How to repaint the floor of a technical room?

RD-Monofloor PU, a one-component, quick-drying floor protection coating designed to:
- adhere directly to concrete or most existing coatings
- protect surfaces against moderate traffic and wear
- embellish your workspace thanks to the large choice of colors and its UV resistance

The products you need

The problem

Technical rooms inside buildings and factories are areas where there are typically various machinery and equipment related to HVAC, maintenance, storage of various objects, etc.

The surface can vary from small to very large depending on the company. The floors are mostly subjected to moderate traffic but must be able to withstand regular, even sometimes intense, stresses.

When the existing coating needs to be restored, customers want to avoid as much as possible a complete or partial shutdown of their activity.

Using traditional solvent-based floor paint for restoring is a problem for many companies as it often forces them to close, at least partially, during the execution of the project. And long after, disturbing and toxic odors will remain in suspension in the premises.

RD Coatings has a water-based, easy-to-apply, high-performance and durable solution that will protect your floors for years to come.

The solution

RD-Monofloor PU

RD-Monofloor PU is a high quality one-component water-based polyurethane emulsion coating formulated to adhere directly to concrete or cement floors and to most coatings that can be encountered.

RD-Monofloor PU is water-based and can therefore be applied next to occupied areas, allowing colleagues to continue working normally. There is no risk of fire or explosion, and it is virtually odorless!

The product is available in a wide choice of colors starting at just 1L!

Recommended quantity and thickness

In general, for a technical room floor, we will recommend the application of two coats of RD-Monofloor PU at the rate of 0.20 L per square meter / 200 square feet per gallon per coat.

Total: 0.40 L / m² or 100 square feet per gallon. These quantities can be influenced depending on the porosity of the support and the method of application.

RD-Monofloor PU is part of the  Single Coating System family developed by RD Coatings and can be used both as a primer and as a topcoat.

The  products provide the ability to solve specific problems using just one single product. Theey are easier, faster and very reliable solutions that do not compromise on quality in any way!

Benefits and expected performance of the system

The system will have a long life if applied correctly and according to our recommendations.

However, the life expectancy of floor cotings is extremely difficult to predict as it depends on many factors; and first and foremost, on the intensity of use of the floor.

On many projects, we receive the feedback that our coatings are extremely efficient with a lifespan often exceeding 5 years. However, the great advantage of the product lies in its ease of use. If there are touch-ups to be done, the use of RD Coatings solutions makes it possible to carry out occasional repairs very easily and in record time!

It offers many advantages, both for the project manager and for the applicator:

For the project manager/owner

  • No shot blasting required, economical solution High performance and durable system
  • Eco-friendly
  • Water based, safe, no fire hazards
  • Virtually odorless, can be used in occupied buildings without disturbing
  • Wide choice of colors
  • Good resistance to wear and traffic
  • Limited downtime, possible to apply within 24 hours

For the applicator

  • SCS solution
  • Easy application
  • Almost no VOC
  • No isocyanates
  • High performance
  • Proven track record
  • No pot-life
  • One-component and quick-drying
  • No need for solvents nor thinners.

Getting ready

Before starting, the concrete or cement screed must be sufficiently consistent and strong to meet future service requirements. It is recommended that industrial floors in factories, warehouses and commercial facilities have a compressive strength of at least 25Mpa and a pull-out strength of at least 1.5Mpa.

In the case of a new screed, check the humidity level which must be less than 4%! It usually takes around 30 days for a screed to dry and before any paint job can be done. The thicker the screed, the more time it takes.

During a renovation, check that there is no possible rise of humidity through the screed, carry out a test to be sure.

Rising humidity test

Apply a 20x20cm / 6x6 inch clear plastic film to the dry surface and seal the edges with tape so that no air can get in or out. Wait 24 or 48 hours. If you observe moisture droplets on the inner side of the plastic film, it means that there is rising humidity, and the screed cannot be covered. Unless you first apply a vapor barrier or let it dry longer in the case of a new screed.

Ambient conditions

RD-Monofloor PU is a UV resistant coating and will not yellow if applied in front of large openings or outdoors. A minimum of 12 ° C / 54 ° F is recommended for comfortable and safe working conditions. The surface should be at room temperature with no dew on the surface.

In cold weather, pay special attention to areas near openings such as doors, where cold air can blow over the surface and prevent the coating from drying properly! The surface can also be cold due to thermal bridges, use hot air guns for example to heat the area before and during application and drying.

Surface preparation

In general, the surface should always be clean, dry, degreased and free of any non-adherent contaminants.

On a new screed

Power sanding or grid blasting are the most common methods of surface preparation before applying floor paint. By opening and creating a profile on the surface, you increase the mechanical adhesion of the coating (adhesion to the surface), and therefore its longevity. It will also remove traces of laitance or remnants of curing agents at the same time, if any.

If the size of the new screed is not that large, you can also prepare the surface using a solution of phosphoric acid diluted with water. Spray it on the surface and leave it on for 15 minutes. Then rinse with clean water.

On an old screed, painted or not

A popular and quick way to prepare the floor is to wash the floor with a pressure washer at 200 to 250 bar / 2900 to 3600 psi - equipped with a rotating nozzle with a zero degree angle tip. This method will remove contaminants and poorly adhering paint from the surface. Paint that resists this cleaning usually means that its adhesion is still good, and you can apply our coatings on top of it.

If you need to repaint a very shiny and very hard coating, sanding or scratching the surface will help increase the adhesion of the system that follows.

Any remaining oils or fats should be removed with soap.

Moss and mildew can be removed with suitable cleaners. Consider using biodegradable solutions that are easy to find and very effective.

If there are oils, greases and other chemicals trapped in the screed, we recommend that you perform vacuum blasting as for a new screed.

Once the floor has been properly prepared and cleaned, repair where necessary with cement or acrylic sealant depending on the size of the crevices.

Equipment

RD-Monofloor PU is usually applied with a short nap roller or by airless. If you are using an airless, you need a minimum output of 180 bar / 2600 psi and a nozzle size between 0.015 and 0.021 inches.

The application

RD-Monofloor PU is a ready-to-use one-component coating. When the surface is porous, you can dilute it with maximum 10% clean water to apply the first coat.

Mechanically stir the products for a few minutes before application.

There is no pot life limit! If you need to interrupt or you have paint left over after application, simply close the lid and keep the jar in a suitable place for a next occasion.

Application

Plan the path you will follow to apply the coating so that you end up at an exit and don't get stuck in a corner of the room ;-)

Apply your first coat of RD-Monofloor PU respecting the recommended consumption.

When finished, let the paint dry for 4 hours before applying the second coat. It may be shorter or longer depending on the ambient temperature.

Drying

RD-Monofloor PU dries very quickly in about a few hours and the floor can be put back into service already after 12 hours! Moderate the use if you can during the first few days as the coating will become even more resistant.

Finishing options

It is not necessary to cover RD-Monofloor PU. However, in some cases it may be useful to add a layer of a complementary product:

For higher resistance to chemical attack. For example if it is a room where such products are used regularly -> Apply a layer of RD-Hydrograff HP.

For more pronounced anti-slip properties. For example one for soil which would be regularly wet -> In this case, project quartz or dry sand on the first layer while it is still wet. When the coat is dry, vacuum up the superfluous sand and apply the second coat of RD-Monofloor PU.

VERS.   S10-230901