FLOOR COATINGS

Floor coatings may be categorised under three headings — PRIMERS, SEALERS & CEMENTITIOUS COATINGS

PRIMERS
Primers are generally water based and used to condition a cementitious sub floor or plaster wall for further application of a coating or adhesive.

The use of a primer such as Polymer 6000 Acrylic Primer is vital for the following reasons:

  1. Settles dust.
  2. Inhibits adhesive soaking into the sub floor. This is particularly important for pressure sensitive adhesives.
  3. Increased spread rates.
  4. Enhances bond strengths.

Note:

  1. The use of a primer, in the long term save money.
  2. Primers do not function as floor sealers to stop moisture penetrating a sub floor.
  3. All Polymer water based vinyl and carpet adhesives may be applied over Polymer 6000 Acrylic Primer.

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SEALERS
Floor sealers may be categorised under three headings, Sealers, Moisture Barriers & Vapour Barriers

The use of a Sealer such as Polymer Clearseal W Concrete Sealer is vital for the following reasons:

  1. To help prevent fluids and most common chemicals dispersing into a sub floor causing staining and compromising its appearance.
  2. In hospitals, nursing homes, special accommodation and medical facilities, sealers such as Polymer Clearseal W Concrete Sealer prevent human fluids, blood and urine dispersing into the sub floor.
  3. A sealed sub floor will allow easy extraction of fluids and improve the building environment and occupation.
  4. Floor sealers such as Polymer Clearseal W Concrete Sealer are one pack, modified acrylic water based compounds with a white milky appearance. Clearseal W is easy to apply and cures to a clear impervious film.

Note:

  1. Polymer Clearseal W Concrete Sealer is not a moisture or vapour barrier.
  2. Some adhesives will adhere directly to Polymer Clearseal W Concrete Sealer. For more information contact your nearest Polymer distributor or RLA Polymers Pty Ltd.

MOISTURE BARRIERS
The use of a moisture barrier is vital for the following reasons:

  1. Inhibits hydrostatic moisture in a cementitious sub floor rising to the surface and compromising an adhesive or floor covering installation.
  2. A Moisture Barrier may be applied to both "Above Grade" and "Below Grade" sub floors including those with or without a moisture resisting membrane.
  3. Moisture Barriers such as Hydrocoat and other proprietary brands are generally water based two pack epoxy sealers.
  4. Moisture barriers will, under normal circumstances protect sub floors from spilt fluids.

Note:

  1. Air Conditioned Areas. It is most important that advice is sought prior to floor coverings being installed.
  2. Some adhesives will adhere to moisture barriers. For more information contact your nearest Polymer Distributor or RLA Polymers Pty Ltd.

VAPOUR BARRIERS
The use of a Vapour Barrier is vital for the following reasons:

  1. Vapour barriers should only be applied to a concrete slab that has been covered or protected from weather for 28 days and cured for a maximum of 28 days. Maximum moisture content must not exceed 85% R.H. or 7% moisture content (test method AS 1884-1985) and must be decreasing.
  2. Inhibits retained moisture contained in a new (green) cementitious slab from rising to the surface and compromising an adhesive or floor covering installation.
  3. Vapour Barriers are generally a latex based liquid and cement based powder mixed and trowelled on to a cementitious slab. Some manufacturers recommend the application of a solvent free acrylic emulsion floor primer before applying the vapour barrier.
  4. As a "rule of thumb", it has been found that under average conditions with good ventilation, a 100mm thick slab of normal concrete drying from one face only, will take approximately five months to dry to a moisture level to allow floorcoverings to be installed. The application of a vapour barrier will reduce the waiting time before installation can commence.

Note:
Some adhesives will adhere to vapour barriers. For more information contact your nearest Polymer Distributor or RLA Polymers Pty Ltd.

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CEMENTITIOUS COATINGS
Cementitious coatings such as those manufactured by Polymer and other proprietary brand products serve two main purposes.

  1. Cementitious coatings such as Polymer Self Leveller 88 compound provides a smooth and level substrate over which floor covering may be installed.
  2. Polymer Self Leveller 88 and other proprietary brand cementitious coatings applied over a moisture barrier or vapour barrier will provide a substrate to which most adhesives will adhere.

All floor preparation and floor covering installations should be carried out in accordance with the relevant Australian Standards.

Further technical information is available from: RLA Polymers Pty Ltd Australia
Customer Service Free Call 1800 242 931

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