OUR COATING SYSTEM
The following factors define a proper coating system and how it needs to be applied:
♠ The natural durability of the species of timber we are using,
♠ Its resistance to penetration by preservatives (its ‘permeability’)
♠ The end use of the timber,
♠ The service life required,
♠ The ease of any future maintenance – treatments can affect the application of surface finishes and coatings.
The primary purpose of paint is to protect wood from deterioration. To do so, paint manufacturers have developed paint systems that work together to protect the wood substrate. These systems include primers and appropriate, compatible top coats which can vary depending on the substrate and can vary between manufacturers. As a result proper primers and compatible top coats, both from the same manufacturer should be used.
We have chosen the use of Acrylic rather than an oil-based coating (such as polyurethane) for several good reasons, as follows:
* It dries quickly,
* even though acrylic paints can be diluted in water it is highly resistant to water once it has dried
* It emits very low VOCs (*), thus ECO friendly
* The paint is highly elastic, able to expand and contract without splitting
* The paint has excellent color retention and possesses better resistance to sunlight and elements than oil-based paint.
* Provide better resistance to mildew because there is no oil in the paint. The oil of oil/alkyd paints acts as food for mildew
* Excellent protection (washability)
* Good water resistance
* Excellent adhesion to top coats
* Decreased odor, toxicity, and flammability (due to lack of organic solvents and thinners)
* Excellent color and gloss retention
* Resist cracking and blistering better
* Resistance to alkali cleaners
(*) Volatile organic compounds have a high vapor pressure at normal room temperature. It is toxic and long-term exposure to VOCs in the indoor environment can contribute to sick building syndrome. Health effects include eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, loss of coordination, nausea, and damage to the liver, kidney, and central nervous system. Dizziness, visual disorders, and memory impairment are among the immediate symptoms that some people have experienced soon after exposure to some organics. VOCs are found in oil-based coatings (enamels, alkyd) and some acrylic paints. The type of Acrylic that we use emits very low VOCs, hence safe for the painters at work.
Proper coating
Old untreated wooden trusses
Cetol coating
WHY WE PAINT AT THE END OF THE PRE-ASSEMBLY PROCESS
When coated the customer cannot verify what type of hardwood is used during an inspection. This is, in particular, true for dark colors. When a client orders and pays for Bangkirai or Merabu he shall get Bangkirai or Merbau, or any other type of wood ordered and paid for. However, any type of wood which is coated cannot properly be verified on the type of the actual wood species used, unless it is cut and the coat taken off. Cutting a part of a beam or siding installed in the unit is not an option while scraping off paint needs a relatively large area to be cleaned. Painstaking and time-consuming. It will therefore remain a guess by the customer whether the proper wood was used, whereas he needs to rely on the liability of the manufacturer. To close out any uncertainty we do NOT coat the unit prior to or during the assembly process so that a customer can always and at random verify the type of wood used during an inspection.