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SCIENCE BEHIND IT
Working With Epoxies, Resins, And A Single-Source Provider By Jen Kramer
t Prime Coat, Chris O'Brien and Jeff Adney are on the cutting-edge of coatings manufacturers who also happen to install the products that they create. As O'Brien puts it: "Prime Coat is a single source provider of high-performance coating systems. Single source means we manufacture and install our own products. By choosing a single source provider, customers are guaranteed satisfaction. They won't need to worry about vendors pointing fingers at each other. It makes sense that there will be a higher quality result when you work with a single source provider." They have a lab on-site to manufacture resin flooring and wall systems. This ensures that each project is a custom project. The unique nature of the resin allows for a high degree of creativity along with the protection afforded by the rugged nature of the epoxy.
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Unconventional And Uncompromising Many specifiers are finding that unlike traditional materi- als, such as carpet, ceramic, quarry tile, and vinyl, resinous floor and wall systems offer distinct advantages. In fact, according to O'Brien, there are 10 distinct reasons why resin systems are replacing "traditional" materials as the coating materials of choice: 1) Resinous materials are green and sustainable. When ceramic tile has outlived its usefulness, it is scraped up and placed in a landfill. Resinous materials stay with the building for the life of the building. They can be recoated if necessary to change colors or to "freshen" them up.
2) Use of resinous materials will help you qualify for LEED points.
3) Resinous systems are cost-effective. The ability to tailor specifications to your exact needs helps to fine- tune project costs.
4) Most resinous materials last longer than other finishes and have a lower life-cycle cost.
5) Most resinous materials are much more durable and are more impact-, abrasion-, and chemical-resistant than their traditional counterparts.
6) The slip-coefficient can be adjusted to meet specifica- tions on an individualized, project-by-project basis. This cannot be done with traditional materials.
7) Resinous systems typically have no seams, gaps, or other openings through which moisture and microbes can pass or grow.
8) Anti-microbial agents can be added to resinous systems. This is especially important in buildings such as the veterinary hospital and food and beverage facilities—any place where strict clean room proto- cols are required.
9) Resinous systems can be instal led over most substrates, covering many problems, like cracks and gaps. Additionally, many resinous systems create an impervious moisture barrier. However, it is important to note that if the resin used is organic it will not be impervious to moisture.
10) The broad array of colors, styles, and patterns that can be achieved with resinous coatings are on par with any other finish – making them appropriate for all types of construction.
In all, working with epoxy resin coating systems
provides a degree of durability and choice not offered by standard flooring and wall systems. Capable of being custom engineered on-the-spot, for these epoxy resin systems, the science behind it is the science of the moment. CP
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