Water Spray Curing

The procedure of curing by intermittent water spraying for three Ability coating products.

Although not essential to their high performance, the simple, highly beneficial procedure of intermittent water spray curing - after the final coat has been applied and allowed to set - usually eliminates the possibility of any 'streaking', 'whitening', 'blooming', 'distressed' look, patchiness or other whitish discolouration occurring on the surface of applied duro paint™ Stipple, duro paint™ Matte and duro paint™ Low Sheen especially if caused by early irregular wetting from rain - which may occur the night or day after the application is completed.

Apart from helping to harden these coatings and make them completely watertight rapidly, this procedure beneficially removes residual surfactant from the coating to eliminate this white discolouration from occurring.

A white, water soluble ‘detergent’ - also called ‘surface active agent’ or simply ‘surfactant’ is contained within these three set ('touch dried') coatings. To ensure freedom from a temporary but slow to disappear 'streaking, 'whitening', or 'blooming' caused by rainfall falling irregularly on a freshly applied surface of any of these coatings very early in their long lives, this surfactant should preferably be removed by adopting the procedure of intermittent water spray curing.

Intermittent water spray curing should commence soon after the second or final coat of these paints 'touch' dries (sets) by means of copiously spraying the coated surface with preferably six (6) separate ten (10) minute hosings with clean tap water at any time over a one (1) to two (2) day period. Even only two (2) or three (3) separate water sprayings are beneficial!

There should be enough water to flush (run off) the painted surface at the end of each 10 minute period of wetting down. This applies to all horizontal surfaces such as floors, pavements, ramps and flat roofs as well as walls. Sweep or squeegee any excess water off horizontal coated surfaces before it dries.

It is preferable to allow the coated surface to dry before the next ten (10) minute hosing.

The mechanical strength properties, absolute water tightness, durability and colour uniformity of the coating are optimised by adopting this procedure.

Therefore unless the abovementioned surface ‘streaking or distressed’ look effects are required, the adoption of this procedure of intermittent water spray curing using a garden hose or a suitable water sprayer, is highly recommended - to be commenced, initially gently, fairly soon after the final coat of these special coating products becomes dry to the touch.

Avoid pooled water on pavements:
When intermittently water spray curing these long-lasting coatings, which having been applied to pavements and other horizontal work (compared to the water spraying of vertical walls), do not leave water in pools on the coated surfaces - see above.

Optional clear over-coating or sealing - caution:
Although, from a durability, and water proofing point of view, it is not absolutely necessary, the applied product may be over-coated preferably with at least two (2) coats of a suitable transparent clear coating such as Ability’s AQUAdura semi-gloss water-based 100% acrylic clear coating.

AQUAdura reduces the need to clean these three (3) applied paints and to retain their pristine, non-dirt darkened look - particularly on pavements and floors to retain their original colour.

AQUAdura clear ‘lacquer’ will change the flat, matte appearance of applied the Paint. duro paint™ Matte and the low sheen finish of duro paint™ Low Sheen to that of a semi-glossy to glossy appearance, depending on the number of coats applied - and therefore to make colours appear more intense - especially dark colours and to provide a 'wet look'.

However, the clear over-coating of a completed application of any of these paint products should preferably only be carried out after a one (1) to two (2) day period of efficient intermittent water spray curing as outlined in the previous column, and allowing the coated surface to dry before clear coating.

The allowance of a 6 to 12 month period of external weathering, where over the actual time period, both clean tap water used for the water spray curing and natural rainwater have been allowed to wash the surface of any retained white soluble surfactant material is also beneficial.

We suggest a weathering period of at least six (6) months together with the careful washing off, of any surface dust, dirt and/or contaminants and drying before clear coating.

The allowance of a 6 to 12 month period of external weathering, where over the actual time period, both clean tap water used for the water spray curing and natural rainwater have been allowed to wash the surface of any retained white soluble surfactant material is also beneficial.

We suggest a weathering period of at least six (6) months together with the careful washing off, of any surface dust, dirt and/or contaminants and drying before clear coating.