A top coat is defined as the protective coating which is applied to the surface of another material in order to protect it and prevent deterioration. In the case of waterproofing and flooring systems, the protective coat resins are applied as a final layer enhancing the system’s performance and durability. Their application can span from ordinary roof waterproofing systems that require access and trafficability, to exposed car parks waterproofing systems and industrial flooring applications.
There are 2 categories of top coats, the aliphatic protective resins for exposed use and top coats that offer high mechanical and chemical resistance for industrial applications.
Aliphatic top coats offer full UV resistance, prevent chalking, cracking or any other UV degradation while they increase the system’s overall performance in terms of mechanical properties.
Top coats for industrial applications give high scratch and chemical resistance, making them suitable to industrial flooring applications such as F&B factories, hospitals, as well as desalination and waste water treatment plants.

The professional applicators can deliver successful projects using protective coat resins by increasing the main membrane’s life cycle and prevent in this way any future maintenance costs.

In the case of a roof waterproofing project a top-coat installation is recommended to the end-users for achieving the optimal result. Apart from the fact that adds protection and durability to a waterproofing system, it becomes part of cool roof system when is applied in white color which improves the energy efficiency of buildings and supports the development in urban sustainability for cooler and healthier environments by reflecting most of the energy of the sun. Moreover, using a top-coat in a system built- up allows the applicator in certain cases, to apply only one layer of the main waterproofing membrane.

Similarly, protective coat resins ensure the efficient and successful delivery of flooring.

The top-coat main benefits to be considered are:

• Protection: Protect from weathering, abrasion, chemicals and UV radiation, salt or sand impact.
• Application: Easy to apply.
• Mechanical resistance properties: Play a key role in increasing the mechanical resistance of a waterproofing/flooring system, thus offering trafficability whether in exposed car parks or industrial floors with heavy usage.
• Aesthetics: Provide different aesthetic results such as different colors, chips and flakes finishes, glossy or matte effects.
• Durability and energy efficiency: Thanks to their high mechanical and chemical resistance, they offer weathering protection which improves the durability, providing extended working life of the system. In addition, because of their ability to reflect UV radiation when applied in white color, they help reduce the cooling costs of the building.

ALCHIMICA’s aliphatic solutions

ALCHIMICA’s range of protective coatings has a large number of applications in both waterproofing and flooring solutions.
They are a part of ALCHIMICA’s full systems -that include primers and main membranes- and when applied they significantly increase the lifespan of our systems by adhering perfectly to our main membranes and forming the highest level of protection.
ALCHIMICA’s aliphatic solutions expand on 3 different technologies: solvent-based, water-based and 100% solids products. They are fully aliphatic and provide excellent color and UV protection with no yellowing effects. They increase traffic resistance and assure high chemical resistance, forming the highest level of protection.