ESSENTIAL STEPS TO ENSURE SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION

1. Inspection : Allow new cement at least 28 days to cure. All surfaces must be dry. Check the cement floor for conditions that might interfere with proper adhesion; such as moisture, loose crumbling cement, cement dust, floated or shiny cement floors, sealed cement, release agents, curing compounds, salts, efflorescence and laitance, dust, oil and grease.

2. Surface Preparation :

          a.  a. Etching : All floated or shiny cement should be etched with Duram Showfloor Cement Etcher.

          b.  b. Cleaning : All surfaces must be sound, clean and free of oil and grease. Use Duram Showfloor Cleaner & Degreaser if necessary.

3. Priming : All surfaces must be primed with Duram Showfloor Cement Floor Primer to aid adhesion and resist the alkalinity inherent in cement.

4. Testing the topcoat : Always apply a test patch of Duram Showfloor Polyurethane Floor Paint to ensure the substrate has been properly prepared and primed. Check adhesion of the coating by cutting a small X in the coating using a sharp utility knife. Firmly apply a piece of packaging tape over the centre of the X cut, then pull off with a fast snap. The adhesion is suitable if no significant coating is removed beyond the X cut. If the coating fails this test, then additional surface preparation is required - repeat the above steps.

CEMENT CURING

Allow new cement at least 28 days to cure. All surfaces must be dry.

PREPARATION

Ensure all substrates are thoroughly clean, sound, dry and free from any contaminants such as dirt, salt, algae and grease.

•           Unpainted cement:

• Perform a moisture test : All cement contains moisture but excessive moisture will affect adhesion and cause blistering. Test for excessive moisture by taping a clear plastic sheet (approximately 30cm x 30cm) to an area on the cement – the taping must create an airtight seal between the concrete and the plastic sheet. Leave it for 24 hours and check the underside of the plastic. If water droplets or a darkening of the cement is detected under the plastic, then moisture is present and the surface cannot be painted. Leave the cement to cure for another 7 days, then re-test. Painting should continue only after the moisture is removed, along with the source of moisture being determined and eliminated. If there is no damp-course beneath the cement, rising damp caused by a very shallow water-table can cause delamination of the Showfloor system. 
• Check for loose, crumbling cement and cement dust : All loose cement and dust must be removed. Repair damaged and crumbly areas with suitable screeding products, however crumbling and dusting may be symptomatic of poorly cured cement which cannot be painted. Apply a 0,5m² test patch of Duram Showfloor Cement Floor Primer and Duram Showfloor Polyurethane Floor Paint as per instructions and test adhesion after 7 days.
• Floated or shiny cement floors : Must be etched using Duram Showfloor Cement Etcher as per instructions.
• Sealed cement : Some floors have been finished with a clear sealer. Test for a sealer by lightly sprinkling water onto the surface. If the water beads and does not penetrate then a sealant is present and paint may not adhere properly. Use Duram Showfloor Cement Etcher as per instructions to remove the sealer. If the etching process does not foam, then it is necessary to remove the sealer with abrasive blasting.
• Release agents, curing compounds, salts, efflorescence and laitance* : must be removed with Duram Showfloor Cement Etcher as per instructions.
• Dust, oil and grease : The floor should be clean, structurally sound and free of dust, oil and grease. Clean the floor with Duram Showfloor Cleaner & Degreaser as per instructions, rinse with water and allow to dry completely. The Showfloor system is not recommended in instances where there is significant oil contamination where the grease and oil has been heavily impregnated into the concrete. •

• Previously painted cement:
  • Loose paint : If the paint is peeling and flaking, or can be easily removed with a paint scraper then the previous paint needs to be removed.
  • Smooth, hard or glossy painted surfaces : Such as an oil based enamel or stoep paint, these should be dulled by abrading the surface with medium grit sandpaper. In the case of an Epoxy coating, even more careful abrading and dulling is needed. Apply a test area of the Duram Showfloor Cement Floor Primer and Duram Showfloor Polyurethane Floor Paint as per instructions and test adhesion after 7 days. If adhesion is poor, additional abrading is necessary.
  • Sound condition : If the paint is in a sound condition with good adhesion, then clean the surface with Duram Showfloor Cleaner & Degreaser as per instructions. 
  • Dust, oil and grease : The floor should be clean, structurally sound and free of dust, oil and grease. Clean the floor with Duram Showfloor Cleaner & Degreaser as per instructions, rinse with water and allow to dry completely. The Showfloor system is not recommended in instances where there is significant oil contamination where the grease and oil has been heavily impregnated into the concrete.

*Laitance : a hard, solid layer that forms on the surface of concrete.

• PRIME : APPLICATION OF THE PRIMER 
  • All unpainted or previously painted cement floors must be primed with Duram Showfloor Cement Floor Primer to aid adhesion and resist the alkalinity inherent in cement.
  • Stir Showfloor Cement Floor Primer well.
  • Apply with a mohair roller or brush.
  • Showfloor Cement Floor Primer appears slightly blue but dries to a clear, natural look.
  • Allow the primer to dry completely for approximately 3 hours depending on the room temperature. A clear layer should be visible once dried.
  • If the cement floor is porous, the primer will be absorbed into the cement and a clear layer won’t be visible. In this instance, apply a second coat of the primer to achieve this clear layer.
  • Allow the primer to dry completely before over-coating with Duram Showfloor Polyurethane Floor Paint. 
  • Important: Apply Showfloor Polyurethane Floor Paint as soon as possible to prevent possible re-contamination of the substrate.

PROTECT

Apply Duram Showfloor Polyurethane Floor Paint as per instructions.

CLEANING

Hands and equipment are easily cleaned in water. Collect spills with suitable absorbent material.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

• Skin contact : Wash thoroughly with soap and water
• Eye Contact : Flush immediately with water for 10 - 15 minutes and contact a physician.
• Respiratory problems : Remove affected person to fresh air immediately and contact a physician.
• Not for internal consumption