RTFM! Following instruction is key to success
Mark Almond is General Manager of Star Uretech,
manufacturer of the TekGrip® and TekSet® range of resins, and in
this comment piece, he considers the importance of strictly following
the installation instructions and how adhering to best practice will
set your business apart in these difficult economic times.
Star Uretech is one of Britain's leading suppliers
of resins for decorative aggregate surfacing with a comprehensive
range designed to maximise performance. From eye catching visitor
attractions and famous landmarks, to multi-storey car parks and
domestic driveways, Star Uretech's products offer architects
unlimited design potential whilst contractors and installers benefit
from simplified application requirements.
While the use of resin bonded and resin bound
surfacing has grown enormously over recent years, so has the number
of suppliers and installers, which has created a much more
competitive market. In such an environment, reputation is paramount,
so no-one, not the supplier and certainly not the installer, wants a
project to go wrong and possibly result in expensive remedial work.
Three common causes of project failure are:
- Low quality resins
and aggregates
- Cutting corners
during preparation and installation
- Not following the product specific
instructions
The main cause of failure in resin bound surfacing
is the use of a poor quality resin. Too many resin systems currently
on the market lack the required physical properties to cope with the
intended traffic, be it pedestrian or vehicular. Too many cannot
tolerate rain or other precipitation on the uncured surface. They may
require hazardous catalysts to initiate curing, or they may fail to
cure in freezing conditions. Too many simply discolour (yellowing)
and lose strength over time. In reality this makes them less than
ideal for most applications in the climate we have in Britain and
Ireland. Even if all these problems are overcome, unsuitable
substrates, insufficient application depths, unsuitable aggregate
selection and damp or dusty aggregates can all lead to a failed
application.
Star Uretech
looked at these problems and believed they had the capability to
formulate a product that was unaffected by rain on the applied
surface, would cure in freezing temperatures without the need for
hazardous catalysts, and would have physical properties far
exceeding anything else currently available.
TekSet® Advance, the new flagship product from
Star Uretech, sets impressive standards for all SUDS-compliant
resin bound decorative surfacing. The company believes its
patented formulation based on hybrid polymer chemistry offers
performance benefits unmatched by any other system on the market.
Not only is TekSet® Advance resilient and
long-lasting, but it also achieves a far greater strength and
scuffing resistance to the cured surface than conventional
systems, and that it is perfectly possible to undertake
installation all year round. The unique formulation means it will
cure in cold and damp or even freezing conditions, and it can be
applied right up until the rain starts. Furthermore, TekSet®
Advance is said to exhibit a fast final cure that enables early
trafficking. Comparative tests claim to demonstrate that the
TekSet® Advance system achieves around three times the strength
of other resin binder systems on the market.
When asked about how TekSet® Advance differs
from other binder systems Mark said,
"TekSet® Advance is a huge leap forward
in binder technology. Based on an entirely new chemistry its
unique patented formulation performs to extremely high levels."
Mark continued,
"Anyone using TekSet® Advance could be
forgiven for thinking that all resin binders are basically the
same. However, as with its chemistry and performance, the
application procedure for TekSet® Advance is very different from
the old PU and epoxy binders that people have become accustomed
to."
While Star's recent additions to their existing
successful stable of products may have taken performance to a new
level, correct installation is vital for performance and longevity
to be guaranteed. Commenting on the importance of following
installation procedures Mark said,
"Following best practice will help your
business flourish in tough economic times."
Using TekSet®
Advance as an example, the installation instructions couldn't be
simpler. The key is to follow these procedures consistently each
and every time for outstanding results.
The correct instructions when using TekSet®
Advance are:
- Ensure an appropriate aggregate blend is used
and that the application depth is appropriate for both the quality
of the substrate and the type of traffic to which the completed
surface will be subjected.
2
- A forced-action, pan or drum type mixer should
be used and it must be covered to prevent rain or moisture from
entering the mix.
- TekSet® Advance is supplied in a plastic
container in which a secondary container (cuvette) divides the two
resin components. This reduces both packaging waste and storage
space. Remove the lid from the product kit and carefully lift the
cuvette out of the main container. Pour the contents of the
cuvette into the main container and mix the components together
for 30 seconds with a drill-mounted paddle.
- Start the mixer and add the correct quantity of
dry, dust free aggregate. Immediately pour the mixed resin into
the mixing pan. Mixing is complete when all of the aggregate is
visibly coated with resin.
- Empty the mixed resin and aggregate, which will
be fluid and 'loose', into a barrow or directly onto the work area
and spread evenly to a depth which is a few millimetres more than
the specified finished depth. Use a float to smooth the material
to a tight, uniformly flat finish. Do not over-trowel as this may
produce so-called trowel burn which can affect shading of the
cured surface.
- The unique 'tack-free' formulation of TekSet®
Advance means the trowels need no lubrication prior to use.
However, during application the trowels should be regularly wiped
using a dry, clean rag.
- Once applied TekSet® Advance will remain in a
loose state for around 20 – 30 minutes. It should be
sufficiently cured to the point of accepting careful foot traffic
after 45-60 minutes. It should be fully cured to accept intended
traffic after 4 -12 hours.
TekSet® Advance is firm yet flexible, and its easy-to-trowel
properties mean that installation is made as simple as possible
for the properly trained installer. TekSet® Advance is
conveniently supplied as two pre-measured components within a
single container. These two components must be mixed together
before adding to the aggregate as discussed earlier. Unlike many
systems, TekSet® Advance requires no complex calculations for
varying resin to aggregate ratios.
Supplied in three
kit sizes; 50, 75 and 100, each kit size contains sufficient resin
for the specified weight of aggregate.
For example: One Kit of TekSet® Advance 50
should be mixed with 50kg (two bags) of aggregate. 
No matter what the weather throws at you...
....work can continue even in wet conditions
In conclusion,
there is nothing overly difficult or time consuming in correctly
installing a TekSet® Advance surface. It is simply a matter of
following the instructions to the letter to achieve outstanding
results and durability. Follow these basic instructions and your
clients will be delighted with the results and that can only mean
the distinct possibility of repeat business or positive referrals.
Star Uretech provide a full resource of
technical information to help the installer including application
guides, technical data sheets, demonstration videos and on-site
technical assistance where necessary.
www.star-uretech.co.uk
www.tekset.co.uk
