Zero degrees, zero problems, Watco® makes floor repairs easier in extreme cold

However, the arrival of cold weather should not mean an abandonment of care and maintenance efforts, especially for floors susceptible to damage. On the contrary, it is the ideal time for preventive measures and the implementation of specific solutions, thus ensuring the durability and safety of surfaces, even in the face of negative temperatures.

As an expert in industrial paints and floor coatings, WATCO® knows the critical importance of ensuring the safety of these surfaces. This is because floor damage is not just limited to an unattractive appearance, but also poses the risk of falls and can result in high repair costs. Industrial floors inevitably experience weathering over time due to various factors such as frequent forklift traffic, machine vibrations and foot traffic.

Add to this low temperature working conditions, whether due to cold weather conditions or foot traffic in refrigerated areas or cold rooms, the need to undertake winter maintenance is essential. However, to do this effectively, the use of a product that dries quickly at low temperature becomes essential. WATCO® offers solutions adapted to these specific challenges in order to guarantee the durability and safety of industrial floors. With this in mind, the brand offers advice and innovative solutions, such as Concrex Special Cold, which help maintain the integrity of floors, whatever the weather conditions.

Floor care in cold climatic conditions

Cold temperatures can have a significant impact on floors and the performance of repair materials, which can make maintenance and repair projects particularly tricky. Most traditional products do not cure properly in cold weather. Low temperatures prolong drying and reapplication times, which affects the effectiveness of interventions. It is essential to understand how ambient temperatures, especially lower media temperatures, can influence product performance.

Indeed, it is important to know that the temperature of the floors is generally 8°C lower than that of the air, which often makes it difficult to carry out work such as painting in areas such as cold rooms or open spaces outdoors, especially in winter.

Despite these challenges, it is crucial to continue soil maintenance during the winter. This helps control the appearance of cracks, prevents floor damage from worsening, and above all, guarantees the safety of employees throughout the year.

By selecting products adapted to winter conditions, it is therefore possible to ensure maintenance while preserving the effectiveness and safety of surfaces.

Winter maintenance, or how to guarantee the longevity of floors

Winter maintenance plays a crucial role in the preservation of industrial premises. Faced with the arrival of low temperatures, opting for products capable of hardening in cold weather is imperative to guarantee an optimal finish. It is essential not to postpone repairs while waiting for warmer temperatures, as this wait can make the work more complex and result in higher costs. It is precisely to meet this need that WATCO® has developed its range of Special Cold products, based on its most efficient formulations.

This range includes repair paints and mortars specifically designed for low temperature applications, suitable for various types of maintenance such as painting, repairing and protecting floors with anti-slip tapes. These products excel in winter conditions, providing application throughout the cold season. This ensures building safety all year round, eliminating the need to postpone work due to cold weather or an unheated area. Opting for this specialized range not only maintains safety, but also avoids unnecessary expenses related to delayed repairs.

A response to specific cold requirements

WATCO® has developed an extensive range of cold-resistant repair products, known as the Special Cold range. This range has been specifically formulated to ensure optimal performance all year round, even in freezing conditions.
When temperatures drop, drying and reapplication times may lengthen. However, thanks to innovative WATCO® technology, using polyaspartic resins, paints can now dry effectively at temperatures as low as -10°C. This is particularly beneficial for achieving professional finishes in environments such as cold stores, cold rooms and loading docks. Watco chemists have pioneered the use of this technology, reformulating the brand's best-sellers to cure at temperatures as low as 0°C. They also introduced the Specialist range, with products operating down to -20°C.

The innovative two-component flooring technology offers significant benefits, such as low temperature curing, allowing maintenance projects to continue even at -10°C.

It also offers UV resistance, eliminating yellowing and cracking after prolonged exposure to sunlight, as well as chemical resistance against a variety of industrial chemicals. Additionally, the quick drying allows for two coats to be applied in one day, saving time and money. The ability to formulate products that can harden at -10°C has revolutionized the maintenance of floor coverings in extreme cold. Thanks to Watco technology, this problem is solved, guaranteeing high quality results and an ultra-durable finish, whatever the climatic conditions.

Focus Concrex special cold

Concrex Special Cold is an ultra-resistant repair mortar designed to harden even at 0°C. Extremely resistant, waterproof and dustproof, this mortar is an ideal solution for restoring damaged concrete or stone floors, especially in low temperature conditions. Its versatility allows not only the repair of damaged surfaces, but also

creating shallow ramps, leveling mismatches, and even reinstalling loose metal guide rails. Concrex Special Cold repair mortar can be applied in thicknesses of 5 mm to 50 mm per layer, up to a temperature of 0°C. It also offers the possibility of smoothing up to the zero millimeter edge. Its ability to withstand heavy traffic is remarkable, allowing normal circulation after only 8 to 12 hours.

In extremely cold environments, WATCO® has also introduced the Specialist range, with products operating from 0˚C to -20˚C, where ordinary mortars fail to cure. Equally robust and offering the ability to smooth edges down to zero, this range guarantees long-lasting repairs.