1 · Substrate Preparation
Acceptable substrates · surface tolerance · moisture · primer
| Acceptable substrates |
MR30 HDF core, gypcrete, cured concrete (≥28 day), plywood subfloor (APA-rated) |
| Surface tolerance |
Flat to 3/16" over 10 ft · no high spots >1/8" |
| Moisture |
Substrate <3 lb/1000 sq ft/24 hr (ASTM F1869) or <75% RH (ASTM F2170) |
| Primer |
Acrylic bonding primer, single coat, 200–250 sq ft/gal |
2 · Application Steps
Mix · equipment · coat thickness · sequencing · ∼8 hrs working time per 1,000 sq ft
1
Pre-dampen substrate & stage panels
Lightly mist substrate to dampen, then stage panels on the deck so the crew can move in a single direction across the pour. Confirm primer is tack-free before stage-in.
2
Mix & pour per TDS ratio
Combine resin + hardener at the published ratio; mechanical mix 2 minutes at 400 rpm. Pot life begins at mix — pour within the working window.
3
First coat — notched squeegee at 1/8" wet film
Apply with a notched squeegee at target 1/8" wet-film thickness. Cross the room in even passes; back-roll with a short-nap roller to break surface tension.
4
Broadcast aluminum oxide (if specified)
For slip-rated finishes, broadcast aluminum oxide to refusal into the wet first coat. Allow to cure past the recoat point before stepping on it for the next pass.
5
Second coat — roll cross-direction at 1/16"
Apply second coat perpendicular to the first at 1/16" wet-film thickness. Verify coverage & uniformity, then let cure (see Section 3 for timing).
3 · Cure Times
Recoat window · full cure · weather + temperature caveats
| 70°F, 50% RH |
Recoat 4–6 hr · Full cure 24 hr |
| 55°F, 70% RH |
Recoat 8–10 hr · Full cure 36 hr |
| >85°F or <40°F |
Suspend — substrate outside spec |
Cold weather — below 50°F: extend cure, no foot traffic <48 hr. High humidity — above 70% RH: allow 50% additional cure time before loading. HVAC turnover at full airflow during cure will reduce both recoat and full-cure windows in cold conditions; in hot/dry conditions, expect the short end of the recoat range and protect the floor from direct sun through glazing.
Want the full spec sheet on the truck?
thermaslab.com/install-guide