Question 1

What is a wear course in a car park?

Accepted Answer

A wear course is the top layer of a car park deck surfacing system — the surface that tyres drive on. It sits above the waterproofing membrane and is designed to resist abrasion, UV degradation, and chemical attack from fuel and de-icing salts. Typical wear course materials include polyurethane, PMMA, or MMA resin systems applied at 1.5–3 mm thickness. The wear course also provides slip resistance (anti-skid) and can incorporate colour-coded line markings. Over time, wear courses degrade and need replacing — usually every 8–15 years depending on traffic volume and exposure.

Question 2

What is PMMA floor coating?

Accepted Answer

PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) is a rapid-curing resin system used for waterproofing and surfacing car park decks, balconies, walkways, and industrial floors. Its key advantage is speed: PMMA systems cure in as little as 30–60 minutes, even at temperatures as low as -5°C, making them ideal for fast-track projects and live environments where extended closures are not possible. PMMA coatings are fully bonded, seamless, and offer excellent UV resistance, chemical resistance, and anti-skid properties. They are more expensive than polyurethane systems (typically £50–£90/m²) but the dramatically shorter cure time often makes them more cost-effective when downtime costs are factored in.

Question 3

What is the difference between silicone and polyurethane sealants?

Accepted Answer

Silicone sealants offer excellent UV resistance and temperature stability, making them ideal for glazing and exposed facades. However, they are generally softer and pick up dirt. Polyurethane (PU) sealants are tougher, have better abrasion resistance, and can be painted over. PU is typically preferred for floor joints and traffic areas where durability and puncture resistance are required. In more detail: both are elastomeric joint sealants, but their chemistry gives them different strengths, and using the wrong one is a common reason joints fail early. Silicone cures to a rubber with outstanding UV and weathering resistance and stable properties across a very wide temperature range, keeping its elasticity for decades on exposed faces, which is why it is the standard for glazing and curtain walling. Its weaknesses are low tear and abrasion resistance (it is easily damaged by feet, wheels and cleaning machines), most grades cannot be painted, and many silicones can stain porous stone and concrete at the joint edges. Polyurethane has higher tear strength and abrasion resistance, bonds well to concrete, does not stain it, and can be overpainted, so it is the normal choice for movement and construction joints in floors, car park decks, pavements and façade panel joints that must be painted or survive traffic. PU's weaknesses are lower long-term UV resistance (the surface can chalk or craze after years of direct sun), sensitivity to moisture while curing (it can bubble if gunned into a damp joint), and a shorter life than silicone on exposed glazing. Hybrid MS-polymer (silyl-modified) sealants sit between the two. Performance depends as much on the joint as the product: sealants are classified by movement capability (for example class 25, meaning ±25% of joint width) under BS EN ISO 11600 and the BS EN 15651 series, BS 6213 gives UK guidance on selecting sealants for building joints, and a correctly sized joint uses a closed-cell backer rod to stop three-sided adhesion, a width-to-depth ratio typically around 2:1, and clean, dry, primed faces where the manufacturer requires it. For trafficked joints in car parks and warehouses MPS normally specifies PU or a dedicated trafficable joint system; silicone is kept for glazing and non-trafficked façade joints.

Question 4

What is PMMA resin flooring?

Accepted Answer

PMMA (Polymethyl Methacrylate) is a rapid-curing resin system used for high-performance flooring and deck coatings. Its key advantage is speed: it cures chemically in about 45-60 minutes, even at low temperatures. This allows us to refurbish a car park deck, balcony, or walkway and return it to service the same day. It is also UV stable, meaning it won't yellow or become brittle in sunlight.

Question 5

What is SRV (Slip Resistance Value)?

Accepted Answer

SRV (Slip Resistance Value), often measured using a Pendulum Test, quantifies the grip of a floor surface. For public areas and car parks, achieving a specific SRV is a legal safety requirement to prevent slip accidents. We adjust the SRV of our coatings by broadcasting aggregates (like quartz or aluminium oxide) into the wet resin. We can verify compliance with HSE standards post-installation.

What is a wear course in a car park?