Paints & Coatings


Keeping paint on the floor


One of several common problems concerning floor paints is the floor paint being slow drying or not drying. Other problems include the paint lifting off the floor or the paint flaking and some areas wearing prematurely.


The object of this article is to help prevent such problems occurring, to ensure the right preparation is done, the correct coating is selected and correctly applied.


THE CORRECT COATING


• What sort of traffic will the floor experience? Is it foot and light hand truck or vehicular (eg. regular fork truck)?


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• What colour is required? • • •


How long must the coating last? What is expected of it? Is a slip resistant finish desirable or essential?


Are solvents and oil spilt onto the surface?


Is it regularly washed down and what is it washed with - just water or cleaning solvents?


Single pack air drying paints are the most commonly used, they consist of a single tin which is stirred, then applied and dries by solvent evaporation followed by further curing over several days. They are easy to apply but vary in quality and durability. Of increasing significance are single pack water based products which dry faster given good warm, dry and well ventilated condition.


Two pack epoxy which is commonly used in industrial and commercial areas. Low organic solvent content and high film builds can be obtained which are suitable for fork lift and truck traffic.


Single pack products are cheaper, easy to use and suitable for domestic, foot and light truck use. Two pack products are more expensive, considerably more durable but require more careful application. Generally speaking commercial and professional application is advisable.


• PREPARATION


It is true to say that the ideal preparation of a floor should be the same, no matter which type of product is used but in practice, where cost and time are involved, preparation becomes increasingly important when the more sophisticated and expensive coatings are used, as a failure of these coatings would result in considerably increased costs.


• •


The majority of floors are coated with concrete. The concrete must be ‘dry’ and that means it should be at least 3 months old or have a moisture content of less than 14%.


Power floated, smooth, or granolithic floors must be etched prior to painting. This can be done chemically using ‘Acid Etch’ type products and or mechanically with industrial abrading machines or shot blasting machines.


• Residual laitance and salts brought to the surface of a concrete floor by the drying process must be removed. This can be done using Acid Etch type products or light shot blasting. Don’t be put off by shot blasting especially when two pack products are used. The process using the correct equipment in professional hands is not as messy or expensive as it sounds and will leave a clean and prepared surface suitable for painting.


• Remove grease and oil using a suitable degreaser. •


Check the compatibility of the proposed coating with existing paint. If in any doubt the previous coating will have to be removed. For instance, over coating a single pack floor paint with a more expensive two pack product will often result in the two pack coating breaking the bond between the floor and the original paint. The result will be the failure of the whole floor paint system. It is also important to check for any reaction between one single pack product from another.


COO-VAR LTD • • •


Ensure the concrete does not have pits or cracks where the paint can form pools. This will result in a skin forming over the pool and the paint underneath will stay wet for a long time.


Do not apply the paint too thickly as this will again impair the drying process. Read the coverage guide on the instructions.


Always thoroughly stir the paint - especially when using aggregated coatings.


Slow speed mechanical stirrers such as a variable speed drill and paint paddles should be used when mixing two pack coatings.


APPLICATION •


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Ensure the correct conditions of temperature, ventilation & humidity exist both during and after the paint has been applied.


Apply the coating by the selected method to the correct film thickness.


• Work in a systematic manner especially when using two pack products. Remember that they have a limited pot life. A tea break at the wrong time could be disastrous. Ensure you stick to the manufacturer’s overcoat times.


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Most floor coatings will dry in 12 to 24 hours but their full cure will be achieved over several days. Check this carefully and inform the client to ensure they are aware.


If stringent controls and difficult circumstances exist when painting a floor the client needs to be informed of any problems that may occur and how it will effect the coatings long term performance. There’s no point buying the most expensive durable, chemical resistant coating if you are not given time to prepare the surface and apply the product properly.


TEL: 01482 320583 15


WWW.COO-VAR.CO.UK


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