Solutions for Time Sensitive
Commercial Jobs
By Daniel Owen, Vice President of APF
In today's fast paced construction industry,
it can be a juggling act to balance your customer's time line with what can realistically be achieved. This is an issue we deal with constantly. I don't know if there is one week that goes by that we are not working to customize a fast turnaround system to meet a specific project time table. More often than not the end users time table is unrealilistic. This is the hard part, it is up to us: APF as the supplier and you as the contractor to protect the end user from themselves. We are the specialty flooring experts, not them. Too often I see my customers that have a project go south because they let the end user put them into a timeline that unrealistic.
Some of the factors that can contribute to a fast track getting out of control are a failure to accurately assess the amount of time, tools and labor to prepare the floor. Under estimating or not having access to the proper amount of skilled labor to successfully execute the project in the time agreed to can cause issues. Last but definitely not least pushing the limits of what the materials can truly do. For example if your technical data sheet says that the coating will be ready for light traffic in six hours, plan for nine. Give you self some wiggle room. There are many factors that can affect how fast or how slow the coating will cure such as, temperature, humidity and film thickness. The better your understanding of the coatings you have at your disposal the more likely you will be to plan a successful project.
It is my goal to help you gain a better understanding of the coatings that APF has to offer to deal with these challenging applications.Epoxy 400 Fast Cure: This is our low viscosity general purpose 100% solids resin. Suitable for applications that do not require a high chemical resistance. It can be used as thin film coating or as the binder in aggregate filled systems such as, slurries and mortars. At 77 degrees F the cure schedule is as follows.
- Dry to Touch..........3 hours
- Light Traffic............6 hours
- Full Cure...............5 days
Epoxy 600 Fast Cure: This is our chemical resistant, 100% solids resin. Suitable for applications such as dairies, breweries, commercial kitchens and battery charging rooms or anywhere you need a coating with very good resistance to harsh chemicals. It can be used as a thin film coating or as the binder in aggregate filled systems such as, slurries and mortars. At 77 degrees F the cure schedule is as follows.
- Dry to Touch........3 hours
- Light Traffic..........6 hours
- Full Cure...............5 days
Low Temperature Epoxy (LTE): This coating was originally designed for cold damp applications and will cure down to 20 degrees F. Its ability to cure extremely fast at room temperature and bond well to damp concrete has made it an indispensable tool for any fast turnaround project. Special care must be taken when planning your project because this material has a very short pot life at room temperature. It can be used as thin film coating or as the binder in aggregate filled systems such as, slurries and mortars. At 77 degrees F the cure schedule is as follows.
- Dry to Touch .........90 minutes
- Light Traffic ...........2-3 hours
- Full Cure................3 days
Polyurea 5001: This coating is 95% solids pigmented Polyaspartic/Polyurea hybrid. The 5001 has excellent adhesion to concrete and good chemical and abrasion resistance. This makes it particularly suitable for use as a primer and finish coat in aircraft hangers, garage floors and automotive service facilities anywhere a U.V stable high gloss fast cure coating is required. At 77 degrees F the cure schedule is as follows.
- Dry to Touch...........................1 hour
- Light Traffic............................ 2 hours
- Vehicle Traffic.........................24 hours
- Full Chemical Resistance........72 hours
Polyurea 5000 Fast Cure: This is a 92% solids clear Polyaspartic/Polyurea hybrid. The 5000 is designed as a high performance clear topcoat for use over color chip, color quartz floors or anywhere you need a U.V stable high gloss fast cure coating. At 77 degrees F the cure schedule is as follows.
- Dry to Touch..........................2 hours
- Light Traffic............................6 hours
- Vehicle Traffic........................24 hours
- Full Chemical Resistance.......72 hours
These are just some examples of coatings that we offer for fast turnaround projects. I encourage you to contact us the next time you have a challenging project. Here at APF we pride ourselves on having a comprehensive understanding our industry and we are proud to share our knowledge with our customers.
