SlideRenu Versus Gel-Coat and Epoxy Resurfacing
RESIN SYSTEM
Gel coat resins are epoxy polyester resins that degrade at a much faster
rate than SlideRenu® finish coatings; Color Shield and Clear Shield. This is
because gel coat cannot be formulated to utilize the most technically
advanced polymer chlorine resistant resins, inorganic pigments, high-density
UV blockers, adhesion promoters and gloss enhancers that are included in
the SlideRenu® formula. As a result, gel coat prematurely fades, oxidizes,
chalk, cracks and looks dull within 1-2 years!
Microscopically, gel coat is very porous, soft and shrinks when exposed to
the UV rays of the sun over a long period of time. Gel coat contains styrene,
a very hazardous chemical that causes "blooming" or the loss of color in
the pigment. The blooming or oxidation process is the result of waxes,
polishes, body oils and suntan/sunscreen lotions clogging these pores and
reacting with the UV rays of the sun turning these surface contaminants into
an acid which attacks the colored pigment. Once gel coat oxidizes, it is
nearly impossible to restore the gel coat surface to its like-new color
appearance because the color pigment has been permanently damaged by
the UV rays of the sun.
Most gel coat applicators use a gel coat enamel or PUR/POLY gel coat
which has much poorer performance characteristics than the original gel
coat used by the OEM during the manufacturing of the fiberglass water
slide. Some of the newly formulated PUR/POLY gel coats use a "brittle"
crystalline polyurethane system which is susceptible to cracking and turns
yellow.
- SlideRenu® Clear Shield and Color Shield are polyurethane/urea resin
systems that have been formulated specifically to resurface sun damaged
fiberglass water slides. SlideCare is the only company in the aquatics
industry that manufactures a solid color and clear specialty coating system
that has been specifically formulated for restoring dull color faded water
slides. All other coatings, including gel coat and epoxy paints, used by
applicators to refinish water slides are off-the-shelf marine grade products
that are neither chlorine resistant nor suitable for pool water immersion.
- All SlideRenu® coatings are custom blended with the most technically
advanced materials available in the coatings industry and have been
specifically designed to protect interior riding paths against UV
degradation, chlorinated pool water, abrasion from bathing suits, rafts,
inner tubes, foam mats, etc. Clear Shield, used as a final top coat, is
fortified with Teflon® to prevent hard water mineral deposits from clinging
to the interior side walls of the water slide reducing maintenance costs.
- SlideCare has developed a proprietary clear epoxy primer, Adhesion
Base Coat, in order to form an added envelope of protection from coating
delamination. This nearly 100% solids content primer was specifically
formulated to function as a tie-coat between the water slide surface and
the SlideRenu® finish coatings. It was also developed with specific
adhesion promoters that form a very strong molecular bond to water slide
surfaces that have been re-painted with gel coat, epoxy, alkyd, urethane
and latex paints.
PREPARATION:
Both Gel Coat and SlideRenu® coatings typically require the same amount
of surface preparation; cleaning, mechanical abrasion and a solvent wipe.
SlideCare has developed a comprehensive 18 step surface preparation and
application process that all Certified Applicators must follow. As a result,
we guarantee our workmanship for 1 year and the performance of our
coatings for up to 5 years.
APPLICATION
Gel coat doesn't level out and cure the same way that SlideRenu® coatings
do. As a result, gel coat typically has a certain degree of surface texture or
orange peel after it cures which usually requires the surface to be sanded,
sealed and polished. This is a time consuming and a costly application
step. Gel coat is normally sprayed on in multiple coats to achieve the final
cured thickness. Typically, 2 coats are required; another time consuming
and costly application step as compared to SlideRenu® coatings.
Furthermore, gel coat must be uniformly applied at the proper WFT to allow
for the initial sanding and polishing process, and still leave enough DFT to
stand up to rigorous abrasion and polishing. If gel coat is applied over 10
mils, the risk of excessive spider cracking increases significantly. Working
within these sensitive application parameters demands that gel coat be
applied by experienced applicators with efficient operating equipment in
order to achieve long lasting results.
- SlideRenu® coatings have high self-leveling properties that significantly
reduce orange peel and don't require any rigorous sanding, sealing or
polishing after they cure. Both Color Shield and Clear Shield can be brush
and hand applied with minimal texturing although a plural component
spray system is recommended to achieve a Factory-Like Finish. Since all
water slide refinishing is not done under factory controlled conditions,
airborne contaminants must be removed after the color coat is cured by
lightly sanding the surface. To bring back the original gloss and to add
an extra layer of surface protection against chlorine and rider abrasion,
Clear Shield fortified with Teflon® is applied as a final top coat.
- Depending on the existing and new color selection, most SlideRenu®
coatings have been formulated to achieve the recommended DFT
thickness (7mils body slide and 11mils raft slide) and hiding/coverage in
one application. SlideRenu® coatings have excellent elongation
characteristics which can be applied up to 30 mils without cracking or
forming spider cracks.
- SlideRenu® coatings are applied by Certified Applicators that are trained
by an authorized SlideCare water slide technician and come with a 1
year workmanship guarantee. For water parks that have skilled in-house
painting resources, SlideCare offers certification services to train in-house
maintenance staff which can greatly reduce application costs.
- All SlideCare products are environmentally safe and worker friendly and
meet the most stringent environmental standards due to the near 100%
solids content formulations.
COLOR & GLOSS RETENTION
The soft organic gel coat resins begin to break down immediately after it is
applied, and as a result, color and gloss retention suffers. As the oxidation
process accelerates, color and gloss retention fails at an exponential rate. It
is not uncommon for a new gel coat water slide to look dull and weathered
after 1 or 2 seasons!
- SlideRenu® coatings have been formulated with the highest color and
gloss retention materials in the industry. Its high color-depth of image and
permanent Wet-Look gloss retention finish produces a very shiny surface.
- Since it is chemically impossible for SlideRenu® coatings to chalk or
oxidize; gloss retention is maintained over the life of the coating, up to 10
years. Highly effective high-density UV blockers also provide an added
shield of protection of the underlying colored pigment.
- The high gloss and durability of Clear Shield, which is fortified with
Teflon®, is unmatched in the industry. Its hydrophobic properties make it
nearly impossible for any surface contaminant to stick to the surface.
Furthermore, its graffiti resistant properties make it easier to remove water
shoe marks, leaf stains and other hard to remove stains reducing
maintenance costs.
MAINTENANCE
Because gel coat forms a soft film, routine compounding and polishing
reduces gel coat thickness by about 2-3 mils per year. Waxing weathered
oxidized gel coat slides does very little to enhance their appearance.
- SlideRenu® coatings are molecularly stronger than gel coat resins and
don't wear out as fast. They have excellent mechanical properties even in
the most extreme environmental conditions.
- Water slides restored with SlideRenu® coatings typically don't require any
compounding or polishing which saves a substantial amount of money
over the maintenance life cycle of the water slide. However, good
maintenance practices recommended that a water slide is cleaned using a
foaming soap, water-based degreaser, enviro-safe scale remover and
pressure washer at the beginning and end of the season. Slide
manufacturers also recommend that water slides be waxed at least twice
a year; opening day and closing day. A third waxing may also be
needed based on usage, weather and location. SlideRenu® coatings
accept most waxes but a nano-technology polymer wax bonds best with
the compatible SlideRenu® polymer resins.
COST
Gel coat is very expensive to apply averaging $15-$20/sq. ft. When the
life cycle costs of gel coat are added to the initial application cost, gel coat
costs about 2-3 times more than water slides resurfaced with SlideCare's 3-
Coat Aquatic Protection System. Over a 10 year maintenance cycle,
SlideRenu® coatings can save a substantial amount of money over gel coat
resurfacing due to less maintenance costs and longer re-coat time.
ABOUT SLIDERCARE, LLC
SlideCare is a water slide maintenance products company. We are the
only company in the aquatics industry that manufactures a variety of
protective restoration coatings, cleaners, scale removers, waxes, polishes
and glazes which have been specifically formulated to restore the LIKE NEW
appearance to dull color faded water slides and aquatic play
features. All of our products are environmentally friendly, worker safe and
can be applied by your most trusted local painting contractor, internal
maintenance staff, seasonal employees or our Certified Applicators.
MAKE EVERY DAY LOOK LIKE OPENING DAY™
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