Vulkem 350/351 Traffic Coating

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Author Message Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: lazarcitec Post Number: 1064 Registered: 05-2003 Posted on Sunday, March 02, 2014 - 10:29 pm:    I am sure many of my peers are familiar with this traffic coating, it is very popular in Florida as it successfully performs and is available in several application forms for horizontal surfaces, both pedestrian and traffic use. Recently a waterproofing consultant advised that I specify this traffic coating for vertical exterior surfaces, perhaps as a air and water barrier system, his instructions included to broadcast silica over the top coat to refusual as stucco was being applied over the coating. My question is, on a large vertical wall surface how is silica broadcast to a uniform consistency? Is the silica poured, sprayed, rolled (well it is rolled after it is broadcast), how is this done. I of course asked the same question of the local product rep and the waterproofing consultant, waiting for an answer, I must admit I am confused and I don't like waiting for answers, perhaps one of my 4spec peers can enlighten me, so I can sleep better tonight. William C. Pegues, FCSI, CCS Senior Member Username: wpegues Post Number: 906 Registered: 10-2002 Posted on Sunday, March 02, 2014 - 11:26 pm:    Before I would do such a thing, not just the silica question, but the use of this product as an air barrier, I would have to see a letter from the manufacturer themselves stating that the material was specifically certified by them for use as an air barrier, and over the specific substrates you will have. As to broadcasting the aggregate, I guess it is done since Tremco uses this statement in their latest manufacturer's data sheet, "Aggregate may not be required on vertical applications." which seems to imply that it can be applied somehow. If Tremco can state that it is a suitable air barrier material, you need to make sure of your wall water vapor permeability design, whether you have a permeable wall or an impermeable wall, the 350/351 qualifies as an impermeable vapor barrier, also from the data sheet. As to the acceptability for stucco, you need to know from the stucco manufacturer for whatever system you are going to specify, if that is an acceptable substrate (let alone air barrier) material for the type application. If the stucco system manufacturer can't state that it is acceptable to them for both with no change in the stucco system warranty, then that would be a 'no go' for me. Most stucco systems currently require that the air barrier be their own specific air barrier material or it voices the warranty for the stucco system. I have done a lot of work with the Tremco 350/351 products over the years, I would really be surprised to see Tremco certify it as an air barrier since they make a line of specific air barrier products and don't mention 350/351 among them at all. And I have done a lot of stucco work through our Texas office in both wet and dry areas of Texas as well as the areas around DC. It would not be the first time that I have discovered that an owner's waterproofing/facade consultant was pushing for a home made system of their own that they 'really liked'. We decline to do those with a response to the Owner that if the consultant wishes to write the specification as part of his responsibility we will publish it, but if manufacturer's of the various products decline to certify their products for that use or use with each other in the combinations required, that we can't show or specify them that way. William C. Pegues, FCSI, CCS, SCIP Affiliate WDG Architecture, Washington, DC | Dallas, TX Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: lazarcitec Post Number: 1065 Registered: 05-2003 Posted on Monday, March 03, 2014 - 01:45 am:    Over the past 10 years (at least) I've specified a modified cement waterproofing like BASF's Thoroseal or Aquafin 2K/M to be applied over the CMU and concrete exterior wall prior to application of stucco, if the budget can afford it the entire wall is done in this manner, if not problem locations like behind accessories, reveals, or as a backing for foam or stone profiles. The application works, no failures that I know of, the same system was specified on the building in question that this forum is about. This has been my home grown air barrier system. I am not sure why the WP Consultant has decided to recommend Vulkem 350/351 in lieu of products like BASF's Thoroseal (which I've been specifying when it was still manufactured by Thoro). I do know that the Vulkem product is much more expensive. Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: lazarcitec Post Number: 1066 Registered: 05-2003 Posted on Monday, March 03, 2014 - 01:46 am:    William, thanks for taking the time to post, appreciate it. J. Peter Jordan Senior Member Username: jpjordan Post Number: 692 Registered: 05-2004 Posted on Monday, March 03, 2014 - 09:52 am:    Is the owner's consultant an independent consultant or does he/she work for Tremco? Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: lazarcitec Post Number: 1067 Registered: 05-2003 Posted on Monday, March 03, 2014 - 10:03 am:    I finally spoke with my Tremco rep, Tremco wont warrantee this application in FL, so its no longer an issue. My rep said it can be done, but its not practical nor necessary, so the mystery of how to broadcast vertically more than 8 inches AFF will remain a mystery. Thanks anyway guys.