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Selection of Paint Coatings and Binders
The choice of colour coating and binder product is critical if the court is to have the level of performance, slip resistance, porosity and durability that a client may reasonably expect.
Factors that need to be considered include:
- Intensity of use – a court subjected to high usage will cause the coating to wear more rapidly than a court used only occasionally.
- Types of footwear that will be worn by players - the use of sports shoes with pronounced tread patterns will cause rapid abrasion of the colour coating.
- Potential for contamination of the surface from debris (leaf litter, foot trafficking dirt etc. and atmospheric pollution) – the movement of grit will abrade the coating.
- Proximity of trees – sap from trees can cause premature failure of the coatings.
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Water Based Acrylic Paint
The majority of painted Porous Macadam Sports Courts are colour-coated with water based acrylic paint formulations, which typically contain acrylic resin, water, oxide pigments, mineral fillers and processing aids. The coatings are normally applied using industrial airless spraying equipment.
Advantages:
- In most domestic and club situations this type of surface provides a good finish and a durable coating.
- Formulations have few health & safety concerns during application.
Disadvantages:
- In situations of heavy wear or abuse the coating may show signs of premature wear.
- If applied to medium or dense macadam (low permeability), prolonged exposure to moisture can cause softening of the paint film and rapid wear.
- Coating needs to be applied in dry warm conditions.
Solvent Based Polyurethane Paint
These paints form a particularly flexible, hard-wearing and durable coating. Formulated using flexible and highly durable polyurethane technology. Provides optimum longevity when applied to Polymeric Surfaces.
Advantages:
- Supplied as a single-pack material requiring no mixing on site. The resulting coating is very hard and durable.
- High durability makes this type of coating suited to areas subjected to high use such as school courts, multi-use games areas (MUGAs) etc.
- Can be augmented with aluminium oxide aggregate for increased Slip Resistance, as it has the required strength to hold the additional grip in situ on the sports surface after application.
- They can be applied in less favourable weather conditions than water-based paints (Applied in fine, dry weather and when the substrate temperature is higher than 5°C and likely to remain so for 6-7 hours after application.).
Disadvantages:
- Environmental concerns of using a product that dries and cures through solvent evaporation and the potential impact on the atmosphere, operatives and neighbouring properties.
- Some Polyurethane contain Aromatic based polymers that are susceptible to UV causing “yellowing”. Due to the action of natural light, some colour fade will occur over time.
- Aliphatic Polyurethanes are more expensive than the more common Aromatic Polyurethanes, they suffer less from discolouration due to UV attack. They also offer better physical properties in some cases but are regarded more as a “Special” than an everyday polyurethane. Used in some Solvent based Moisture Cure Polyurethanes (MCP).
Water Based Polyurethane Paint
These are paint coatings designed to have the benefits of solvent-based polyurethane but without the environmental disadvantages. Applied to Porous Macadam Sports Courts & MUGAs that require durability and high levels of grip.
Advantages:
- Much improved durability over water-based acrylic paints.
- Can be augmented with aluminium oxide aggregate for increased Slip Resistance, as it has the required strength to hold the additional grip in situ on the sports surface after application.
Disadvantages:
- Some minor cracking of the macadam surface can occur due to the differential in the thermal expansion rates of macadam and the paint film.
- Great care needs to be taken to ensure that the correct amount of paint is applied to the macadam.
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Dark Green & Standard Green
Dark Green & Brick Red
Method of Application
Application of paint or binders is by Airless Spray technique. Pressures will depend on many factors but will typically be between 2,500 and 5,500 psi. The tip size is carefully selected to ensure correct atomisation of the coating (28 thou. being typical) and a uniform spray fan with a feathered edge so that there are minimal discernible lines on the painted surface.
(Visit - Graco Airless Sprayers Web Site)
Two coats of paint are applied in different directions to ensure an even finish with no patches. On Kids Zones up to three coats of paint may be required to produce the vivid colours required.
Paint and binder are mixed according to the manufacturer’s instructions and applied at the recommended application rates.
Some paints are supplied ready for spraying whilst others require dilution on site.
Essential that paint be diluted at the rates specified by the manufacturer, as excessive dilution will cause premature failure of the paint film.
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