17/01/2023
Flooring News Blog

Sometimes fast repair and quick return to service are the most critical factors for polyurethane floor installation. How can you apply all layers of a Sika floor system in just one day? How can you achieve standard floor application followed by extremely fast curing, to have polyurethane floors walkable within a very short time frame?

Paradigm Shift in Polyurethane Flooring

With Curing-by-Design technology, Sika floor systems like Sika Comfortfloor® can be applied and fully walkable very quickly.

It enables a paradigm shift in polyurethane flooring - standard application times can be followed by extremely fast curing.  

Construction time
reduced
New,
fast-track
opportunities for owners and contractors in both new and renovation projects
Increased installation
efficiency
and security
Ideal
for critical areas with minimal down time or closures
Back to service
faster
More
productive
installation and handling

A Revolutionary Technology

Until now, all boosted two-component polyurethane (PU) floor products suffered from short application time and potlife. Often, it was so dramatically short that only spot repairs or very small areas could have been applied.

Curing-by-Design technology completely decouples working time from curing speed. With this game changing technology, Sika ComfortFloor® floor systems can especially be chosen for areas where a fast return to service is crucial. See the image to the right to learn more.

Curing-by-Design was first introduced in polyurethane adhesives from the SikaForce® range and outperformed its predecessors in this market field. Now, this unique technology shows off its capabilities for the first time in the Sikafloor® polyurethane flooring range.

Sikafloor® Curing-by-Design Versus Standard PU Floor Curing Time
Graph showing curing stages timeline Sikafloor curing by design versus regular PU

The Unique Sika Chemistry that Steers the Timing

Sikafloor®-3000 Snapbooster is the first product in the Sikafloor® range where the Curing-by-Design technology is introduced in polyurethane flooring.

When fast curing time is needed, this special booster is added as a third component to the standard wear coat materials Sikafloor®-3000 and Sikafloor®-3000 FX. The application and working process remain exactly the same - once started, curing is happening rapidly. This allows all layers of system build-up to be applied in just one day. The floor can be used in a very short time.

Faster Back to Service, Less Working Time!

The working day is used effectively to install Sika floor products with Curing-by-Design technology. Unproductive driving time in the van and waiting periods for product curing are avoided.

See below an example of a project timeline with Sika Comfortfloor® using the new Sikafloor®-3000 Snapbooster versus a conventional polyurethane floor application timeline.

Sika Comfortfloor® + Sikafloor®-3000 Snapbooster
Infographic comparison timeline of Sikafloor curing by design with booster versus regular PU
Infographic comparison of Sikafloor with booster versus conventional PU floor
Conventional Polyurethane Floor
Infographic comparison timeline of Sikafloor curing by design with booster versus regular PU

Curing-by-Design Technology - Most Beneficial in These Areas

Single-bed room in AZ Groeninge Hospital in Kortrijk Belgium
Areas which can’t be closed for a long time
  • Healthcare and hospitals
  • Commercial and public buildings
  • Educational and schools
Sika ComfortFloor® beige floor in bathroom with beige walls
Smaller sized areas where all floor system layers could be applied in one day
  • Corridors and hallways
  • Single rooms, like a patient room in a nursing home
  • Entrance areas and lobbies in commercial buildings
  • Residential bathroom
Sika ComforFloor in the canteen and  break rooms of the Oulu City Hall in Finland
Any project which needs to be finished quickly, so the applicator can work on other jobs sooner

Secure Application and Easy, Flexible Handling

The new Sikafloor®-3000 Snapbooster dramatically increases cure speed and is very easy to work with too. No change in application process is needed - less risk for mistakes or incorrect application.

The Sikafloor®-3000 Snapbooster is supplied in a small bottle and can easily be stored. If fast curing is needed, it is easily mixed into the standard A and B component. The ordering and stocking is simplified for applicators. Sikafloor®-3000 Snapbooster becomes a regular stock item and is added to project orders of standard Sikafloor®-3000 A + B component when needed. With this system, the applicator gains flexibility and can react to changing job site conditions.

Sikafloor-3000 components buckets mixed with Snapbooster drops
Man Applying Sikafloor 3000 Snapbooster (Curing by Design)