Yellowing
Does epoxy resin turn yellow?
In time, yes. Sunlight is the main cause in cured epoxy. UV stabilisers slow it; they don't stop it. White and pale colours show it first, and a worktop, table or floor in strong sun yellows fastest.
Free, no obligation. One local resin specialist prices it, not five.
Why
Why it yellows
- Sunlight. UV light breaks down the cured polymer, and yellowing is the first sign.
- White pigment. The titanium dioxide in white colours can yellow, whatever the brand.
- Old hardener. Hardener yellows in the bottle once it's opened and meets the air. Old kits pour yellow from day one.
What helps
What slows it
- A resin with UV stabilisers: it slows it, it doesn't stop it.
- Out of direct sun: blinds on a south-facing kitchen window.
- A darker or stronger colour, or a marble or metallic effect, which hides it.
- A UV-stable polyurethane topcoat over an epoxy floor where sun falls on it.
- Outside, polyurethane, not epoxy.
Fixing it
Can yellowing be fixed?
Not by cleaning: it's in the resin. A yellowed surface can be sanded and recoated, which is one reason a poured worktop or table outlasts its first finish.
The DIY check
DIY or hire a pro?
Three taps: the project, the size and how much epoxy you've used. You get an honest verdict, the reasons and what a specialist charges.
Hire a pro
One for a specialist
- It's one pour over the whole worktop: level, edges and sink cut-outs have to be right first time.
- It needs a warm room (24 to 30°C is ideal) for the first day, and about a week before full use.
- Most table-top epoxies start to soften at 38 to 54°C, so it's a surface for trivets, not hot pans.
A poured epoxy worktop: about €540 to €840 a m². A resin coat over your existing worktop: about €300 to €480 a m².
Send this for a real priceHow this is worked out
Anything you walk on, cook on or shower against, at any real size, is a specialist job: the preparation, the cure and the waterproofing decide whether it lasts. Small pieces are what DIY kits are made for. Experience moves a borderline job, never a shower wall or a commercial floor. Prices are our price guide; your written price comes from the specialist.
FAQ
Questions people ask
Does all epoxy go yellow?
In time and in light, yes. Stabilisers slow it; they don't stop it.
Does epoxy yellow indoors?
More slowly, but yes, especially near a sunny window.
Can yellow epoxy be fixed?
Sanded back and recoated. Cleaning won't shift it.
Free quote
What's your resin project?
Six taps and your mobile number. It goes to one local resin specialist who covers your county, who rings you to ask the rest and gives you a written price.
Keep reading
Related guides
- Epoxy vs resin bound drivewaysTwo different resins, two different jobs.
- Epoxy resin worktopsPoured worktops and resin over the one you have, and what each costs.
- Resin tablesRiver tables and bespoke resin pieces, and who makes them.
- How long epoxy resin lastsFloors, garages, worktops and driveways, in years.
Every project, every guide
Services
Get a free quote for your resin project
Six taps and your mobile. One local resin specialist who covers your county rings you with a price. Nothing is agreed until you accept it.