Encore Coatings FAQs
We get lots of similar questions from our customers, so we’ve taken a minute to address a few of the most common ones. Please contact us anytime with additional questions about Encore.
Over fifty years of experience backs the Encore formulas. You may find knock-offs of Encore because of its remarkable industry potential, but you won’t find the depth of technical expertise and support that you’ll find backing the Encore brand. We encourage you to survey potential suppliers in regard to their specific experience in the area of coating development. It’s how we emerge as the clear choice.
Simply pick up a gallon of semi-gloss acrylic/latex paint (Note: do not use paint that contains primer) in your color choice and mix it into the Encore kit. It’s that easy! Your deck will dry to that color.
Once you’ve decided on the color and you have your paint, you’re ready to start. You’ll need a drill and mixing attachment to properly mix. When you open the pail, you will find instructions, a jug of resin, and a bag of organic dry mix. Remove them and set them aside. Empty the wet resin (contained in the black 1-gallon pail) into the 5-gallon pail. Add your paint (which you purchase at a local paint store) and mix. Then add the dry organics that are contained in the poly bag. Mix aggressively for several minutes, ensuring that the dry organics are completely separated and thoroughly mixed in the container. You’re ready to start applying! If you have any questions, a QR code on the printed instructions will take you to more information on our website.
Encore can be applied in temperatures between 38-90 degrees F. Do not apply Encore on damp wood. Decks that have been pressure washed or rained on should be given at least 48 hours to dry before applying Encore. Do not apply Encore with rainfall in the 8-hour local forecast.
Drying time will depend on weather conditions. Encore has the “Best In Class” Dry & Recoat Time with 30 minutes. Encore dries faster in warm, dry weather. Here are two examples of drying time: (1) Sunny day, 85-90 degrees F with 30% humidity will yield a dry time of approximately 8 minutes. (2) Overcast day, 65 degrees F, with 70% humidity will yield a dry time of approximately 18 minutes.
If you have material left over, we suggest that you apply a third coat to high traffic areas, especially steps. Otherwise, seal and store the remainder of material in the smallest container possible in a dry cool area. Encore’s advertised shelf life of an activated kit is 14 days. However, depending on your area’s climate and how you’ve stored it, the contents could remain stable much longer. In some cases, we’ve seen material remain stable for one year – and counting.
Use your best judgment. You can begin walking (light use) on the deck within 8 hours of it being completely dry. You can move furniture back onto the deck and put it back in service 24 hours of it being completely dry.
You can clean an Encore deck with green-friendly cleaners. Most of these cleaners only require that you spray it on and allow it to work. Dirt and grime will typically rinse off fairly easily. Encore manufactures two different cleaners that will do a great job. If you have tannin stains or mold on your deck, we recommend the MiracleMist System.
Encore affords benefits that are not normally found with other deck maintenance products. Here are a few important ones:
– Encore is a permanent solution to deck maintenance. Apply Encore and start enjoying your deck again!
– Encore is fire resistant. We have had accounts of coals and embers landing on an Encore deck and smoldering until they went out, never affecting the coating, much less burning down the deck.
– Encore encapsulates harmful preservatives that are used to treat lumber. This is important to those who have pets that lay on the deck or those who enjoy lounging on their deck with bare feet.
– Encore is a VOC-friendly, water-based formula which makes it one of the most environmentally-friendly products ever made for wood and concrete.
Perhaps the biggest difference is the fact that Cool™ doesn’t rely on a textured profile to stay cool. Instead, Cool™ relies on its unique formulation. Most pool deck coatings fall into a category called “profile” coatings. Profile coatings rely on their profile of crevices and cavities to reduce the surface area that your feet come into contact with. Not only do profile coatings get hot, they chip, they require lots of maintenance, and they’re very hard to keep clean.
Cool™ is a polar opposite of these coatings – and that’s why pool owners love Cool™.
No. Cool™ is unique because it’s everything we want in a pool coating. It’s easy to apply. It’s applied with ordinary paint equipment – anyone can apply it. It’s environmentally-friendly. It can repair damaged concrete. It’s available in any color. It’s safe (ADA compliant). It’s comfortable. It’s sanitary. It’s easy to clean. It stays cool. It’s the most affordable pool deck coating on the market and, at the end of the day, it’s backed by the best warranty in the business. So, no. No other coating on the market compares to Cool™.
Yes. Cool’s state-of-the-art technology makes an excellent overlayment for knock-down finishes. Knock-down finishes often lose their ability to cool after they’ve been resurfaced, making them a “one-generation” solution in terms of heat abatement. Cool™ is the only known overlayment for knock-down finishes that continues to keep the surface cool, changing knock-down finishes from a one-generation to a multi-generational solution.
Remove any loose material from the knock-down and clean it thoroughly using a pressure washer. Allow it to dry. If any rust is coming through the knock-down, use an aerosol-based rust inhibitor to treat the rust.
Cool™ can repair cracks up to 1/8th inch wide in concrete. However, if you have broken, severely cracked, or spalling concrete, we recommend that you hire a professional concrete mason to make whatever repairs are necessary prior to applying Cool™. Never apply a coating to an ill-properly prepared surface. Never apply a coating over sealed concrete. Test for water repellency by pouring small amount of water in various areas of the deck. If the water beads, then there is a water-repellency feature in the concrete and it has to be removed using an acid etch. If the water is absorbed by the concrete, then you are good to go.
When your concrete is ready for Cool™, we recommend that you use TripleCrown, our organic and eco-friendly concrete etcher and cleaner. Alternatively, you may want to use a light acid wash. If you choose to go the acid route, be sure to neutralize, TSP, and pressure wash thoroughly to clean. As a final step, make sure that any rust that may be on the surface is neutralized with an aerosol-based rust inhibitor. It’s best to allow at least 48 hours for your concrete to dry before applying Cool™.
Cool™ is unique because there is an infinite number of choices available. You simply pick the color you want and purchase one gallon of exterior semi-gloss 100% acrylic paint for each kit of Cool™ that you buy (Note: do not use paint that contains primer). The right color is obviously the color that you like, but keep in mind that darker colors WILL absorb more heat than lighter colors. If heat abatement is your top goal, we suggest that you pick a light-to-mid pastel. Otherwise, let your imagination rule!
Each Cool™ kit comes with one gallon of wet resin and a bag of dry organics. Mix using these three steps:
After emptying the kit contents, add the wet resin back to the 5-gallon pail; Add the gallon of exterior semi-gloss 100% acrylic paint to the pail and mix; and, Gradually add the dry organics and mix completely.
You will need:
- masking tape
- paint roller
- paint extension handle
- 4″ brush
- 3/8″ nap roller cover(s)
You will need:
After masking off everything that you don’t want to accidentally coat, use the 4″ brush to apply a heavy cut-in coat. We suggest that this be a heavy coat in order to avoid having to do a second cut-in coat. Feather the leading edge of the cut-in coat in order to avoid lap marks. Allow the cut-in coat to dry.
Next, in a “ribbon” or “S”-type pattern, pour a narrow strip of Cool™ approximately 5′ long and set bucket down. Using the 3/8″ nap roller, spread the coating evenly across the working area. Using this technique, continue applying Cool™. Allow the first coat of Cool™ to dry.
Once the first coat is dry, a second coat should be applied. The second coat is approximately 80% as heavy as the first coat.
Using a variety of methods not discussed here, some Cool™ customers at this point will add decorative accents to the coating. As an important final step, we recommend that you roll two coats of SealBack, Encore’s clear concrete sealer over the entire job and allow it to dry. SealBack will bring out the depth and color of the coating and help keep the surface easy to maintain. SealBack is a nano-based sealer and provides an additional layer of protection against the weather for years to come.
Final Notes
Warmer days mean faster dry times for Encore. Encore relies on water to spread the solids across your deck. If the water evaporates too fast, then it become difficult to spread the product. As the temperature rises, you will notice changes in the spread and cure time of Encore. This is due to changes in the evaporation rate. Here are a few quick tips to get the perfect results on hot summer days:
1. Start early. In the early morning, your deck is cooler from the night before, the air temperature is cool, and the sun is not as big of a factor. Working in the morning produces great results.
2. For first coat only. Keep a garden hose (and spray attachment) handy. If you notice that your material is curing too fast, lightly mist the surface by holding a spray attachment overhead and lightly misting the air, allowing the water to dampen the surface. Water misting reduces the ambient air temperature, cools the deck, and puts a little more water down. Do not allow water to pond or pool on the surface. This technique is delicate and you should not “over-hydrate” the surface. Do not use this technique on the second coat.
3. Don’t be afraid to stop the job and start again as daytime temperatures decline. Doing so will not affect Encore.
4. Keep the Encore kit cool and covered. Placing the Encore bucket in the shade while you’re working and keeping a lid on it will significantly extend the working time of the Encore material
5. Don’t apply Cool™ if rain is expected in the 24 hour forecast.
6. Like any surface, rust can discolor Cool™, but won’t likely stain it. You can prevent discoloration by placing plastic protectors on the feet of furniture and putting planters on bases.
7. Cool™ is a breathable coating, so use a rust inhibitor (aerosol type) to cover any rusted areas or fasteners prior to applying Cool™.
8. Cool™ will fill in most cracks. Cracks larger than 1/8″ should be patched by a professional prior to coating.
9. Cool™ will protect your concrete from freezing weather because it seals in cracks that would normally be subject to freeze/thaw cycles that destroy concrete over time.
