How to Make the Most of Short Pot Life in Polyaspartic Floor Coating- Whether you need a sustainable coating for your garage or commercial flooring, polyaspartic is a superior choice. It is a hybrid material similar to polyurethane used for its anti-corrosion properties. It is also used as an alternative to epoxy in commercial and industrial floorings.
Polyaspartic floor coating has desirable properties like chemical resistance, aesthetic value, and abrasion resistance. However, despite all these advantages, they come with a short pot life.
As a result, the coating may dry even before the application, and hence, installation can be tricky. You can make it easy by following the right approach. Here are a few tricks that can help.
Choose the Right Solids Content
Both polyurea and polyaspartic coating materials come with varying degrees of solids content. It can range from 70-100% in different materials. The pot life is inversely related to the solids content. It means the pot life will be longer in the particles with low solids. However, it does not affect the curing time of the coating.
The coating having more solvents provides lesser initial viscosity, which in turn needs more time to reach unusable viscosity for covering more ground.
Check the Amount of Moisture
The pot life of the polyaspartic coating also depends on the amount of moisture or humidity on the surface or environment. If you expose mixed polyaspartic to high humidity, the pot life will be smaller. Water or humidity leads to fast curing. So, when applying polyaspartic floor coating, check the level of moisture before it catches you off guard.
For example, a floor with a relative humidity of 50% will be easier to deal with in comparison to the floor, with the humidity exceeding 80%. When moisture is high, the coating can lose its bond and start peeling off. Hence, it’s better to be prepared and coat the surface accordingly to avoid surprises down the road. Install a moisture barrier to deal with this issue and to enhance the pot life of your coating material. Consider installing a humidifier. It maintains the level of humidity in a given space and can help keep the area consistent. Check out the other benefits of humidifiers below!
Infographic Provided by American Residential Services
Ensure Quick Installation
You can extend the effectiveness of polyaspartic coating on the floor by mixing smaller batches of the product. Also, mix them often to keep them applicable. Like any other coating material, frequent mixing will ensure even and quick application. Since the product cures faster than any other coating material, you can follow a mixing regimen after every 10 minutes.
Roll the material thoroughly and leave it after application. You can avoid roller lines with quick installation. If you are adding color chips or quartz to the coating, try making it fast as well. Most importantly, rolling and broadcasting of additional materials should take place at a distance of 2-3 feet.
How to Apply Polyaspartic Coating for Extended Pot Life
After checking the moisture levels of the floor and installing a barrier, you need a speedy process to apply polyaspartic floor coating. The material has the consistency and appearance of water with a short pot life. Hence, pour thin ribbons of the material on the floor and spread them evenly using the roller.
The coating will dry up in less than an hour to add another layer. The stuff dries rapidly, so make all preparations in advance to prevent a dried up bucket before completing the application.
With these tips, you can make the most of the short pot life of polyaspartic coating.
