|
The Cement Coating You Apply Like Paint |
A LikeNu Installation consists of the following steps:
The porous nature of concrete plus the sometimes various qualities of a pour make it one of the most difficult materials to seal. The most important step is the first one -- surface preparation. Although the LikeNu system creates a compatible cementitious surface, it will not bond to dirty or oily surfaces.
The first thing to do is clean the surface of the animal fat, oils and automotive fluids such as motor oil, grease, brake fluid, gasoline and anti-freeze. Small areas of contamination can be cleaned using a d-Limonene cleaner such as Orange100. Larger areas may require more extensive cleaning. This is especially true if the contamination has soaked deeply into the concrete. The most environmentally friendly method is to use oil eating bacteria. WonderMicrobes is powerful mixture of surfactants and bacteria that reduces hydrocarbons to carbon dioxide and water.
Once the microbes have done their job, you are ready to high pressure clean. Wooden surfaces must be cleaned very gently so as not to spall the wood fiber. If another cleaner is needed, be sure that it is biodegradable such as OxyBoost.
Rinse thoroughly and let dry. Some concrete surfaces are hard steel troweled or have had a hardening compound added during cure. Put a drop of water on the dry surface and observe what happens. If it quickly soaks into the concrete you're ready to go. If it beads and sits there for a minute you'll need additional surface preparation. Grinding and shot blasting are excellent options. NuEtch will quickly create a microscopically roughened surface suitable for bonding. Once you have a clean, dry and roughened surface you're ready to begin the LikeNu application.
LikeNu primer (ASA 603 CEP) is provided as a concentrate. Reduce 50% with water by adding the primer to an equal amount of water.
We recommend testing your surface preparation before proceeding. Apply a little primer to a small ( 1 sq. ft.) area and allow it to dry. Use a knife blade to try to remove. If you can only barely chip it off you're ready to go. If you can remove it as a continuous film (like cellophane) then surface preparation is inadequate.
Apply the primer solution thinly at an approximate rate of 300 square feet per gallon. The primer will turn blue as you apply it and turn clear upon drying. Brush out any white spots as these indicate primer too thick.
If there is any spalling or other areas that need patching use the reduced primer solution as the liquid with any sand-cement material patching mortar. (Do not use mortar mixes containing limestone.) Trowel your patch directly over the primed concrete.
After mixing all the above, let stand for 10 to 20 minutes and let the cement swell. If it is not smooth enough, mix for a second time and let it stand for another 10 minutes and it should be ready to use. Although LikeNu is usually applied by roller it can be sprayed. If you are planning on spraying then pour the mixed material through a paint sieve to remove any cement lumps.
Roll LikeNu evenly across the surface. The 1.5 gallons of mixed LikeNu should cover 100 to 150 square feet in two coats.
Depending on the temperature it should dry and be ready for a second coat or sealing in 20 minutes on a hot day (80 to 95 degrees F.)and 30 to 45 minutes on cool days (60 to 75 degrees F.) Under 60 degrees drying times can be as long as two hours. LikeNu should not be applied below 45 degrees F.
All concrete pours should be sealed so that they will build strength. Although LikeNu performs well without additional protection the properties are enhanced by additional clear topcoats. Seal with a single thin coat of Acrylic-Urethane Sealer at a rate of 300 sq. ft per gallon.
When planning a coating application one must consider the end use. If traffic is going to be extreme from people, fork truck or vehicular traffic a very tough coating becomes a necessity. This procedure was originally written for doing a drive thru such as found at most fast-food establishments. Vehicular oil drippings plus food dropping can create a real mess.
To super enhance the repellent properties of your new LikeNu surface use CrystalNu, an aliphatic moisture cured urethane with no free iso-cyanate. This coating will prevent dirt pick up and tire marking. Oil and dirt will wash away very easily. The dilution of the CrystalNu and its very thin application will not be easily noticed except the surface will clean easily the next time that it gets soiled. The cleaning time in the future will be drastically reduced.
The application of the CrystalNu is easy. Using a foam roller simply roll the coating onto the cured, sealed LikeNu surface. Full drying of the urethane coat is about 24 hours.
We recommend that each contractor test out the above procedure to his own satisfaction. If you are satisfied, then do a job. To aid in product evaluation we have assembled test kits that contain the following materials.
LikeNu Regular Test Kit
|
LikeNu Severe Duty Test Kit
|
|
*The Primer and sealer are shipped as one pint concentrate. Add water to make the full quart. Kit does NOT include 3.5 pounds of cement. Please acquire locally. | |
Order LIKENU Test Kits via Pay-Pal |
||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||
Click for the LikeNu Brochure in .pdf format -- 114kb
Picture Collections
Artists at Work | Stadium Coating | Store Sidewalk | Len's Steps | More Pictures
Kennedy Memorial, Hyannis, Mass.
ASA 603 CEP Home | Polymer Concrete Pool Deck
| Page Navigator | Site Search | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| ASA 606 | NuKlear | ASA 603 | Microbes | Cleaners-Tools | Contact | Order Now |
 September 26 2013 |
 Tell a Friend! |