Frequently Asked Questions – General

Answers to the most frequently asked questions

General Questions:

  1. How dry does the concrete have to be?
  2. How many days of dry weather do I need?
  3. How long after a rain before our products can be applied over a horizontal or vertical surface.
  4. What is the minimum recommend slope angle?
  5. How long does a concrete substrate need to cure prior to coating?
  6. Do I really need a primer?
  7. How long does it take for our primers to cure in colder temperatures?
  8. Which primer is correct for my substrate?
  9. Do I need to shot-blast the surface? Why?
  10. Why do I need to do both?
  11. Can I acid etch the concrete?
  12. Can I thin the materials?
  13. Can I mix different materials together?
  14. What equipment do I need to apply your materials?
  15. Can I add solvent to the material?
  16. Can I use someone else’s caulk? Primer? Basecoat?
  17. What caused my deck to bubble or blister?
  18. What caused my coating to have pinholes?
  19. Can I apply 2 coats in the same day?
  20. Can I leave the base coat exposed for a few weeks before apply the next coat?
  21. Can Elasto-Deck BT be top coated, or left exposed to UV?
  22. Can you install tile directly over Elasto-Deck BT?
  23. Can the Elasto-Deck BT or Elasto-Mat D&G be applied on a vertical wall to a DFT (Dry Film Thickness) of 60 mils in a single coat?
  24. Can your product be sprayed?
  25. How many years will my traffic coating last?
  26. Can your deck coatings be used in or around a pool?

Answers to the General Questions:

  1. Concrete should have less than 15% moisture. If moisture content is from around 7% to 15%, Pacific Polymers® Elasto-Poxy Primer VOC MUST be used.
  2. We recommend five days of dry weather to coat and cure, but with rainproof covering, work may be completed in wet weather, as long as the surface is completely dry before each coat.
  3. When the moisture content of the substrate is at or below 15%. The use of Elasto-Poxy Primer VOC may be needed for some applications.
  4. An average of 1/16” per ft. (1/8″ min. for wood).
  5. Concrete must be allowed to cure for a minimum of 28 days.
  6. Primers are not needed on new, clean exterior grade plywood. Otherwise, condition of the substrate and products used will dictate whether a primer is needed.
  7. At ideal application temperatures (70° F and a RH-Relative Humidity) of 50% standard cure times are 1.5-2 hours, cooler temperatures could add an additional 1-3 hours to primer cure times.
  8. Click link to “Primers At a Glance
  9. Shot-blasting will remove contaminants as well as provide a good profile. It is not always needed, however.
  10. Substrate conditions will again determine whether you need to both shot-blast and prime.
  11. Acid etching is acceptable in many cases, if done properly and the surface is neutralized prior to coating.
  12. Thinning is not generally recommended as most materials are supplied in ready to use form. Thinners are only used when specifically suggested and approved by the manufacturer of the coating.
  13. Different materials must not be mixed together. Each is designed and manufactured to do a specific job as supplied.
  14. Products are applied in many cases by spray, brush, roller, trowel etc., depending upon viscosity, rates of application and so on.
  15. As in thinning, adding solvent is not usually required, or recommended.
  16. We do not recommend intermingling other brand materials with our systems.
  17. Bubbling or blistering may be caused by moisture in the substrate, high temperature of substrate, or air having been whipped into the material during the mixing operation.
  18. Pinholes can be caused by minute contaminations on the surface of the substrate as well as air in a concrete substrate.
  19. Many products require 16-24 hours between coats, however in some cases our Pacific Polymers® Elasto-Deck 6500 can be re-coated in the same day.
  20. Our aromatic base coat (Pacific Polymers® Elasto-Deck-5001NG) should not be left uncoated for more than a few weeks. The sooner it is top-coated after cure, the better.
  21. Elasto-Deck BT (Elasto-Deck BT H2O or Elasto-Mat D&G) is not designed for direct UV exposure and it cannot be top coated.
  22. Not directly, typical application would be membrane applied over a plywood or concrete substrate with a protection course, mortar float for slope or rigidity, thinset then tile. For a direct thinset to membrane application use Elasto-Deck 5500. (With sand broadcast finish)
  23. No, not recommended. Finished applications thicknesses of 60, 90 or 120 mils (DFT) should be applied in 30 (DFT) applications per coat (42 sqft per gallon or 35 mils (WFT -Wet Film Thickness) per coat.
    Note: For Horizontal applications Elasto-Deck BT H2O (Water catalyzed) can be in 30, 45, and 60 mil DFT applications in a single pass.
  24. Yes, it can be sprayed. Click link to “Spraying Elasto-Deck BT”. However, squeegee, trowel, back rolling and brush applications have proven to be less problematic with less issue like pin holes, blisters, or uneven thicknesses.
  25. Typically to 10-15 years or longer with periodic maintenance coatings and proper care. (At 3-5 year intervals)
  26. No-Polyurethanes coating and sealants can be attacked and broken by chlorine exposure.