ShowFloor

Essentialsteps to Ensure Successful Application

 

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.

Surface Preparation:

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

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

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

CURING

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

 

PR EPARATION

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 effect 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 pr