Application Procedure-Solvent

The following procedures should be followed for applying SAFETY COATINGS, INC. marking paints.

All surfaces to be painted should be completely dry and free of loose dirt, rocks, etc. (Sweeping before application is recommended.)

All new asphalt surfaces should be properly cured before striping. Most asphalt surfaces require a minimum of 2 weeks curing; however, this may vary on the blend of asphalt to aggregate. Improperly blended or cured asphalt will not withstand the stress exerted by the curing of the paint film and, therefore, the areas striped may pull the asphalt loose. If there is any doubt regarding this, apply a small stripe of paint to an area and allow to cure. Observe the results before striping the entire area.

Fresh asphalt surfaces have a tendency to bleed very badly when solvent based paint is applied. If solvent based paint must be used, we recommend a thin coat (approximately 5 mils) be applied on the surface, allowed to cure about a week, and then a regular coat (15 mils) be applied as a final stripe. Each individual user must decide the type of surface being coated and the method to be used. However, if possible, the user should consider waterborne coatings for new or rich asphalt surfaces and sealcoated surfaces, since they have less tendency to bleed and will expand better on new surfaces.

New concrete surfaces are very difficult to adhere to due to their curing compounds. Most curing compounds take 8 to 12 weeks to dissipate. Therefore, painting a concrete surface less than 3 months old is NOT RECOMMENDED. If painting must be done sooner, please contact SAFETY COATINGS, INC. for our recommended paint and application procedures.

All paint should be stirred thoroughly before use. Thinning is not recommended; however, if necessary, no more than 2 quarts of solvent (as recommended by SAFETY COATINGS, INC.) per 5 gallons of paint (5 gallons per 55 gallon drum) should be added. Gasoline is not recommended as a thinner.

All paint should be applied at 15 mils + 1 mil wet. The spreading rate is 350 linear feet per gallon of 4-inch line.

For reflectorization, drop-on glass beads should be applied immediately after the paint with the optimum amount being 6 lbs. per gallon of paint uniformly spread over the entire line.

All paint lines should be adequately protected until they are track free before traffic is allowed over the line.

Since most traffic paint dries rapidly, all equipment, tools, etc. should be cleaned as soon as possible after application is complete.

When applying alkyd paints, the air temperature should be 40 degrees F minimum, and the surface temperature 40 degrees F minimum. The application temperature of heated paints should not exceed 150 degrees F.