Preparation Tips for Garage Floors

1) When hot tires are parked on driveway and/or garage floor, paraffin emitted from the tires embeds in the concrete creating a rubberized barrier and bond breaker.  This is most common with high-performance tires and concentrated in the tire lanes where the vehicle comes to rest.

2) While mechanical (grinding) surface preparation is best, it is important to degrease these areas first so as not to grind grease into the concrete.

3) Degreasing and/or acid etching will not remove the paraffin, which is why mechanical abrasion is necessary.

4) A water absorption test will tell you whether the surface is ready to receive a coating.  A dime-sized bead of water should penetrate the concrete in 10 to 15 seconds.  If not repeat the abrasion process.

New Super Seal 210 Formulation

The new Super seal 210 is a formulation that is VOC compliant throughout every state in the U.S., what does this mean for us? The product is non solvent and can be applied on projects that we would have had to pass up with the previous formula. In addition, you can order the new formulation as needed with no minimum order  That’s right, you can order 3 kits of one color or just one of each! This will increase your sales because you may only need 1 or 2 kits for a job, not 20 gallons.

The new formulation comes in a 3/4 gallon kit not a 1 gallon. The 3/4 gallon kit can be applied at a rate of 180 ft per kit, the coverage will depend on the look you desire and the porosity of the floor.  At 80 to 100 s/f you will get a high build, high gloss, glassy like finish.  At 150 to 180 s/f you will get a shiny, tough floor but not as smooth and glassy looking.

You can also extend the mix by adding no more than 1 quart of acetone. Acetone is a VOC compliant solvent and requires good ventilation; this should be considered before extending the mix. When odor is not an issue, the introduction of a quart of Acetone will give you 25% more yield and increase your dry times. But it will also in increase the absorption rate which will reduce the film’s thickness. On floors that appear to be very porous and where odor is not an issue, thinning the first coat and spreading it as far as it will go can act as a good primer to help minimize the gassing of the porous concrete thus minimizing the potential for air bubbles.

If the concrete is very porous and odor is an issue, we recommend putting down a thin coat of product without Acetone to act as your prime coat It is always a good idea to have a porcupine roller on hand during final coat application should you still get some out gassing due to porous concrete.

The new 210 can do exactly what the old one did and can also do some things the old 210  COULD NOT DO! The new formulation has a lot more benefits and a lot less ordering restrictions and application restrictions.

CTi's New Smart Prep System

Crack and Prep Issues Becoming a Thing of the Past CTi's Smart Prep product is fast becoming a hit with the Dealer network. This fantastic new crack repair and primer system is becoming an easy solution to tough crack repair problems on many job sites. Whether it's creating a stronger bond between the various CTi Systems or bridging the cracks and creating a more successful crack repair prior to installing the CTi Systems on job sites, Smart Prep is becoming the "go to" product for Dealers around the world. DSCN2855 To find out more on how to use the product, visit www.cti-concrete.com and go to the "Training Manual" link on the left side of the home page after sign in. There you will find the "Smart Prep Application Guide". In addition, go to the "Product Tips" link on the left side of the home page after sign in and select the "Product Application Videos" (you'll need to choose whether you are a MAC or PC user), to view how to use this product line. As always, you can reach our tech staff at 800 447 6573, ext. 131 or 136 with any questions.

Using VOC Compliant Sealers

CTi has diligently been keeping up to date with the new requirements each state has been implementing regarding the levels of Volatile Organic Content (VOC) used in its sealers. The Series 155 OTC sealer and Aquathane 6000 urethane sealer were developed to meet the new requirements of the states listed below. California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington D.C., Indiana and the country of Canada. Please make sure to use the appropriate sealer if you are installing the CTi products in the areas listed above. Fines and penalties are levied by the states for failure to adhere to the appropriate sealer usage.

When Should You Upgrade Sealers?

by Chuck Brewer

That depends on several factors... Let me explain.

Traffic: If you have a job on a driveway and the customers have kids and both kids have their own cars as well as mom and dad having 2 cars, I would upgrade to the 200 or 6000. By the same token, commercial driveways should automatically get 200 or 6000.

Weather: If it''s the rainy season where the chances of showers are strong and you have to get a coat of sealer on the job or stand a chance of losing it or it getting damaged, I would drop back and use the 150/155. If the 150 or 155 gets wet before it’s totally cured it will haze white. The second coat of 150 or 155 will 99% of the time pull the haze out and it will look great. However, if the 200 or 6000 gets wet before it is cured it too will haze up white but you will have to grind the job down to get it off and then start over.

Chemicals: If you’re selling a job and there are lots of solvents or chemicals being used, you will need to upgrade from 150 or 155 to 200 or 6000. For example automotive repair centers: Brake fluid, transmission fluid, battery acid, etc. And, keep in mind that some folks still do heavy repairs on their own cars at home. They need 200 or 6000 as well.

So here are some examples where you might want to upgrade from 150/155 to 200 or 6000:
1. Heavy traffic
2. Lots of chemicals
3. Customer looking for a lot of sheen

Here are some examples when you might have to step down from 200 or 6000 and use 150/155 on outside jobs.
1. Strong chance of rain getting on the job before 200 is cured.
2. Have to put sealer on late evening and they''re expecting dew.
3. Foggy outside.

Keep in mind you can NOT put 200 or 6000 over 150 or 155 or 150/155 over 200/6000 they are stand alone sealers.

Coverage for CTI Products

Hallmark System Estimated Coverage
Series 105 Polymerized dry component 100 – 125 s/f per 50 lb. Bag (skim & spray)
Series 110/111/112 Polymerized Wet component 400 – 500 s/f per 5 gal. Bucket
Series 150 Cure and Seal 400 – 500 s/f per 5 gal. Bucket (2 coats)
Series 190 color integration component 400 – 500 s/f per quart bottle

Sealers
Pro Seal 200 (clear and colors) 80 –100 s/f per gallon at 2 coats
Aquathane 6000 80 – 100 s/f per gallon at 2 coats
Super Seal 210 Epoxy 100 s/f per gallon at 1 coat
Series 155 400-500 s/f per 5 gal at 2 coats
Rapid Armor 100-125 s/f per gal at 1 coat.

Preparation materials
Fast Crack 1431 40-60 linear feet per unit
Enviro Prime ¾ gal. Kit 100-250 s/f
High Density Mortar 12 s/f at ½” or .40 cubic feet
Series 280 Waterproof Membrane 100 s/f per kit

Durafleck System
Series 5000 Binder 100 – 125 s/f per gallon
25 lb. Box of PVA Chips 500 s/f

Tapes
¼” filament tape 180 feet
½” filament tape 180 feet
½” filament brick tape 180 feet
¾” filament tape 180 feet
1” Masking tape 180 feet

NOTE: CTI makes no specific claims as to the actual coverage of its products. Certain variables may effect the coverage of certain products and your results may vary.

Spraymark System

The CTI Spraymark system is very similar in appearance to the Hallmark system. There are however, a few differences that make the Spraymark system considerably more economical and less labor intensive.

The two main differences between the Hallmark and Spraymark systems is the Spraymark is applied without the application of a skim coat. In other words, the entire job is simply sprayed 100% over the bare prepped concrete, and then highlighted and sealed.

In order to eliminate the skim coat a new more advanced modifier was formulated for the Spraymark system . The 112 modifier utilizes nano technology in order to provide better adhesion without the skim coat. The mix ratio’s for the 112 modifer are the same as the regular 110 and 111 modifiers, and they are interchangeable. 112 Modifier can be used for all other CTI applications.

Applications best suited for the Spraymark system are those that require little if any concrete repairs and few serious cracks. Cracks are addressed by simply sponging grout directly into the crack before spraying.

Generally, the Spraymark system does not incorporate any patterns due to the lack of a skim coat. However, patterns can be taped out on the bare concrete prior to spraying. The Spraymark system requires about 1/3 less material and about ½ the labor of the hallmark application and can therefore be sold at a lower price. The Spraymark system offers a 1 year warranty similar to the Designers series. It is a highly cost effective alternative.