TC-200 Info
Precision Epoxy Products
TC-200 Broadcast Floor System
"Performance Flooring"
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Serving the Motorsports Industry with our complete line of
performance flooring systems. All of our flooring
systems can be professionally installed or applied by the do-it-yourselfer
utilizing one of our informative instructional videos. Precision Epoxy offers
several options of floor coatings to meet your needs and budget. All of the
following
options
provide for protection of the sub-base, ease of cleaning, chemical resistance,
and cosmetic value. The main difference between the lesser options is material cost,
installation time and structural value (key to the floor's longevity).
Option One:
The 4-step TC-200 Broadcast Floor System is designed as a seamless, maximum performance floor finish with high strength properties, long range durability, outstanding chemical and impact resistance, extreme ease of cleaning and unparalleled substrate protection. Cosmetics are just an extra! Typical uses for commercial or residential applications are: garage floors; aircraft hangers; automotive shops; machine shops; kitchen or commissary areas; bathroom or shower areas; food processing facilities; chemical plants; photo labs; laboratories; paper or fabric mills; general industrial buildings or multi-purpose rooms. Since 1970 our products and application techniques have led the way, providing that personal touch to all our professional installations, along with the most knowledgeable technical support available for the do-it-yourselfer. Used in shops nationwide with applications in all types of environments and climates. The TC-200 Broadcast Floor System is available in 14 standard colors with custom colors upon request. The TC-200 epoxy is a 2-component, pure 100% solids, solvent free, pigmented system that is used as the two top coats of our 4-step broadcast floor system to create a 1/8th inch (125 mils) thick floor coating. Lesser variations of this floor are available for the budget minded. All our flooring systems will make a major and long lasting change of environment to the most used thing in your shop --- The Floor!
Limitations: New concrete must be at least 30 days old, fully cured and free of surface moisture. A vapor barrier should be in place and functional underneath concrete poured on or below grade to block ground moisture migration. This would not apply to above grade concrete or wooden substrates. Contaminates on floor such as oil, grease, silicone, wax, etc. could cause a "fish eye" effect during epoxy application. Extreme movement of new or existing stress fractures in substrate may transmit through the epoxy floor coating. When welding, protection is needed from hot, glowing embers which can melt into flooring at extreme temperatures causing cosmetic but not structural problems. Prolonged immersion of automotive battery acid will leave a whitish stain but not effect coating's film integrity. The smooth, high gloss finish of this floor system will highlight any uneven, wavy or trowel mark flaws in the sub-base. The TC-200 epoxy floor finish will scratch if abused.
Surface Preparation: Ideally, new concrete is obviously the easiest application environment for any floor coating you choose; however, there is basically no flooring substrate that cannot receive some type of application. An existing floor must be clean, dry and free of oils, grease, silicones, wax, etc. The most common methods of substrate preparation are: washing with degreaser, muriatic acid, phosphoric acid, caustic acid, a steam cleaner or pressure washer; sand blasting, shot blasting or Blastrac machine; sanding with a floor sander or any combination of these. Specialized job requirements, already tried cleaning methods, previously applied coatings or applications to other than concrete substrates should be consulted with Precision Epoxy for additional technical assistance.
Substrate Defects: Correction of defects is important to help achieve the cosmetic results that the TC-200 Floor System has to offer. The substrate should always be sanded with a rotary floor buffer and sanding attachment using a 20-3 1/2 grit paper. This will remove or smooth any burrs, protrusions, mortar or concrete spatter, trowel ridges, residue and /or existing coatings. Spalling, depressions, holes and chips along with stress fractures in the substrate should be filled and tooled smooth with one of the SG-Series Epoxies. Defects can also be corrected between floor system coats as needed. SG-25 Epoxy is applied much like bondo or spackling and should be tooled, cured and sanded prior to the next coating application. Do not use bondo, spackling, mortar, concrete patch material or other type filler material for this procedure because of possible problems with reaction, curing shrinkage, moisture content or improper bonding. For more severe cases of concrete spall repair, substrate leveling or drainage sloping, a troweled or slurry coat application of the Santex System may prove more feasible. After sanding, the floor is vacuumed to remove all dust and debris.
Step 1: The first coat is optional but should always be considered where thermal shock to the concrete slab is possible. IG-100 Epoxy is used as a flexible penetrating primer because of its excellent elongation qualities, elasteric memory, low viscosity, extended pot life and open time. The IG-100 has a 1:1 mix ratio by volume and no more material than can be applied in 40 minutes should be mixed at a time. The mixed IG-100 System is applied by brush and roller at a rate of 250 square feet per gallon. Different degrees of penetration are possible depending on the porosity of the substrate. Should minimum saturation be evident, a light broadcasting of sand into the uncured IG-100 may be deemed necessary to aid in the compressive strength of the floor system. The primer will have a slight tacky feel the next day when the second step is applied. Do not add solvent to this system.
Step 2: The second coat is applied over the first with no other preparation needed. The FS-190 Epoxy is used and has a 2:1 mix ratio by volume and no more material than can be applied in 25 minutes should be mixed at a time. This product is applied by brush and roller at a rate of 160 square feet per gallon. Do not add solvent to this step. After application to substrate, product is allowed time to "lay-out" or flow into itself to level out roller ridges and lap marks. Then while still in the product's "open time", a clean, dry, 60 mesh (or similar size) sand is broadcast into the uncured FS-190 Epoxy. Wearing spiked golf shoes the applicator is able to walk out on the freshly applied epoxy without disrupting product's film integrity. Sand is broadcast solid and heavy enough to achieve a total dry sand appearance; this assures uniform saturation. Broadcasting of sand without allowing FS-190 to "lay-out" will create unnecessary roughness in floor that will have to be sanded smooth.
Step 3: After step 2 has been allowed to cure, the excess sand is picked up with broom and shovel. This sand can be saved for reuse on other projects. The floor is then sanded with a rotary floor buffer and sanding attachment using 20-3 1/2 grit paper to smooth any imperfections and partially secured grains of sand. This sanding is fairly light while using an aggressive technique on any rough or flawed areas. After sanding is completed, floor is then vacuumed to remove sanding dust and debris. Note: Sweeping or blowing will not be adequate during any step. The first color coat of TC-200 Epoxy is now applied by brush and roller at a rate of 125 square feet per gallon. This will complete the structural body of the floor system. TC-200 has a 2:1 mix ratio by volume with a working time of 25 minutes at 77 degrees F. As with all epoxy systems, higher application temperatures will reduce pot life, open time and cure time of the system while lower application temperatures increase all times. This coat should leave the floor with a combination of glassy and textured areas when properly applied.
Step 4: After step 3 has been allowed to cure, the floor is again sanded using the coarse 20-3 1/2 grit paper, vacuumed and tack-ragged with denatured alcohol to remove dust, moisture or possible contaminates. The second color coat of TC-200 is then applied at a rate of 225 square feet per gallon. It is recommended that Xylene or Xylol solvent be added at 8 to 17% by volume on a per batch basis to extend product's pot life and increase flow ability. This is the cosmetic coat of the floor system and the TC-200 Epoxy can be applied by brush and special shed resistant roller or by using an airless sprayer for optimal results. The completed TC-200 Epoxy System will accept foot traffic in 24 hours and automobile or forklift traffic in seven days at 77 degrees F. The floor system requires minimal maintenance but can be scratched with excessive use over a period of time. Should it lose its cosmetic appearance, simply repeat this step any time in the future to make the floor new again or to achieve a color change. The structural and protective values of this floor will be very, very long lasting.
Summary: Expansion joints are dealt with in different ways depending on the type you may have, consult with Precision Epoxy for your situation. For the do-it-yourselfers, you must realize that a good job results from careful attention to detail, product mix ratios and the following of application instructions. Viewing the TC-200 Instructional Video and all the products technical bulletins is recommended to fully understand the handling, measuring , mixing, application and clean up involved when using all the epoxy systems required during the TC-200 Broadcast Floor System installation. Do Not: alter any product's mix ratio for any reason; apply any coat below its recommended coverage; wear work shoes or use power cords with oil or grease on them. Should sand paper become gummed up while sanding any coat, additional curing time should be allowed. Floor system can be applied at any temperature, however, at cooler temperatures, additional curing time between coats must be allowed. The 4-step floor system can be applied in four consecutive days, four consecutive weekends or whatever time frame fits your schedule. All tools and equipment needed for the floor system installation are available on the Shop Check list.
Option Two:
The 4-step Granular Quartz Flooring: This system is structurally the same as the 4-step TC-200 Broadcast Floor System above, while offering a cosmetic alternative to the TC-200 pigmented epoxy look. Choosing from a variety of available color combinations, the quartz flooring system combines multi-colored aggregates permanently imbedded in the tough, clear FS-190 Epoxy. The Quartz floor is installed the same as above with a double broadcast and is slightly more expensive to install than the TC-200 floor. Additional information on the Granular Quartz Flooring is available upon request.
Option Three:
The 3-step broadcast floor system: This system omits the IG-100 flexible penetrating primer 1st step of the 4-step floor system above; for applications where thermal shock is not a consideration. This is a very slight cost savings and is not generally considered for up grading property that you own.
Option Four:
The two coat TC-200 floor coating: This is simply a base coat and cosmetic top coat of TC-200 epoxy in the color of your choice. You will have a floor that is cosmetically the same as the 4 or 3 step floors with less structural value at a lower cost. Two coats are minimum to achieve a uniform color.
Option Five:
The one coat FS-190 clear sealer: The easiest and most inexpensive way to achieve sub-base protection and ease of cleaning with limited cosmetic value. If you have new concrete, you should at least be doing this if nothing else.
Caring for your Floor: The Epoxy Floor finish can be cleaned as you would any other type floor area. General cleaning can be done with warm water and a degreasing soap or detergent by mopping or scrubbing with a nylon bristle brush, hosing off to rinse and squeegee or air dry. For detail cleaning, 'Soft Scrub' or plastic cleaners that are non-abrasive and offer anti-static and scratch resistance are recommended. The floor will show scratches over a period of time especially when floor is dirty. Avoid dragging heavy and/or sharp objects over floor surface. Plastic or rubber feet for jack stands and plastic or rubber wheels for jacks used on the floor will minimize scratching but are not necessary.
What about cost? For the do-it-yourselfer, we package the flooring systems to fit your square footage. Larger jobs save on packaging discounts and freight cost. The 4-step floor system runs between $1.25 to $2.00 per square foot for all your materials and application tools with the average being around $1.55 per square foot. The lesser systems are reduced in price respectively. Contact Precision Epoxy Products with your square footage and system choice for a current quote including freight cost or for pricing on professional installations where available.
Important for do-it-yourselfers: Every reasonable precaution is taken in the manufacture of all products and compiling of data to assure that they comply with Rock Art's exacting standards. We assume no liability for damages of any kind and no guarantee of results using these products or data is given because every possible variation in the method of their use or conditions under which they are applied cannot be anticipated. User accepts products "AS IS" and without warranties, expressed or implied. The suitability of a product for an intended use shall be solely up to the user. We are not responsible if the product should be used in a manner to infringe any patent held by others.
Click here to view: Shop Check list * TC Order Form * TC-200 Photos * Magazine Articles
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