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.
- 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.