How to Read Lot Numbers

The “Lot:” number is what we use to record the date of product manufacture.

Example: 180219303

  • The first two digits (18) is the year of manufacture (2018)
  • The next two digits (02) is the month of manufacture (February)
  • The next two digits (19) is the day of the month of manufacture (19th)
  • The next digit (3) is our inter-company plant number
  • The last two digits (03) represents the product batch of that specific day

Frequently Asked Questions – General

Answers to the most frequently asked questions

General Questions:

  1. What should be the Concrete strength, cure time, and moisture content.?
  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 surfaces? (Concrete and Wood).
  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. Prior to the application of primer and/or coatings, concrete shall be water-cured and attain a minimum 3,000 psi compressive strength for pedestrian deck coating applications and attain a minimum 4,000 psi compressive strength for vehicular deck coating applications. Moisture content in the concrete must be lower than 4.5% as measured using a TRAMEX CME 4 or CME 5 Moisture Meter. Depending upon concrete construction and job location, additional concrete testing may be required. Contact your Holcim Solutions and Products US, LLC Technical Representative for additional support.
  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. Concrete: Using a TRAMAX CME 4 or CME 5 Moisture Meter, when the moisture content of the substrate is at or below 4.5%. (See 1.)        Wood: Using a “Pin” type moisture meter, moisture content is at 15%  maximum and dropping. The use of Elasto-Poxy Primer VOC may be needed for wood applications where moisture is a concern..
  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.

Frequently Asked Questions – Decks

Answers to the most frequently asked questions

Questions:

  1. How should I resurface a plywood deck?
  2. What kind of plywood should I use for the deck?
  3. What kind of flashing should I use?
  4.  What do I need to do for the joints?
  5. How do you resurface plywood decks?
  6. How should I prep concrete decks?
  7. How do you fix cracks before coating?
  8. Do I need to vent pan-poured concrete decks?
  9. How do I prep concrete for a buried membrane?
  10.  What is the best coating method?
  11. What is the best method of resurfacing concrete?
  12. What is the application temperature range?

Answers:

  1. A) Remove all loose coatings, using an angle grinder, with either a wire cup or a sanding disc (16 grit is preferred).
    B) Coat all ground areas with Pacific Polymers® Elasto-Deck 5001NG.
    C) Clean the entire deck with a mild detergent, scrub as necessary, and rinse thoroughly with clean water.
    D) After deck is dry, prime with Pacific Polymers® Elasto-Poxy Primer VOC, sand coat, and topcoat as above.
  2. Plywood is to be of exterior grade quality and minimum APA (The Engineered Wood Association) grade mark of BC EXT with B side to receive coating. Plywood shall be at a minimum 5/8″ in thickness (3/4” is preferred) and Tongue and Groove. If tongue and groove is not used, then “blocking” is required at all intersections. The plywood deck shall be sloped a nominal 1/4″ to 12″ and constructed to drain freely. A maximum of 1/16″ space between sheets of plywood is maintained while deck is being placed. Spiral or Ring-Shank nails or appropriately sized exterior decking screws are to be used and installed flush with the plywood surface. Nails or screws shall not be countersunk. Prior to application of pedestrian traffic coating system, protect plywood decking from moisture.
    Note: OSB board IS NOT acceptable.
  3. Use 24-gauge minimum. Bonderized or galvanized. Outside open perimeter flashing should be drip edge with a 1/4∪ kicker at the bottom. Flashing should be appropriate for the site conditions and overall design. Inside perimeter “L” flashing typically is used in combination with a “Weep Screed” or “J-Metal” to accommodate for stucco or siding. Minimum flashing requirements would be diato flashing with a 2” leg on the deck. Use Z metal flashing under door or slider thresholds. All flashing needs to be fastened with 1” (min.) roofing nails, 4” OC.  Where flashing seams or transitions overlap, the overlap needs to shed water, all seam overlaps to be a minimum of 4 inches, flashing should also be nailed to a stud on the vertical and caulked. Flashing must be primed with Pacific Polymers® Elasto-Poxy Primer VOC. Flashing must be caulked (Permathane® SM7120 PU) and taped (Perma-Glas Mesh) where it meets the plywood.  Tools: Caulking gun, hammer and 1” roofing nails.
  4. Joints must be caulked (Permathane® SM7120 PU) and taped with 4” wide seam tape (Perma-Glas Mesh).
  5. Remove all loose coatings, using an angle grinder, with either a wire cup or a sanding disc (16 grit is preferred). Coat all ground areas with Pacific Polymers® Elasto-Deck 5001NG. Clean the entire deck with mild detergent, scrub as necessary and rinse thoroughly with clean water. After deck is dry, prime with Pacific Polymers® Elasto-Poxy Primer VOC, sand coat and topcoat as above.
  6. Concrete must be fully cured (28 days), structurally sound, clean, and dry with a light broom finish. It should be water cured, (sodium silicate curing compound is acceptable) with a compressive strength of 3000 psi. Concrete should slope 1/16” to 1/8” per ft. Prepare concrete by acid etching, sand blasting, or shot blasting the surface to receive the new waterproofing system.
  7. Caulk (Permathane® SM7120 PU) all cracks and 90’s at curb and wall intersections. Any crack larger then 1/16” needs to be routed out to 1/4″ and caulked accordingly. Prime (Elasto-Poxy Primer) all surfaces to be coated at a rate of 225-300 sq. ft. per gallon. On grade concrete is not an acceptable substrate for high build elastomers. Use epoxies or acrylics designed for on grade situations.
  8. All pan poured concrete decks MUST be vented, unvented pans are NOT acceptable. Venting the pan can be achieved by either purchasing them at the beginning or punching 1/4″ holes every 12 inches along the lower flutes.
  9. The surface conditions for buried membranes are the same as a topside system. Pacific Polymers® Elasto-Deck B.T. can be rolled, brushed, squeegee, spray or notched trowel and back rolled applied. Pacific Polymers® Elasto-Deck B.T. should be applied at a rate between 45 to 60 sq.ft. per gallon giving one a thickness of 25 to 30 dry mils. Depending on the type of Pacific Polymers® Elasto-Deck B.T. used, 1, 2 or 3 coats should be applied, yielding 60 to 90 mils.
  10. Pacific Polymers® Elasto-Deck 5001NG can be rolled, brushed, squeegee, spray or notched trowel and back rolled applied. For first time users, use a 1/8th” notched trowel, which will yield 25 dry mils. It should be applied at a rate between 45 to 56 sq.ft. per gallon giving one a thickness of 25 to 30 dry mils. Depending on the system, 1 or 2 coats should be applied.
    Pacific Polymers® Elasto-Glaze 6001 AL-HT can be roller, brush, squeegee or spray applied. It should be applied at a rate of 115 sq. ft. per gallon for sand coats and 115 sq. ft. for the topcoat.
  11. Remove all loose coatings, using an angle grinder, with either a wire cup or a sanding disc. Coat all ground areas with Pacific Polymers® Elasto-Deck 5001NG.
    Clean the entire deck with a mild detergent, scrub as necessary and rinse thoroughly with clean water. After deck is dry, prime with Pacific Polymers® Elasto-Poxy Primer VOC, sand coat and topcoat as above.
    Tools: Roller frames and pads are typically 9”, but 12” and 18” rollers are common. Brushes, 3”or 4” are most common. Notched rubber squeegees range from 18” to 36”, but the most common are 24”.
  12. The Minimum application temperature is 40°F (4°C) and rising and more than 5° above dew point. Contact Technical Service when substrates are over 90°F (32°C) or under 40°F (4°C). Avoid application when inclement weather is present or imminent. Do not apply to damp, wet, or contaminated surfaces.