Concrete Application
Equipment
- 2 stipple roller sleeves per gallon (Included with purchase of textured gallon) or short nap roller, like a 3/16” mohair or similar for a smooth application.
- 60 grit Sandpaper
- Xylene OR Solvide
- Stir stick or electric paint mixer
- Roller Tray
- Cloth or sturdy cotton rag
- Paint Gloves
- Household non-chlorinated detergent, like Spic n Span
- 3M Blue tape (Optional)
- Paint Respirator (Optional)
New concrete prep:
- Be fully cured, for at least 28 days.
- Have a brush finish.
- Be hand troweled (If already power troweled, test for adhesion.)
- Be thoroughly cleaned with a citric cleaner or equivalent, rinsed with water, and thoroughly dried.
- Be wiped with Xylene or Solvide and the Xylene or Solvide be allowed to dry immediately before applying Durabak.
NOTE:
- If the new concrete contains plasticizers, a small test for adhesion is essential as a primer may be required.
Old concrete prop:
There are three ways to prep old concrete.
-Either:
A. Shotblast, if possible, and rinse with water.
OR
B. Abrade with a scarifying machine (leaving a rough surface) and brush off.
OR
C. Thoroughly clean with muriatic acid wash:
- Use 45% to 50% muriatic acid solution mixed with 3 to 4 parts water.
- Agitate solution on surface with a hard-bristled deck brush for approximately 10 minutes, to open pores on surface.
- Rinse off with a 5% ammonia/water solution to neutralize acid. (Failing to neutralize acid could leave residue which might cause delamination.)
- Let completely dry. If necessary, use a heat source.
- Brush off to remove all residue.
-Wipe well with xylene or Solvide immediately before applying Durabak. Let the Xylene or Solvide evaporate before applying Durabak.
NOTE:
- If the old concrete contains plasticizers, a small test for adhesion is essential, as a primer may be required.
Oil-Soaked Concrete
- Open pores of concrete with muriatic acid and rinse, as above.
- Apply an oil emulsifier and agitate with deck brush for 10 minutes.
- Rinse with hot water.
- Rinse twice with cold water.
- Dry completely.
- Wipe with Xylene or Solvide immediately, and then let the Xylene evaporate before applying DURABAK™ or DURABAK 18™.
NOTE: For chemically soaked concrete or other unusually difficult surfaces, contact Durbak Company.
Sealed concrete should first be tested for DURABAK™ adhesion:
- Clean surface thoroughly.
- Roughen surface.
- Brush surface off thoroughly.
- Rinse with water and dry thoroughly.
- A Xylene or Solvide wipe is recommended. Let Xylene or Solvide evaporate.
- Apply DURABAK™
- If delamination occurs, sealer must be removed by mechanical means (i.e., shot blasting or scarifying).
While it is not usually needed on concrete, a primer can provide enhanced adhesion.
Contact Durabak Company for specific information on surfaces to be primed.
Application Process
- Do not open can until surface is prepped and ready to go.
- Then open can and stir well.
- Pour a portion into a roller tray and begin application.
- Roll on first coat using Durabak stipple roller sleeve.
- Use a paint brush in corners and hard to reach areas.
- Stir occasionally while working with the product.
- Keep lid on can while not in use.
Coverage
Concrete can be very absorbent, and usually requires an additional coat for a full Durabak finish.
1 gallon of smooth Durabak covers roughly 50 square feet in a 3 coat application.
1 gallon of textured Durabak covers approximately 40 square feet in a 3 coat application.
Good to Know
- Durabak begins to cure with exposure to air, so minimize exposure to air while working with it. Durabak is MOISTURE CURED so in High Humiidity the work time and dry time will be substantially shorter.
- The consistency of the Durabak should be drippy, as it’s self leveling. If it’s thicker, you can add up to 15% xylene to thin it. It should be mixable after adding the xylene and back to a runny form. If it’s pasty and thick, DO NOT APPLY, rather reach out to us for assistance.
- You will have a few hours of work time once the can is opened (3 to 5 hours normally).
- A second coat can be applied using a stipple roller sleeve after 1-2 hours, once the first coat is touch dry.
- After second coat is applied allow 24 hours before walking on it. Complete cure is about 5 or 6 days, so no heavy use until then.
-
When applying Durabak it is important to ensure that each coat does not get too thick. If Durabak is applied in a coat that is too heavy it will trap the curing gasses and leave pinholes which will eventually lead to discoloration in the Durabak.
-
Be sure to apply moderately thin coats of the Durabak and as a guide you should be getting coverage similar to what is laid out above.
Additional Tips
- Temp should ideally be 60 degrees or above for the application, and above 40% humidity.
- Xylene should be applied immediately to clean up any misapplied Durabak.
- If taping off, use 3M Blue tape and remove immediately after second coat is applied.