters

Nowadays, there are many epoxy resin brands being sold. Some are high-quality, but many are not. It's important to remember that while epoxy resin can handle quite a lot of heat, that's only if it's well-made epoxy.

Unfortunately, many producers cut corners on the quality of their resin to make more money. Cheap fillers and additives can lead to a soft or brittle epoxy finish, susceptible to all types of damage, including heat.

To avoid this, always use an epoxy resin from a trusted, reputable source. This will ensure you get the product you're ordering, and not a cheap substitute.

At Primaloc, our Premium Epoxy Resin is designed to last, capable of enduring heavy usage in rough, high-traffic environments. You can bet we don't compromise on quality—and that includes in our quality assurance testing for heat resistance.

How Do You Fix Epoxy With Heat Damage?

There's no quick-and-easy fix for heat-damaged epoxy. The best thing you can do is be prudent to avoid it. Use trivets and coasters, and don't put hot things directly on the surface.

That being said, it is possible to restore your finish. Let's talk about how.

For epoxy with light, surface-level heat damage:

1. Give the epoxy a light sanding. This should smooth the surface out a bit.
2. Rub the surface of your epoxy with some acetone.
3. Wait about 30 minutes, then manually apply a fresh seal coat to the damaged areas.
4. Wait about 4 to 6 more hours, then apply a fresh flood coat of epoxy to your project. This should refresh the finish and make it look like new.

For epoxy with deep and heavy heat damage:

If the damage is severe, you may have to redo the entire finish.

1. Begin by heavily sanding the epoxy surface. You'll need to remove most of the flood coat, clearing away the damaged areas. Once the surface is smooth, continue to step 2.
2. Rub the surface of your epoxy with some acetone. This will prepare it for a fresh seal coat.
3. Wait 30 minutes, then apply a fresh seal coat of epoxy to the project.
4. Wait about 4 to 6 more hours, then apply a fresh flood coat of epoxy to your project. If handled properly, you'll have a finish looking good as new.

Keep in mind that while this should work for most cases, it won't apply to every scenario. Sometimes the damage is too immense to repair.

Primaloc Epoxy: Premium Epoxy for Premium Results

When it comes to epoxy resin, Primaloc Epoxy gets the job done. Our epoxy resin is premium-grade, with high performance in heat resistance.

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.