Gulf Construction Online - Hempel charms, shows its mettle

Protective Coatings

Rustica ... marble-filled aggregate texture.

Hempel charms, shows its mettle

01 January 2003

Hempel has started off the New Year on a high note with the launch of three high-performance protective products.

Hempel has launched three new high-performance paints on the market which offer a host of decorative and protective benefits.

The paints are Rustica 58950, which offers rustic charm and protection, anti-fungal paints called Mouldex 58520 and a decorative metallic range called Metalica 52410, says Houssam Shammas, deputy marketing manager for Hempel Saudi Arabia.

Elaborating on the new products, he continues: 'The simplest way to personalise a home is to be bold and imaginative with the choice of the paint system that protects it.

And there are many choices, from bright colours that dominate to subtle pastels that recede. Different colours provide many exciting options both inside or outside. The use of a texture paint adds another dimension to the final effect and the imaginative use of paint results in a finish that reflects the personality and desires of the owner.'

'Hempel understands this and manufactures a wide range of superior quality products that meet consumer needs and desires - from subtle, smooth finishes to quite coarse sand and stone-filled aggregates.

'The application of a texture paint adds a depth and character to a building which cannot be achieve if only a conventional paint is used. Whether it is a smooth, soft, subtle texture or a coarse stone-filled aggregate, Hempel has a solution to these needs.

'Its texture paints are extremely durable and weather proof, so they protect for a long time and provide much higher levels of protection than conventional paints.

Rustic beauty

'Rustica 58950 is a coarse, marble-filled aggregate texture which, when applied to new or refurbished buildings, adds a unique, highly individual beauty with extraordinary toughness and durability.

'It is a water-based texture which contains crushed marble aggregates and its application will result in individual patterns of rustic beauty and of unique aesthetic value.

'Rustica protects both new and refurbished walls with a tough, durable finish that resists plaster cracking, water and the weather and ensures long-lasting beauty and durability.'

The paint is best suited for application to interior and exterior wall surfaces such as concrete, masonry, cement rendering, gypsum boards and asbestos, he says.

It can be applied with trowel or airless spray and different effects can be achieved with different application methods.

Anti-fungal

The second new product, Mouldex 58520 has been specially formulated to prevent the growth of unsightly mould, mildew and fungus.

Shammas elaborates: ''To ensure a painted room looks great for the longest possible time, the right surface preparation is essential. Sometimes a room has special problems such as mould and fungal growths, and uneven and dusty, friable surfaces.

"Hempel has an extensive experience of such problems and has developed a number of highly durable, specialist products that will help solve the fundamental problem and ensure that subsequent decoration lasts a long time.

"Mouldex has been specially designed to give superior protection to painted surfaces from the growth of moulds, fungi and mildew and is suitable for interiors and exteriors.

"It is a high-performance acrylic emulsion that contains Mouldex, a special chemical additive which inhibits the growth of mould, mildew, fungus and algae. It was tested recently for fungal resistance by Paint Research Association (PRA) in England using BS 3900 : G6 (British Standards) and passed the test, winning approval from the PRA's microbiology group.

In interiors, Mouldex demonstrates excellent adhesion and washability and withstands repeated washing and cleaning, while in exterior environments, it is highly weather resistant, and will not crack or peel."

The paint comes in white or a limited range of tinted colours in a matt finish. It is recommended for use in kitchens, bathrooms, schools, dairies, factories, hospitals and other areas prone to fungi and mould growth.

Metal protection

The third new product, Metalica 52410, has been formulated to protect and renovate iron and steel with beautiful metal effects.

"Paint is used both to decorate and to beautify. So as painters start to explore different finishes, they want new and unique effects, colours, textures and styles," says Shammas. "Metalica ensures superior levels of protection for metal and at the same time provides a completely unique finish when compared to normal paints. It leaves a smooth matt, metallic-like finish on metal , while providing the highest levels of protection.

"Metalica 52410 is part of Hempel's strategy to provide a new range of coatings which is formulated for just this sort of job and its this type of product which decorators should consider if they are going to get the best value from their investment.

"It is a quick-drying single-component, solvent-based paint, strengthened with micaceous iron oxides and offers a smooth finish in hues of aluminium, green, red, brown, blue and grey.

"It has good levelling properties and superior brush applications, and makes an attractive feature of any ornamental surface."

Metalica has been designed for use on a wide range of domestic and commercial applications: on wrought iron gates, ornamental iron, metal railings, fences, grilles and architectural features, lights and lamp posts, letter boxes, light boxes and other domestic features as well as any ornamental metal object that requires a highly durable protective metal finish.