Application Instruction Overview for DK 400WB

 IMPORTANT! Before You Begin: Review the complete DK 400WB Technical Data Sheet (TDS) and Safety Data Sheets (SDS), linked above, before installation. The information below is a brief overview and does not replace the manufacturer's complete application instructions. Apply a test area on site to confirm how DK 400WB affects the color, look, and sheen of the surface before beginning the full application.

Tools and Supplies

• pH test kit for checking the surface before application
• 1-Gallon Helix Paint Mixer for mixing Parts A and B
• Roller pan or pail with a roller grid
• Masking tape for masking off areas and de-fuzzing roller covers
• 9" Roller Frame or 18" Roller Frame, both with a threaded handle for an extension pole, with the 18" frame for larger areas
• 1/4" Mohair Roller Cover in 9" or 18", for a thinner coat
• 3/8" Pro/Doo-Z Roller Cover in 9" or 18", for a thicker coat
• 2" chip brush for cutting in along walls and edges
• Appropriate PPE

Step 1 – Prepare the Surface

• The surface must be clean and sound, with no dust, oil, grease, sealers, curing agents, efflorescence, or other contaminants
• Remove existing coatings by diamond grinding or shot blasting
• Allow new concrete to cure approximately 28 days, while cement-based overlays typically cure within 2–3 days
• Profile concrete to CSP-1 or CSP-2, so it feels like 80–180 grit sandpaper, though cement-based overlays usually don't need profiling
• Remove flaking or delaminating areas mechanically, and patch with Flash Patch as needed
• Test for moisture with a plastic sheet test or calcium chloride test, since readings over 8 lbs per 1,000 sq ft in 24 hours are too wet
• Check the surface with a pH test kit to confirm the pH doesn't exceed 10.5
• No separate base coat is needed, including on exterior concrete, since DK 400WB is self-priming
• When topcoating epoxy, screen the cured coat with a 100-grit sanding screen, then vacuum and wipe with acetone or denatured alcohol on a microfiber pad

Step 2 – Plan the Application

• Provide good ventilation and wear appropriate PPE
• Plan on at least two people, one applying the product and the other following right behind to backroll with a dry roller
• Apply DK 400WB by roller, and do not atomize it through a sprayer
• De-fuzz roller covers by wrapping them with masking tape and pulling the tape off
• Mask everything that needs protection, since the product sticks to just about everything
• Work across the narrowest dimension of the area, and work toward an exit
• Mark on the wall how far each kit should go at 300–400 sq ft per gallon to track coverage

Step 3 – Mix the Material

• Pour Part B into Part A, since the kit is premeasured at 3:1
• Mix with a 1-gallon Helix paint mixer for 3 minutes at medium speed
• Optional: once mixed, thin with up to 20% water (25 oz per gallon) for easier, thinner application, which some applicators do on the first coat only
• Get mixed material on the surface promptly, since pot life is about 30 minutes
• Pour into a pan or pail with a roller grid
• Do not leave the mixing pail upside down to drain, since unmixed material can drip out and leave spots that won't cure

Step 4 – Apply the First Coat

• Take extra care with the first coat, since the better it goes down, the better the finished surface will look
• Saturate the roller, remove the excess, and apply thin coats
• Cover a section you can comfortably reach with a wet roller, and backroll it before the product starts to get tacky and pull
• Keep a wet edge with all overlaps wet on wet, since uneven absorption of the first coat causes permanent discoloration
• Roll out drips and runs right away, especially on walls and other vertical surfaces, since drips left to saturate or dry on the surface cause permanent discoloration
• Replace roller covers if they start pulling
• Cut in along walls with a chip brush

Step 5 – Apply the Final Coat

• Apply the second coat once the first coat is dry to the touch and no longer tacky, typically 6–8 hours at 77°F or 18+ hours at 50°F
• If the first coat has cured more than 48 hours or dust has settled into it, scuff it with a black pad or 100-grit screen, then vacuum and give it a solvent wipe
• Mix and apply the same way as the first coat
• Get the product down and backroll it quickly, and any bubbles will dissipate as DK 400WB dries
• Don't overwork the final coat, since it can lead to sheen inconsistencies and other appearance issues

Step 6 – Allow to Cure

• At 77°F, allow 24 hours for light traffic, 3 days for heavy traffic, and 5–7 days for full cure
• At 50°F, allow 48 hours for light traffic, 5 days for heavy traffic, and 14 days for full cure
• Optional: add a mop-on SureFinish sacrificial coat, available in gloss or matte, for extra protection and a measure of slip resistance
• Clean tools and spills with soap and water before the product dries

Installation Limitations

• Apply only when ambient and surface temperatures are between 50°F and 90°F and will stay in that range for at least 12 hours
• Surface temperature must be at least 5°F above the dew point
• Relative humidity must be below 75%
• Do not apply in wet or foggy weather
• DK 400WB will not bridge construction joints, so plan for flexible caulk at joints that move
• Protect the finished surface from metal wheels and furniture that puts pressure on small points
• Chemicals from tires can damage sealers in vehicle parking areas
• Use caution when taping on a coating that isn't fully cured, since edges can delaminate
• Do not allow the product to freeze
• For use by trained professionals who have read the complete TDS and SDS