Alta Paints Featured Product: MAPEI Self-Leveling Floors

Primer L -  Advanced-Technology Acrylic Latex Primer for Concrete
Primer L is a concentrated, solvent-free acrylic primer used before the installation of underlayment materials.  Use Primer L on a properly prepared and profiled concrete surface at 3:1 ratio ( 2 or more coats may be required).   

Primer E - High-Performance, Low Viscosity 100% Solids Epoxy Primer
Primer E is the most effective method for bonding to nonporous substrates before installing self-leveling underlayments or toppings subject to high stress.  Primer E is highly recommended for all installations of decorative toppings (such as Ultraplan M20 Plus and Ultratop), which demand the highest degree of crack resistance and surface finish.

Planiseal EMB    Premium Epoxy Moisture Barrier for Concrete Substrates
Use as a moisture barrier for concrete subfloors with MVERs up to 20 lbs. per sq. ft. per 24 hours or up to 95% relative humidity.  Primer E is then used as recommended for MAPEI self-leveling products.

Novoplan Easy - Easy preparation, self-leveling underlayment
Novoplan Easy is and economical self-leveling underlayment.  Novoplan Easy is not a wearing surface and must have surface coating (Tile, Natural Stone, Carpet, Vinyl, and Engineered Wood Planking).  1/8” to 1” lifts.
               
Ultraplan M20 Plus - Quick-Setting, Self-Leveling Concrete Topping and Underlayment.
Ultraplan M20 Plus is a self-leveling, self-drying topping, based on High-Hydrated Cement Technology (HCT™).  It is specially formulated for the resurfacing and restoration of interior horizontal surfaces.  Can apply stain or coating in 24 hours.  Prime with Primer E as recommended.  Can be applied in 1/8” to 2” lifts. 

Ultratop - High-Performance, Quick-Setting, Self-Leveling Concrete Topping
Ultratop is a self-leveling, self-drying topping, based on High-Hydrated Cement Technology (HCT™), that is specially formulated for fast-track resurfacing and construction of interior horizontal wear surfaces.  Can be stained or Polished in 24 hours.  Prime with Primer E as recommended.  Can be applied in ¼” to 2” lifts.

Data sheets are available through Alta Paints and Coat and/or www.mapei.com

My Epoxy is not Curing. Is it a Defective Product?

Although you can never rule out 100%, seldom is the curing the result of defective product yet it is first to be blamed when something goes wrong.  Most of the time it is the result of the conditions at the time of application and/or the mixing of the material.  Too often, the data sheet is consulted after the problem exists.

The conditions that effect cure are as follows but are not limited to:

• Air and surface temperatures
• Humidity
• Moisture content of the concrete is too high for product recommendation.
• Conditions effecting cure due to improper mixing and/or application but not limited to:
• Not mixing each of the components separately before mixing together.
• Not mixing the components together or leaving one of the components out.
• Not mixing the correct product together.
• Not allowing proper induction or sweat times (if applicable).
• Coating film is too thick.
• Stir sticking vs. mechanically mixing.
• Turning the mixing bucket upside down near the end of the coating to let all the product drip out.
• Old product that has been stored.  Is the product within its shelf life and how has it been stored if not newly purchased?  Don’t mix old material with new if over 6 months old and/or it has been through a freeze.

Consult the Product Data Sheet on the materials being used prior to the application.  Knowledge is everything.

What is Efflorescence and How Do I Get Rid of It?

Efflorescence

Two conditions must be present to create efflorescence:

1. A source of water soluble salts.

2. Water moving through the material to carry the salts to the surface.  Water evaporates and leaves the white powder behind.

Efflorescence is a process not a thing.  The process is actually water transporting any substance that it can carry to the surface.  Substance can be a wide range of things such as iron oxides, concrete additives but usually water soluble salts.

There are two types of Efflorescence
1. Powdery - Result of water traveling though the concrete and evaporating on the surface leaving behind the powdery residue.

2. Crystalline - Occurs when powdery efflorescence is re-emulsified with water creating tightly bonded crystals on the surface.  This is more difficult to remove and may require light sand blasting.
   
Removal of efflorescence can be as easy as applying a phosphoric acid to the surface.  However, if the source of the water penetration is not addresses, efflorescence may reappear.  In more server cases, light sand blasting may be required.

What is saponification?

Saponification is a chemical reaction that occurs when oil product is mixed with an alkali.  The byproduct is soap ( The root word “sapo” in Latin is soap).

Alkyd-type coatings that are applied to galvanized metal (zinc) fail because the corrosion products of zinc are alkaline.  Alkyd-modified coatings are very sensitive to alkalinity and a saponification reaction occurs at the zinc-alkyd interface. Check with your Product Data Sheet (PDS) for compatibility to galvanizing.

 
                   Image Source: www.kta.com

How many square feet will I get out of 100% solids epoxy?

At 100% solids by volume (SBV) a coating will cover 1604 square feet at 1 mil.  This is usually rounded off to 1600 for simplification (see Table #1 Proof). By taking the require mil thickness and dividing it into 1600, you will get the square foot per gallon.  For instance, let’s say the coating calls out to be 10 mils thick:

1600 ÷ 10 mil = 160 ’ per gallon

Let’s say you don’t have 100% solids, now what?  Just give up. No, let’s take a product that is a 95% solid.

1600 (100% SBV) x 95% = 1520 (95% SBV)

Now take the (95% SBV) and plug it into the same formula

1520 ÷ 10 mil = 152 ’ per gallon

Table #1 Proof                      

 1 gallon + 231 in³=

 231 in³ = 231 ” @ 1000 mils

 231 ” ÷ by 144 ” per ’ = 1.604 ’ @ 1000 mils

1.604    x 1000 = 1604 mils ’ per gallon


Symbol Key:   ” = square inch

                         ’ = square feet

                        in³ = cubed inches