Traffic Coating for Vehicular, Specialty, and Pedestrian Traffic

High pedestrian and vehicle traffic areas must withstand heavy wear and tear from trucks, cars, and foot traffic, along with an aggressive environment. Applying proper waterproofing and traffic coating to the concrete design will help stop moisture and chloride inflation that can crack, break, and corrode the concrete structures, leading to costly repairs, disruptive closures, and dangerous safety issues.

Polyguard's 665 Membrane, NW75 Membrane, Cold Flex™ Membrane, and 650 Sheet Membrane offer a high-performing, alternative method to traditional traffic coatings. Our waterproofing products protect the pavement against damage caused by pedestrian, vehicular, and specialty traffic, which minimizes maintenance and repair costs and extends the service life of the overlay and pavement.

What is Traffic Coating?

Applying a pedestrian or vehicular traffic coating creates a barrier over a heavy traffic concrete surface that protects it against weather, temperature, and debris. A concrete traffic coating protects against

Heavy and frequent vehicle or foot traffic loads
Severe weather conditions (ice, snow, rain, high heat) that can damage concrete
Extreme temperature fluctuations, particularly in the northern part of the U.S.
Corrosion of the steel rebar in balconies, parking decks, etc., due to chemicals and salts
Salt, oils, and other debris tracked in by vehicles
Debris

Where to Apply Traffic Coatings

Typical applications of concrete traffic coating include:

Parking garages and decks
Walkways
Stadiums
Footbridges
Concrete walkways or footbridges
Rooftop decks
Outdoor balconies
Mechanical rooms

How to Apply Concrete Traffic Coating for Waterproofing

The traditional methods for applying traffic coating on concrete depend on the space that requires coating:

Brush-applied coatings are utilized for traffic coating details in small, hard-to-reach areas like corners, behind railings, or where the wall meets the floor.
Roller-applied coatings offer a quicker application method than brushes for more expansive spaces such as parking garages.
Squeegee-applied coatings allow you to apply a large amount of coating and provide the fastest application of waterproof traffic coating.

Types of Traffic Coating Systems

U.S. manufacturers offer various types of traffic deck coating systems to protect and waterproof surfaces that are subject to heavy pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Traffic coating systems range in costs, installation requirements, and overall capabilities.

Epoxy Coatings

Epoxy coatings protect against chemical spills and heavy vehicular and pedestrian traffic. However, Epoxy coatings lack UV resistance, which can lead to discoloration and degradation.

MMA (Methyl Methacrylate) Coatings

Durable and impact-resistant MMA coatings have a fast cure time, making them a good choice for projects with time constraints. However, MMM coatings cost more than other options and produce a strong odor during application, which requires adequate ventilation.

Cementitious Coatings

Cost-effective cementitious coatings provide good adhesion and protection against water-penetrating concrete surfaces. However, applying cementitious coatings is labor-intensive and less flexible than other options.

Polyguard Pavement Waterproofing Membranes

Polyguard pavement membranes and companion products offer a long-term and low-maintenance method for protecting pedestrian, vehicular, and specialty traffic pavement areas from water and moisture infiltration damage. Polyguard pavement membranes comprise rubberized asphalt waterproofing adhesive that is laminated to a woven polypropylene fabric backing. The laminated membrane has a disposable silicone-treated release sheet to prevent it from sticking to itself while in the roll.

Note: Woven polypropylene backings can shrink at 300°F (148.89°C). Therefore, for Superpacer overlay requiring paving temperatures greater than 300°F (148.89°C), contact Polyguard for technical advice.

Polyguard offers various waterproofing paving membranes and companion products to minimize maintenance and repair costs and extend the overlay and pavement’s service life in heavy-traffic areas.

Long-Lasting, Low-Maintenance Polyguard 665 Waterproofing Membrane

Self-sealing, 665 Waterproofing Membrane comprises rubberized asphalt laminated to a woven solid polypropylene mesh backing. It forms a minimum 65-mile membrane that works effectively to waterproof asphalt and concrete pavements and acts as a traffic coating for crack control in pedestrian, vehicular, and specialty traffic areas.

Flexible and long-lasting 665 waterproofing membranes, with a perm of 0.05, protect and offer a superior bond to pavement surfaces with long-term waterproofing. It maintains its integrity against environmental attacks and traffic to extend the pavement service life. Polyguard sells 665 waterproofing membranes in 12 to 48-inch widths, which can be cold-applied without special adhesives and cause minimal traffic disruption.