•Do not power wash the surface to be coated. Rust Bullet coatings are moisture sensitive. Rule of thumb is for every inch of slab; it takes 30 days for the concrete to dry., i.e. for a 3-inch slab, that would be 90 days to dry completely. If there is moisture left behind, there will be adhesion issues.
• Rust Bullet coatings are moisture cured urethanes, so it’s important that your surface is COMPLETELY dry prior to application to avoid potential adhesion issues. Test to see if your concrete is still holding moisture by doing a simple moisture test; take a piece of plastic (one side cut off a gallon Ziplock bag works great) and tape it to the floor on all edges, making sure it’s sealed on all sides. Wait 24 hours and inspect to see if there is condensation or darkening of the concrete. Do this in a few places, going from the outside edges to middle of the floor to ensure it is dry throughout. If it darkens, it is still too wet to coat.
• Rust Bullet coatings only require a concrete surface profile equivalent to about 120 grit sandpaper. Frequently with new concrete, it will be power troweled or sometimes even coated with a sealer. If it was power troweled, it will likely require sanding the floor to create the necessary profile to ensure a good adhesion. If a sealer was used, remove this sealer to ensure a strong adhesion and prevent potential adhesion failure. Test to see if the floor has a sufficient profile by pouring just 1oz of water on the floor. See how fast it is absorbed. If it soaks into the floor within the first 30 seconds, this is a good indication that there is a profile for adhesion. If the water beads up on the surface and is not absorbed within thirty seconds, create the profile by sanding the floor with 80-100 grit sandpaper. This can be done using various methods, from stand-up orbital sander to a manual pole sander.
• Remove dirt, dust, etc., with an air hose, vacuum, broom etc. Rust Bullet is moisture sensitive. Spot treat oil or grease spots with a light detergent such as Dawn dish soap and water or Simple Green. Allow it to dry completely before applying any Rust Bullet coating.
• Do not open the can of the Rust Bullet until you are ready to start your project. Pour out what’s needed and close the lid to keep air away from the remaining coating. Rust Bullet coatings have phenomenal adhesion so clean any paint from the rim before replacing the lid to reopen the lid.
• Use a 3/8-inch nap roller for the best coverage. Do not use foam as foam tends to slide the coating around as opposed to achieving a thin, even coat. Microfiber rollers will give the smoothest coverage. The main goal here is to achieve thin, even coats.
• Start with small 4’x4′ sections at a time. This will ensure the areas are covered evenly.
• Do your edging first. A paint brush may be used for the edging.
• Dip the roller into the roller pan several times during application to keep a wet edge. Keep in mind to not have too much paint on the roller. When the roller slides, that means it is not coating, and proper coverage will not be achieved.
• Rolling a pattern with a medium amount of pressure on the roller handle to achieve the best coverage.
• Thin even coats are best! Do not assume that applying Rust Bullet in thick coats will provide better protection. It will not. In fact, if Rust Bullet is applied too thick, solvent popping occurs, and the coating will not cure properly. Again, thin, even coats.
• Seeing roller marks? When using Rust Bullet as a concrete floor coating, the roller marks generally appear because the thickness of the coating is not even throughout. When rolling each section, watch the already coated sections for those roller marks. If they start to appear, take the roller without adding more paint, and with no pressure on the roller handle, roll over the coated surface to even the coat out.
• Even though the roller is the most common method of application, Rust Bullet can also be brushed or sprayed. If spraying, we recommend an Airless sprayer with a 517-523 tip, 3000-5000 psi.
• Remember that all Rust Bullet requires a minimum of two coats, and the recoat time frame of approximately 2 to 6 hours between coats must be followed.
• If more than 12 hours have passed since the last coat of Rust Bullet, wait for the paint to cure for 24 hours. Scuff up the surface with 80 – 100 grit sandpaper to create a profile for adhesion and apply it to the next coat.