| Liquid
Ceramic is a High Performance Architectural Coating that is applied by
trained and certified professionals. It is a non-toxic, non-flammable
material that is safe to use in virtually any environment. It may be applied
by brush, by roller or with paint spray equipment.
The
process involves a few simple steps, the first being the surface or "substrate"
preparation, the second being the application of the product and the third
being the life time of not worrying about ever having to paint your home
again.
Surface
Preparation - is key to the application. Even though Liquid Ceramic
is more "forgiving" than paint, if you want a lifetime of service, it is
essential to apply the product properly. Our Applicators are trained
to remember three key words: Clean - Dry - Sound
Clean:
Remove all dirt, mold and mildew: Use a commercially available mildewcide
and read the directions. "Double or Triple" rinse the material to ensure
that you have no chemical or biological residue. You should pressure
wash all surfaces to be coated with a 600-800 psi sprayer, except stucco,
which should be washed with a water source at domestic water pressure and
using a scrub brush.
Dry:
Use a moisture meter to ensure that the substrate is less than 12% moisture
impregnated. There are no exceptions to this limit.
Sound:
Scrape all loose paint. If the existing coating cannot be removed with
a scraping tool, it is most probably ok to apply the Liquid Ceramic product
over it. Liquid Ceramic will bond to adjacent material and any paint "pops"
will be held in place by the elastomeric properties of the coating. |
Remove
and replace "all" damaged materials. Liquid Ceramic will keep your
home protected for a lifetime but will not work the miracle necessary to
repair damaged materials. Caulk all vertical (never horizontal joints
of lap siding) joints and around doors and windows with a 50 year "acrylic"
caulk. SILICONE IS PROHIBITED.
All
new materials or unprimed materials including brick, wood, stucco, and
concrete should be primed. Most often this material will be called a latex.
In the case of the oily woods such as cedar, redwood and cypress, or perviously
oil stained woods, fully prime the material with an oil based primer.
Hardi-plank that is pre-primed needs no additional priming. Make sure all
trim is hardi-plank or primed materials. Glazing compounds are used
to repair wooden window mullions as opposed to caulk. Again, consult your
retailer. Allow sufficient time to cure. The cure rate for window
glazing materials is greater than caulk. Directions on the containers are
essential information.
Application
of Liquid Ceramic:
Liquid
Ceramic works when applied over Clean - Dry- Sound materials such as wood,
stucco, concrete, brick, metal and even that vinyl that was supposed to
last a lifetime but is fading unevenly).
The
thickness of the coating is vital to its performance. At 12 mils dry film
thickness (DFT) the desired thickness after two coats, the product will
restrict water penetration and also allow breathing to occur at the published
rates. Elongation is supported at this thickness as well as abrasion resistance
and thermal barrier properties. More is better than less. The
performance falls dramatically if only 10 or fewer mils is applied. |
DFT
is determined by measure of the wet film thickness (WFT). When the product
is wet you can use a simple inexpensive gauge available from your paint
retailer to press into the wet coating and read the mil thickness.
As you apply the product to a test area, gauge the amount of paint on your
brush or roller and apply to the surface, measuring until you get the desired
"rhythm" and spread rate. The same with the spray gun. Get a smooth
even motion that applies the product at the desired WFT.
The
desired WFT: The product is 70% solid, requiring you to apply two
coats at 10 mils WFT so that is dries above 6 mils. Two coats, each applied
at 10 mils WFT will net a DFT of 12 or slightly better.
Other
things to know:
* Do not apply Liquid Ceramic or any acrylic based product in direct sunlight.
A suggestion is to begin on the north side in the morning, move east then
south and finally west.
* Do not apply the product at temperatures below 50 degrees or above 100
degrees F.
* Do not apply above 85% relative humidty (although an increase in humidity
does not cause a failure in the product as much as extends its drying and
cure time)
* Do not apply when the dew point and temperature are within 5 degrees
F of each other.
* Do clean up any spills or splashes before they dry and set. Liquid
Ceramic is water soluable when wet. If it sets, get out the wire brush.
* Do not apply in the rain or when rain is expected within four hours. |
