Frequently Asked Questions
From owner-operators, fleets, dealers, and the shops spraying this.
Decks & Floors
Can you coat over my existing wood deck, or does it need new boards?
Existing boards are fine if they are sound and dry. Soft, spongy, or already-delaminated boards get replaced first — a coating over rotten wood just seals the rot in. Moisture content is the other gate: the deck has to be genuinely dry, not "it has not rained in two days" dry.
Does it fill the gaps between the deck boards?
Yes, and that is a large part of the value. At 80–125 mil the coating bridges the board gaps and seals every fastener hole, which turns a plank deck into one continuous surface. That closes the path road spray uses to soak the boards from underneath — the failure mode most deck replacements never actually address.
Is it slippery when wet?
No — the opposite. Flak Jacket 1 sprays with a texture that gives real traction wet, which is a genuine safety improvement over wet plank or bare diamond plate. On livestock trailers this is one of the main reasons owners ask for it.
How does the cost compare to replacing the deck?
Coating a sound deck costs a fraction of replacing it, and the comparison should include labor and downtime, not just lumber. The stronger argument is the second replacement you avoid: a new uncoated deck starts absorbing water immediately and is on the same clock as the one you just pulled out.
Substrates & Prep
Does it work on aluminum trailers?
Yes. Aluminum needs degreasing, a scuff to break the oxide layer, and 7001 Primer — the primer is not optional on aluminum or galvanizing. Aluminum livestock and cargo trailers are a common application, usually because the floor is failing even though the box looks fine.
Can it go over surface rust on a steel frame?
Over sound, tightly-adhered rust after SSPC-SP3 power-tool cleaning, yes — the membrane isolates the oxide from moisture and oxygen and the reaction stops. Loose scale and flaking corrosion have to come off. For new steel or heavy corrosion, SSPC-SP6 commercial blast to a 2–4 mil profile is the spec.
My trailer runs salted roads all winter. Does that change anything?
It adds one step: chloride verification below 7 µg/cm² before coating. Soluble salt trapped under any coating will osmotically blister it. Pressure wash and retest if the first reading fails. Once that is handled, salt service is exactly what this material is for.
Can it go over a trailer that was already undercoated or painted?
Adhesion test first — work a blade under an edge and pull. Soundly bonded paint gets scuffed and primed. Soft rubberized or asphaltic undercoating has to come off; it is a different product category that stays soft by design and nothing will hold to it long-term.
Service Life & Logistics
How long is the trailer out of service?
Tack-free in 10–30 seconds, handling strength in minutes, and full service typically within the hour after the last pass. Most single trailers are a one-day job including prep, and go back into the rotation the same shift. Prep — not cure — is the schedule driver.
What happens if it gets gouged?
Field repair is straightforward, which is one of the reasons this material suits equipment that takes occasional hits. Abrade the area, apply 7001 Primer, and re-spray. Within about six hours of the original application a new pass bonds chemically with no additional prep at all.
Will it fade?
Aromatic polyurea chalks and dulls in direct sunlight over time. It is cosmetic and does not affect waterproofing, corrosion protection, or physical properties. If long-term appearance matters — a dealer lot, a wrapped show trailer — ask about an aliphatic topcoat over the system.
Do I need special equipment to apply it?
Yes — a plural-component proportioner with a heated hose, Graco Reactor E-20/E-30 class or equivalent. None of these products can be rolled or sprayed with an airless. If you do not have a rig we can refer an applicator, or talk through what adding the capability involves if you are running enough trailers to justify it.
Question About Your Trailer?
Tell us what it is, what it hauls, and what is failing. You will get an answer from someone who sprays this material.
Ask a QuestionGet Fleet & Dealer Pricing
Tell us about your project and we will follow up with product details, technical data sheets, and pricing.