Archive for February, 2017:

Why warehouse floor coatings are more than just paint

Why warehouse floor coatings are more than just paint

Compared to other equipment and capabilities necessary in productive warehouses or similar settings, the industrial paint chosen to coat a concrete floor never tops anyone’s list.

But warehouse floor coatings are critical to safe, efficient operations because they can reduce slip and trip hazards, protect concrete from harmful spills and heavy abuse and increase an operation’s efficiency.

At best, underestimating the necessity of the right warehouse floor coating can hold an operation back from running at peak efficiency. At worst, it puts employees and assets at risk and firms on the hook.

Enhance safety, efficiency and aesthetics with warehouse floor coatings

In settings where heavy shelves and forklifts are used, the right warehouse floor coating can protect concrete from cracking and chipping as well as the harmful effects of spilled chemicals. Coatings also protect people. Workers can move more safely on floor coatings engineered to resist slips and trips.

While it may seem frivolous to labor over what color to paint a floor, the right color does more for a space than meets the eye:

  • Spilled chemicals can be located and cleaned more easily when they contrast with the color of a floor coating. Differing floor coating colors can also separate sectors of a warehouse. This increases efficiency and reduces the risk of confusion and accidents.
  • Utility bills in warehouses add up. But the right warehouse floor coating can reflect light, keeping spaces more brightly lit. High-gloss coatings can reduce the cost to light a space or lead to the reduction in amount of lights used.
  • Aesthetics do matter. While a floor’s coating can add value in terms of safety, efficiency and asset protection, they’re also more pleasing to look at. Certain colors can even improve workers’ moods.

Comparing coating systems

The advantages and disadvantages of the many available coating systems mean decision makers must assess the work done in their spaces, the safety concerns present in those settings, their project budget and time constraints. Here’s a quick roundup of warehouse floor coating systems:

  • MMA – Low-glare Methyl Methacrylate (MMA) systems are resistant to some acids, alkalis and solvents and boast a fast cure time—you can walk on an MMA-coated surface in less than two hours. MMA can be applied at lower temperatures, can withstand elevated temperatures and has a much higher dry film thickness (DFT) than other systems, making it resistant to scratching. But floor preparation cannot be overlooked as MMA systems don’t bond as well to substrates compared to other options. Good ventilation is required when applying odorous MMA coats. MMA systems require as many as four coats and are costlier compared to other systems.
  • Epoxy and urethaneThese systems also resist chemicals well and boast high hardness. Their dry film thickness is on par with other coatings systems, require three coats and are among the less costly alternatives. But these systems do not cure quickly. The walk-on time of 24 hours is among the longest of the available systems; because each coat takes longer to cure, the total project time takes nearly two days.
  • 100% solids epoxy – These systems stand up to abrasion and chemical spills and can be applied to floors as part of a multi-part system or on their own. Because these coatings are 100% solids, their wet film thickness and dry film thickness are identical. That means no thickness is lost due to evaporation of harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs). For this reason, 100% solids epoxy coatings are safer to use. They’re also the cheapest option, but they do not cure quickly —walk-on time is up to 24 hours.
  • Polyaspartic – This hybrid system is an offshoot of epoxy and urethane systems that offers the advantages in a single coating what two coatings of epoxy and urethane systems can muster. Polyaspartic formulations can be manipulated to allow for curing times that suit individual projects and can be applied at temperatures well below freezing. Walk-on time is just four hours and polyaspartics are safer to use due to only moderate odors. These systems are costlier than epoxy / urethane and 100% solids systems but offer better flexibility compared to the other options.

US Coatings systems suit various needs

No industrial setting is identical, so one coating type certainly doesn’t fit all settings. That’s why US Coatings offers a range of floor coating options made to suit your individual needs.

GripCrete 200 SL – This 100% solids flooring epoxy is recommended in interior spaces where abrasion resistance or chemical protection is desired, including warehouses, service centers and commercial buildings. It can be used alone or in a multi-coat system.

GripCrete 200 SL can be applied directly to concrete but the risk outgassing / pinholing is reduced if the surface is primed. See additional GripCrete 200 SL specs here.

GripCrete 1750 MVE – MVE stands for moisture vapor emission. This low-odor, low-VOC, 100% solids concrete primer / sealer minimizes outgassing and moisture vapor transmission. GripCrete 1750 MVE is suitable for use as a primer in confined spaces and in underground or above-ground concrete coating applications. It can be applied to damp concrete.

GripCrete 1750 MVE is prone to chalking and ambering under sunlight in humid conditions; urethane or polyaspartic topcoats (such as GripCrete 200 SL or GripCrete 9000 PA) are recommended to prevent epoxy erosion and to retain color.

GripCrete 9000 PA – PA stands for polyaspartic. This next-generation coating is designed for a wide range of interior and exterior applications, including in warehouses, factories, chemical processing plants, stadiums and institutional buildings like hospitals and schools. It can also serve as a topcoat over other US Coatings floor systems. GripCrete 9000 PA is fast curing and UV-stable.

Polyaspartic coatings add greater value because they achieve in a single application the benefits of an epoxy and urethane system. As project timelines and budgets constrict, a polyaspartic warehouse floor coating could be the option that returns industrial spaces to service faster while keeping workers safe.

Thinking strategically about your warehouse floor coating can raise many questions, so contact us and we’ll help guide you through choosing the coating that best suits your space and developing a coatings maintenance plan. To get additional information about the products we offer, consult our product catalog.

Archive for February, 2017:

Why warehouse floor coatings are more than just paint

Introducing UreGrip 3360 DTM

UreGrip 3360 is the next generation of direct-to-metal finishes. It offers outstanding durability and weathering characteristics. In addition, it’s formulated to resist mold and mildew. UreGrip 3360 may also be used as a topcoat with an inorganic zinc epoxy primer system for maximum corrosion protection in the most severe industrial environments.

UreGrip 3360 is recommended for applications where high-gloss, low-VOC, increased production and long-term performance are desired.

Where to Use?

UreGrip 3360 DTM should lead the pack when it comes to a one coat solutions for fabricators, OEM’s and even maintenance painters looking for an solution that has a 2 hour pot life and 2-3 hour dry-to-handle times.  

This coating can displace an  epoxy and polyurethane systems in one coat or may appeal to owners who would like to lower their shops VOC emission rates.

Why Use Polyaspartic?

The fast dry, high-gloss, low temp drying capability in one coat along with 2-4 hour dry to handle times.  This technology allows for same day turn-arounds that could have taken 2-3 days with traditional systems.  For cold weather application this coating can dramatically extend the painting season as lab testing has proven curing in sub-freezing conditions. 

Features: 

– This material has a rapid tint capability (RTS) and can be tinted with commonly available 844 tints systems.  

– Excellent color and gloss retention

– High Gloss Finish > 90+ @ 60 Degrees 

– Very good chemical resistance

– VOC Compliant for shop use < 250 g/l 

Pricing: How does UreGrip 3360 DTM Stack Up?  

Product Competitor 

Cost per gallon* 

Solids/gallon 

Cost/sq.ft./mil 

USC UreGrip 3360 DTM

 $xxx.xx

86%

 $0.07

SW Envirolastic 840 DTM

 $xxx.xx

77%

 $0.08

International 4500

 $xxx.xx

56%

 $0.11

Traditional Epoxy/Urethane 

Epoxy  

 $xx.xx

80%

 $0.04

Polyurethane 

 $xx.xx

56%

 $0.08

Contact US Coatings for pricing. 

Click here to view the product release

Archive for February, 2017:

Why warehouse floor coatings are more than just paint

Polyaspartic vs. Epoxy and urethane: Choosing coatings wisely

Choosing the right coating for your industrial assets is important. The right choice could mean added useful life and less maintenance for key assets. The wrong one might lay the groundwork for untimely and costly failures.

Foreknowledge of which coatings are better suited for different environments and job specifications is key to an efficient and effective coating job. Let’s compare epoxy and urethane coating systems, a longtime staple of industrial asset protection, to polyaspartic technology, a hybrid coating type increasing in popularity because it can limit lag time and reduce costs.

The case for epoxy and urethane coatings

Epoxy and urethane coating systems offer two layers of protection over a surface. These perform well in heavy industry settings because they’re more tightly cross-linked and less permeable, offering good substrate protection, increased chemical resistance and greater hardness. Due to these qualities, metal and concrete substrates protected by epoxy and urethane combinations stand up well to use and abuse.

Epoxy and urethane coatings also can tolerate exposure to many industrial chemicals. For instance, surfaces protected by epoxy and urethane coatings stand up well against sulfuric acid, which is used in a wide variety of industrial processes. However, certain organic acids present in food production, such as nitric acid, can harm epoxy and urethane coatings.

Epoxy and urethane coatings are well-suited for interior spaces with controlled environments.

Limiting lag time with polyaspartic technology

Relatively new on the industrial coatings scene is polyaspartic technology, a hybrid coating similar to polyurethanes. Innovations in the technology have made these coatings a more versatile option compared to epoxy and urethane coating systems. Applying polyaspartics in a single coat accomplishes what traditional epoxy and urethane systems need two coats to do. The technology has come a long way as early polyaspartic formulations had low adhesion values. Well-known system failures have been blamed on this lack of adhesion promoters in early polyaspartic technology.

Polyurethanes are softer, more flexible and offer better color and gloss retention. They perform well as structural protection, are more versatile in terms of protecting assets in harsh weather conditions and offer better impact resistance than epoxy and urethane coatings. For example, tanks, exterior pipes, barges or exterior concrete are better protected with polyurethane coatings.

Polyaspartic technology breaks from traditional polyurethanes because polyaspartic esters can be manipulated to suit varying applications. Manipulating the esters allows for controlled drying times and extends potlife. Where epoxy and urethane coatings require much longer curing times, polyaspartic coatings cure much more quickly. That limits lag time, allowing assets to be put back to use more quickly. Polyaspartic coatings also can be formulated for application and curing at temperatures well below freezing.

Polyaspartic technology eliminates a step in the coating process compared to epoxy and urethane combinations, saving labor and material costs and shortening project timelines.

Because lower- and zero-VOC coatings can be achieved with polyaspartic technology, it’s safer to apply in confined spaces like storage tanks, railcars or pipes where ventilation is minimal. This also can save on taxes levied against high VOC outputs.

US Coatings introduces UreGrip 3360

US Coatings’ newest polyurethane coating presents a solution in the polyaspartic vs. epoxy and urethane debate. Formulated to protect metal substrates, UreGrip 3360 incorporates polyaspartic technology with advantages that include direct-to-metal application, excellent color and gloss retention and single-coat high build capability. UreGrip 3360 boasts outstanding durability and weathering characteristics and is used to protect a wide range of industrial assets.

UreGrip 3360 offers a two-hour potlife. Faster curing means assets can return to service on the same day as application. Reduced downtime cuts costs; these savings are multiplied when UreGrip 3360 is used in subsequent surface coating programs.

Let us help

As the industrial coating landscape changes, US Coatings is ready to help owners and managers determine the best coating solutions to their specific needs. Contact us for a consultation or view our product portals to learn more about what we offer.