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Got Questions??? We've Got Answers.

QUESTION:  Can expansion joints on a horizontal surface be filled with Matrix to give the appearance of a smooth surface?

ANSWER:  No. Perma•Caulk Sealant (later sealed with Perma•Seal Stain Sealer to blend in with the surface) is recommended for use in all control and expansion joints. Filling joints with Matrix will later result in the Matrix cracking within the "moving" expansion joint.

QUESTION:  How much Perma•Caulk Sealant should be used for expansion and control joints?

ANSWER:  The maximum depth of Perma•Caulk Sealant should be 1/4" when applied to expansion or control joints. You may need to use backer rod to fill a deeper void in a joint to within 1/4" of the surface before applying the caulk.

QUESTION:  When should adhesive pattern tape be removed to reveal the grout line color after Stain Sealer has been applied to the texture coat surface?

ANSWER:  Allow the Stain Sealer to dry 30-45 minutes at 72°F before the pattern tape is removed from the surface.

QUESTION:  How can the amount of PermaCrete needed to fill low spots on a concrete surface be calculated?

ANSWER:  One 40 lb. bag of Matrix covers approximately ten (10) square feet at a depth of 3/8".

QUESTION:  Why does the Matrix Mix skim coat sometimes "roll up" when using a squeegee to apply it to a concrete surface?

ANSWER:  There are several reasons why Matrix Mix may "roll up" during the skim coat application. If there is not enough Bonding Additive applied to the Matrix Mix, the mixture can begin to cure too quickly when spread over the concrete surface. A dryer mixture will move or "roll" instead of spreading and smoothing out. The recommended amount of Bonding Additive for a skim coat application is 4-6 quarts per 40 lb. bag of Matrix. NOTE: If the surface temperature of concrete is hot, the Matrix Mix will begin to cure more quickly. During summer months the Bonding Additive pail should be kept in the shade or placed in a container of ice to keep it cool. This will result in a longer pot life working time in hot weather. In colder temperatures, the addition of Matrix Accelerator to the Matrix Mix may result in a shorter pot life and also possibly cause a "rolling" of the material on the concrete surface.

QUESTION:  Which spray rig is used to apply Matrix Mix to a swimming pool interior?

ANSWER:  Use an air compressor with hopper gun attachment or QSI's PowerFlo SprayTex unit. Set the hopper compressor at 30 psi and the hopper gun nozzle on the next to smallest spray orifice. NOTE: See Section 12 (pages 8-9) of the Dealer Manual for pool interior applications.

QUESTION:  Can PermaCrete be poured into a mold to create a "sculpture stand"? The thickness of the mold is 1". Aluminum wire lath will be used as reinforcement in the Matrix Mix.

ANSWER:  Yes. However, for Matrix Mix applied in a thickness of 1", an equal amount of washed pea gravel should be added to the mixture (half of a 5 gallon pail of pea gravel and the other half with Matrix Mixture). For Matrix applications over 1/4" in thickness, it is advisable to wet sponge the surface to avoid shrink cracking. NOTE: Aluminum lath may be used with Matrix Mix as long as it does not contain coatings such as plastic or paint, and does not have a petroleum or tar coated felt backing attached.