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EPOXY POOL PAINTS - APPLICATION GUIDE

OVERVIEW

Epoxy coatings are rapidly becoming the paints of choice for longest lasting protection of concrete, plaster, gunite, and fiberglass swimming pools and spas.   With their hard, tough, durable finish, epoxies offer unsurpassed stain, chemical, and abrasion resistance.  In addition, epoxy paint films, when applied correctly, can be built up to 20 mils and more, offering "smoothing" qualities on rough surfaces.  Also, because of their chemical cure, epoxies are the paints of choice for indoor pools.

RAMUC EPOXY POOL PAINTS

  • Premium - RAMUC Type EP Hi Build
  • Commercial - RAMUC EP

After choosing which RAMUC paint is right for you, we recommend reading this guide and our label instructions thoroughly prior to painting your pool.

USE AND DESCRIPTION

RAMUC TYPE EP Hi Build is the perfect paint for upgrading gunite, bare plaster, or concrete and existing epoxy painted surfaces.  EP Hi Build offers the longest lasting protection of any RAMUC pool paint.  Packaged in an easy-to-use 1-to-1 mix ratio, EP Hi Build rolls easily, builds up to 8 mils dry per coat drying to a hard satin finish.  RAMUC Type EP, a proven performer for over 30 years, offers high gloss, abrasion-resistant protection @ 2 mils dry per coat and recoat coverage @ more than 400 square feet per gallon.  A one gallon kit of RAMUC Type EP will mix to 1 gallon of paint.  All epoxy films will chalk (break down from the U.V. rays of the sun) over a period of time.   This is a natural degradation of the top surface of the epoxy film only.   Care needs to be taken when recoating epoxy surfaces to remove all tightly adhering residual chalk and abrade the surface prior to painting.

The keys to a successful pool or deck paint job are proper SURFACE PREPARATION AND CORRECT APPLICATION.

By following the simple 1-2-3 steps listed below, you're ensuring virtually maintenance-free paint service on your pool.

GENERAL SURFACE PREPARATION

Immediately after the pool is emptied, begin the 3-step process.

STEP 1- Previously painted epoxy or bare fiberglass surfaces need to be abraded to achieve a rough surface.  Clean with a power washer, using at least a 2500 p.s.i. machine to remove loose material.  Scrub clean with a solution of TSP (follow label directions) to remove any residual oils, dirt, etc., follow with a muriatic acid scrub to remove any mineral build up.  Rinse thoroughly with a TSP solution to neutralize the acid.   Should any minor repairs need to be made, such as hydraulic cement patch or crack or joint filling, do them at this time.  Remember to follow the manufacturer's recommendations.
STEP 2- All surfaces should then be acid etched with a 15-20% solution of muriatic or sulfamic acid to achieve a medium grade sandpaper finish on bare concrete or plaster and to remove mineral deposits on previously painted epoxy surfaces.   Neutralize/rinse with TSP.

NOW - VERY IMPORTANT:  Before applying a RAMUC epoxy pool paint (STEP 3), the pool must be completely dry.  To determine dryness, perform this simple test - Tape 2' x 2' pieces of clear plastic at the deep end wall, floor, and shallow end floor with duct tape.   After 3 hours, if any condensation appears, wait overnight or 24 hours until no condensation occurs.

Before applying RAMUC epoxy paints, mix component A thoroughly, then mix component B thoroughly.  "Box" or intermix components A+B.  After mixing component A+B together, let the admixed paint set for 15-30 minutes prior to use.  This "induction" time is based on 70° F. and 50% relative humidity.  Lower temperatures will require longer induction times.   Lower temperatures and higher humidities will affect the final cure of the coating.


APPLICATION

STEP 3-

RAMUC epoxy pool paints are best applied by roller.  Use no more than a 3/8" nap mohair metal, lambskin, phenolic core roller.  Apply epoxies at recommended coverages.  Ideal temperatures for application are between 50°-90° F.  Surface temperature should be at least 50° F.  If rain occurs during any part of the paint process, allow an extra day of dry time for each day of rain.  Rain or moisture will affect the top layer of the fresh paint film only by causing a slight "blush".  If all previous surface preparation and dry times have been adhered to, you can - 1) either apply a light coat of fresh paint, or 2) wipe the affected areas with a small amount of RAMUC Thinner, or 3) fill the pool!

COVERAGE

TYPE EP  HI BUILD

75-125 sq. ft. on bare, sandblasted, or rough surfaces..

125-150 sq. ft. on second coat or recoats

Minimum dry film per coat - 5 mils dry (7.5 mils wet)

Maximum dry film per coat - 8 mils dry (12.5 mils wet)

Pot Life - 3 hrs. (@ 70° F. and 50% relative humidity)

 TYPE EP

175-200 sq. ft. on bare, sandblasted, or rough surfaces

400-450 sq. ft. on second coat or recoats

Minimum dry film per coat - 1.7 mils dry (2.8 mils wet)

Maximum dry film per coat - 2.0 mils dry (3.2 mils wet)

Pot Life - 8 hrs. (@ 70° F. and 50% relative humidity)

Coverages will vary based on surface texture, porosity, smoothness, etc.  Use dark colors for striping ONLY.

TECHNICAL DATA

TYPE EP HI BUILD

Weight/gallon - 12# mixed

Solids by weight - 80% ± 2% mixed

Solids by volume - 66% ± 2% mixed

V.O.C.-Does not exceed 340 g/l.

Dry time to touch - 6-8 hrs.

To recoat - min 16 hrs - max 72 hrs. - MUST BE TOPCOATED WITHIN 72 HRS., or paint surface will need to be abraded prior to topcoating

To fill - 5 days (outdoor) 10 days (indoor)

Clean-up - RAMUC Thinner

 TYPE EP

Weight/gallon - 11.8# mixed

Solids by weight - 73% ± 1% mixed

Solids by volume - 60% ± 1% mixed

V.O.C.-Does not exceed 336 g/l.

Dry time to touch - 3 hrs.

To recoat - min 16 hrs - max 72 hrs. - MUST BE TOPCOATED WITHIN 72 HRS., or paint surface will need to be abraded prior to topcoating

To fill - 5 days (outdoor) 10 days (indoor)

Clean-up - RAMUC Thinner

SPRAY INFORMATION

TYPE EP HI BUILD

Conventional air - 50-90 p.s.i.

Tip size - 765 cap a needle

Airless - 2900-3000 p.s.i.

Tip size - .013-.017 B-519-B-523

 TYPE EP

Conventional air - 50-90 p.s.i.

Tip size - 765 cap a needle

Airless - 2500-3000 p.s.i.

Tip size - .017-.021 B-517

SPECIAL SITUATIONS

I. BLUSHING - FADING - CHALKING

The cause:

  • The pool is filled too soon (before five days) before the paint is completely cured, causing a blush over the surface which looks like fading or chalking.
  • Super-chlorinated water may cause a "bleached-out" look.
  • The "shock" of calcium hypochlorite can cause a white, bleached look to the paint film, leaving a whitish deposit.
  • Iron in the water from rust in the filter system may leave deposits and stain the film.
  • All epoxies will chalk to some degree due to exposure to U.V. rays of the sun.

The solution:

  • Scrub surface using a solution of soap and water.  This will remove surface dirt and deposits.
  • Wet with a weak (2-3%) solution of muriatic acid.  Acid will remove iron stains without damaging the paint film.
  • Solvent wipe affected areas with RAMUC Thinner.
  • Check your pool water chemistry daily or weekly for:
  1. Calcium hardness
  2. Total alkalinity
  3. pH
  • Extremely corrosive water can ultimately cause deterioration or breakdown of a paint film over a period of years.
  • Be sure the newly-painted pool surface dries at least five dry, sunny days before filling.

 
II. BLISTERING

The cause:

  • Using a long nap roller (over 3/8") draws air into paint film
  • Painting a damp surface
  • Filling the pool too soon
  • Incompatible paints

The solution:

  • Apply at recommended coverage rates.
  • All paintable surfaces must be dry prior to painting with epoxies.
  • Wait at least 5 dry, sunny days prior to filling pool.
  • If in doubt as to what is on the pool now, bring a paint chip in for analysis or consider using a water-base pool paint such as RAMUC Type DS or Water-based Acrylic Pool Paint.