TOUGH

TOUGH-TEX KNOCK DOWN FINISH

Application Brochure

Tough-Tex Acrylic Knock Down Finish is a singularly unique product that can be used to produce a knock down finish and a variety of other textured effects. It can be used on most new and previously painted interior surfaces including drywall, plaster, concrete block, cinder block, poured and precast concrete and wood. The high solids formula is a cost effective way of imparting a rugged and durable finish in both commercial and residential applications.

Some of the many advantages of using Tough-Tex Acrylic Knock Down Finish include:

MILDEW RESISTANT FINISH - Tough-Tex creates a "breathable" finish which will quickly diffuse entrapped moisture that otherwise might stimulate mildew growth. This makes it far superior to vinyl wallcovering for coating walls in motels, hospitals, office buildings and restaurants.

HOW DOES TOUGH-TEX WORK TO COMBAT MILDEW GROWTH AND WHY IS IT SUPERIOR TO VINYL WALLCOVERING?

In order to flourish, mildew requires three elements: a warm climate, a food source and moisture. A normal room temperature range provides an excellent climatic environment for mildew growth. Food sources include any organic material such as wood, drywall, paper, cloth etc. The third element, and trigger mechanism, is moisture.

Vinyl wallcoverings create a vapor barrier, through which moisture cannot pass. When humidity rises, moisture laden air is everywhere, including the air spaces behind the walls! When the interior temperature cools, such as when an air conditioner is turned on or when a window is opened in the evening, the temperature may drop below the dew point causing the moisture to condense and beads of water to form. When this condensation occurs behind walls covered with vinyl wallcovering, it is trapped and cannot escape. It is absorbed by the wood, the sheetrock and the vinyl wallcovering and turns this organic matter into a tasty meal for mildew. The first manifestation of this mildew growth is an unsightly staining and an offensive odor. If this condition is untreated, it can ultimately lead to the destruction of the vinyl wallcovering, the sheetrock or plaster and the wood studs. At this point, very costly renovations will be required.

Tough-Tex Acrylic Knock Down Finish has a perm rating of 17, which is sufficient to allow moisture to be diffused through the film without causing damage and before it has a chance to promote the growth of mildew.

EXTREMELY DURABLE AND TOTALLY SCRUBBABLE - Tough-Tex is made using a new generation, 100% Acrylic resin which cures to an extremely hard finish. Unlike cheap texture paints or "home-brewed" mixtures of joint compound and inexpensive latex paints, Tough-Tex can withstand repeated scrubbing, even with heavy detergents. It has excellent adhesion properties and will not delaminate from a properly prepared substrate.

BRIDGES CRACKS AND SURFACE IMPERFECTIONS - Since Tough-Tex is a high solids, high viscosity material, it will easily cover small cracks, nail holes and other minor surface imperfections. When coating concrete surfaces, Tough-Tex will cover checking which may have occurred on the concrete surface and which might show through conventional coatings systems. Also, its textured finish will tend to minimize the prominence of scratches, dents, wear and other minor damage which the walls might sustain after coatings installation. This makes Tough-Tex an excellent choice for abuse prone walls in high trafficked commercial areas such as halls in schools or office buildings; auditoriums, restaurants, lobbies of hotels or motor lodges, offices etc.

COMPATIBLE WITH MOST OTHER FINISHES - Tough-Tex can be applied over most any existing coating system which is in good condition and which is properly prepared. Although, it does not require top coating, Tough-Tex can be recoated with any quality acrylic finish paint. Should a gloss, semi-gloss or satin finish be desired, Acrylic Enamels can be applied directly over Tough-Tex, immediately after it has dried, without the need for priming, sealing or any other additional wall preparation. Since the Tough-Tex film is so hard and tight, gloss "hold out" will be excellent and absolutely uniform.

FIVE YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY AVAILABLE - A five year limited "peace of mind" warranty is available on jobs done with Tough-Tex provided that surface preparation, priming and coating installation is performed in accordance with the methods described in this brochure. Additional terms and precautions apply. For full details, see the written warranty document or your authorized Tough-Tex dealer.

SURFACE PREPARATION - The surface to be coated must be clean, dry and free of dirt, chalk, mildew, wax, grease, rust, fats, oil, form release agents, efflorescence, existing vinyl wallcovering, loose and flaking paint or any other contamination. If there is reason to suspect the presence of moisture in plaster, drywall or masonry, it should be checked with a moisture meter. Tough-Tex should not be applied to surfaces where a moisture reading of 20 or more is obtained using a Delmhorst Moisture Meter or equivalent. If the moisture reading is in the prohibited range, ventilate the rooms and allow to dry until the moisture reading is under 20 on the scale.

Dirt, chalk, fat and form release agents should be removed by scrubbing with a strong detergent solution followed by a clean water rinse. Mildew must be removed by washing with a solution of one part household bleach and three parts water. Rinse well and allow to dry. Oil and grease should be cleaned away using Coronado Sur-Prep I, Oil and Grease Emulsifier, following all label directions. Remove any wax residue by solvent cleaning or by washing with a commercial wax remover. Eliminate efflorescence by scrubbing with a non-metallic bristle brush, followed by a clear water rinse. Remove loose or peeling paint by means of diligent scraping or sanding. Feather sand rough edges of tightly adhering paint into the surrounding area.

Existing vinyl wallcovering should be completely removed before application of Tough-Tex. Begin at a corner and slowly pull down on a diagonal. If the walls were properly prepared prior to the application of the wall vinyl, you should be able to accomplish the removal without causing significant damage to the drywall face paper. A commercial vinyl wallpaper stripper will help minimize damage to the drywall in instances where proper preparation procedures were not followed when originally installing the wallcovering. Residual wallcovering adhesive must also be removed. In many cases this can be done by sanding. If a clay based adhesive was used, it can be removed by soaking with warm, soapy water and scraping. Mildew and any other contamination must be removed using the procedures outlined above. Areas where the drywall paper has torn away should be patched using drywall compound. The edges should first be coated with Coronado 37-11 Alkyd Enamel Undercoater to keep them from peeling back any further.

In the case of fresh plaster, the alkalinity should be checked by means of a PH pencil before applying the Tough-Tex system. Tough-Tex requires a PH range of between 6 and 8 to ensure optimum coatings performance. If a PH rating of between 9 and 11 is obtained, the surface should first be coated with Coronado Grip and Seal, 116-11 before proceeding with the application of Tough-Tex.

Concrete should be allowed to age 30 days before applying Tough-Tex. All concrete and other masonry surfaces should be checked for both moisture and alkalinity. Do not attempt to install the Tough-Tex system until the moisture content is less than 20 using a Delmhorst Moisture Meter. If the alkalinity is between 9 and 12 when checking with a PH pencil, apply a coat of Coronado Alkali Resistant Masonry Surface Conditioner, 48-11 before proceeding with the Tough-Tex system. If an alkalinity reading of 13 or over is obtained, allow the masonry to cure for an additional 10 days and retest.

Large cracks, holes, grooves (as in paneling), gouges and other surface imperfections should be filled using the appropriate patching compound.

PRIMING
New Work:
Drywall - Use Coronado 40-11 Acrylic Primer Sealer
Plaster - Use Coronado 40-11 Acrylic Primer Sealer
Wood - Use Coronado 78-11 Acrylic Enamel Undercoater
Ferrous Metal - Use Coronado 180-11 DTM Primer or 36-11 Metal Primer
Galvanized - Use Coronado 180-11 DTM Primer or 36-11 Metal Primer
Smooth Masonry - Use Coronado 48-11 Masonry Sealer
Masonry Block - Use Coronado 954-11 Acrylic Block Filler

Repaint: Any contamination must be removed using procedures outlined under "Surface Preparation". Any exposed substrate should be primed using the appropriate primer. Stains, nicotine residue, discoloration due to soot etc., should be sealed using Coronado 116-11 Grip & Seal. Water and tannin stains should be first sealed using Coronado 119-11 Cover-It.

APPLICATION - The recommended application specification for Tough-Tex is a two coat system. The first coat is a base coat which is designed to cover the primer with a solid film to a dry film thickness of 4 mils. This initial application is what gives Tough-Tex its extreme scrubbability. The second application is the "spatter" or knock down coat. The application rate of this second coat depends on the thickness and density of the texture desired. It is this coat which is subsequently "knocked down" with a flexible Lexan knife and which gives the product its characteristic textured finish. Flexible Lexan knives are available in varying widths depending on the size of the job and applicator preference.

Base Coat: Mix the material thoroughly using a slow speed power drill and a Jiffy Mixer or a joint compound paddle. The preferred method of application for the base coat is by airless sprayer using a .023 - .025 tip, a mastic gun and a 3/8" material hose. To achieve the desired 4 mil dry film thickness, application should be made at 8 mils wet, which requires an application rate of 200 square feet per gallon. Tough-Tex can be thinned up to one pint of water to the gallon to ease application. Be certain that the equipment selected has sufficient pumping capacity to support the tip selected. The use of a reversible tip is recommended. This enables occasional tip stoppages to be quickly and safely eliminated. The base coat can also be applied by roller, although this is a much slower method of application. Use a 1/2" to 3/4" synthetic nap roller cover. Thin the material as necessary to achieve uniform flow onto the substrate.

Texture Coat (Knock Down) Coat - Equipment Selection:
The knock down coat may be applied by one of three means:

1.) A heavy duty airless pump such as a Graco TexSpray Mark V or GM5000HD used together with a Graco Texture Atomizer, powered by a separate air compressor.

2.) A texture spray pump such as a Graco TexSpray HP or equivalent texturing unit.

3.) A hopper gun powered by a Marshalltown Duoflex Texture Air Compressor or equal.

The Graco Airless Units described in 1.) can be used for the application of both the base and the texture coats. The other units are dedicated texture pumps and can be used for the application of the texture coat only. When using the units described in 2.) and 3.), it is necessary to use a separate airless pump for the application of the first coat.

Spraying The Knock Down Coat: The base coat must be completely dried before applying the knock down coat of Tough-Tex. Under normal drying conditions, the base coat should dry in 4 to 6 hours depending on the film thickness. High humidity, heavier applications and cooler temperatures may extend the drying time.

Apply the knock down coat of unthinned Tough-Tex in the desired pattern and density. Then, knock down using a 12" - 24" Flexible Lexan knock down knife. The working time for Tough-Tex will vary between 10 to 20 minutes depending on the ambient and surface temperatures. Warmer temperatures will tend to accelerate the drying process and commensurately reduce the working time. It is advisable that the knock down coat be applied by a crew consisting of at least two applicators. One person sprays continuously; the second and/or third person follows and performs the knock down operation.

Special Instructions For Applying The Tough-Tex Texture Coat Using Airless Equipment
Remove the tip from the airless gun and replace with the texture atomizer. Pull all filters from the system including gun, manifold and intake filters. Use a 3/8" air hose and a 3/8" material hose. Connect the texture atomizer to the air compressor. Then establish material pressure. Begin at a low pressure setting and trigger the gun into an empty bucket. Gradually increase the pressure until a steady stream of material flows into the bucket and the pump is cycling at about 1 1/2 cycles per second. Set the air pressure on the compressor tank initially to 60 PSI. Test for pattern and texture first by spraying onto a scrap piece of drywall or cardboard. The volume of material, density and flow can be adjusted by varying the air and material pressures. Generally, increasing the material pressure will result in a higher volume of material being discharged from the gun. Increasing the air (atomizing) pressure will tend to spatter the material more widely and result in a finer texture.

Some texturing equipment set ups will pump a steady burst of material for about 2 seconds before the compressed air effectively atomizes the material stream into a spatter. In these cases, aim the gun at a drop cloth or scrap cardboard on the floor and pull the trigger. Once the material begins to "spatter", move the gun up and begin depositing material on the wall surface.

Special Instructions For Applying The Tough-Tex Texture Coat Using A Hopper Gun
When applying Tough-Tex by hopper gun, it may be necessary to reduce the material up to 15% to achieve a sprayable viscosity. If attempting to produce a knock down finish, add water in small increments and only add what is necessary for the material to pass through the gun. Excess thinning will reduce the texture and produce an orange peel effect. Most hopper guns permit volume flow to be adjusted by rotating a disc in which there are holes of various sizes. Where this option is available, select one of the larger orifices for knock down work.

Special Instructions For Using The Lexan Knock Down Knives:
Keep the knock down blade edge clean by wiping often with a damp rag. Otherwise, undesirable marks may be left on the wall surfaces from build up. Knocking down the spatter (knock down) coat quickly after it is applied will result in a smoother finish. Allowing additional set up time (15 to 20 minutes) and using a light touch on the Lexan knife will cause the spatter coat to roll up slightly on the blade edge. This technique may be used when a heavier texture finish is desired.

Clean Up: Clean tools and equipment using warm soap and water. Flush spray equipment thoroughly, immediately after use, with clean water followed by a mineral spirit rinse. Otherwise, consult the spray equipment operations manual and clean in accordance with the printed instructions. Wipe up spills immediately using a rag or sponge and clean water. Dried material is difficult to remove.

Touch Up: Areas which become damaged after the application of Tough-Tex can be easily touched up using a hopper gun as described above. If the damaged area is small, it can be touched up using a hand held, manually operated hopper gun, such as a Homax PRO Model 4405P.

IMPORTANT SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

* If needed, Tough-Tex can be top coated or recoated after 6 hours.

* If an orange peel effect is desired, the second coat of Tough-Tex can be thinned before applying. Enough material should then be applied to cover approximately 75% of the base coat. Light to heavy textures can be achieved by varying the amount of water added and, where possible, the atomizing pressure. Generally adding more water and increasing the atomizing pressure will result in a finer texture.

* Allow Tough-Tex to cure for a minimum of 7 days before scrubbing vigorously or cleaning with detergents.

* Tough-Tex is available in an unlimited range of off whites and pastels. A minimum order of 1 00 gallons is required for special colors.

* Interesting decorative effects can be achieved by applying a base coat of Tough-Tex white followed by a spatter coat of a pastel color or vice versa.

* Although no additional application is required over Tough-Tex, it can be top coated with any quality latex or acrylic finish coat in any color. For increased durability and when glossy finishes are desired, Tough-Tex may be over coated with latex or acrylic eggshell, satin, semi-gloss or high gloss enamels without the need for additional priming or sealing.

* Since Tough-Tex is manufactured using only premium acrylic resins, it can be used in exterior applications over properly prepared masonry surfaces

* Tough-Tex complies with all known current VOC limits as established by the states, counties, cities and other political subdivisions as well as the new proposed EPA level for interior flat coatings.