1. Do you have everything on your Shopping List?
2. Have you completed the Surface Preparation?
3. Have you read the Mixing Instructions?
4. How is the weather looking?
5. You can apply the base coat, using the base coat as your grout color...
6. Or if you prefer the grout color to be your existing surface color...
7. Some people prefer their surface to be one solid color without a pattern
8. Have you considered the pattern Layout?
9. Lets find the center of your project.
10. How do you choose the angle for your Pattern?
11. Installing Borders on your project
12. Installing the main stencil pattern.
13. Hand taping a random pattern.
14. Spraying your top coat.
15. Creating multi-color effects
16. Removing Tape and Stencil.

1. Do you have everything on your Shopping List?

We have put together a shopping list that includes the items needed to perform a basic installation.

Click here to get the Shopping List.

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2. Have you completed the Surface Preparation?

We have put together a Surface Preparation Instruction sheet that will step you through cleaning and preparing your surface for niceDriveway coatings.

Click here to get the Surface Preparation Sheet.

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3. Have you read the Mixing Instructions?

We have put together a Mixing Instruction sheet that will step you through mixing of niceDriveway coatings.

Click here to get the Mixing Instruction Sheet.

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4. How is the weather looking?

The correct weather conditions are very important to ensure a proper coating application. NiceDriveway coatings are to be applied when the temperature is at least 50°F and rising. Do not apply coating when frost is expected within 24 hours, do not apply coating when rain is expected within 12 hours.

To check out the weather forecast in your area, go to www.weather.com, enter your zip code to get your up to date weather report.

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5. You can apply the base coat, using the base coat as your grout color.

When applying the base coat as the grout color, first read and follow the surface preparation instructions to ensure a clean prepared surface. Click on mixing instructions to find detailed instructions for mixing StencilCoat .

The base coat can be rolled, or sprayed and back rolled onto the surface.

Click on the photo for an example.

Use a long nap roller to ensure coating is pushed into rough surface texture. Coverage rates of 70 to 90 square feet per gallon are achieved on typical concrete and asphalt surfaces.

Spraying of the coating can be achieved by using a texture hopper and spray gun. A compressor producing low pressure and high volume powers these hopper guns. 30 to 40 lbs psi (pounds per square inch) is a typical pressure for these hopper guns. Hopper guns and compressors can be found at most local construction rental yards. These tools are used extensively in the sheetrock and plaster industries.

Contractors performing larger, multiple projects may consider purchasing a higher volume compressor including a tank, which holds the mixed coating. Compressed air forces the coating out of the tank, through a hose to the texture gun. These larger machines can also be sourced through the sheetrock and plaster industries.

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6. Or if you prefer the grout color to be your existing surface color...

skip the base coat application we mentioned above and move right on to applying your stencils, provided a patterned surface is what you are after. This method can save a little time.

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7. Some people prefer their surface to be one solid color without a pattern.

Many surfaces look great in a solid color. A favorite of many is to border the project using a border stencil. A solid color without a pattern is then used to complete the project. A complimentary color can be used to enhance the border.

When applying a solid color without a pattern, skip the layout steps and go straight to the coating application portion of this instruction sheet. Be sure to review the surface preparation steps.

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8. Have you considered the pattern Layout?

It is very important to layout out your project on paper prior to ordering material, this will ensure you have the proper material and supplies when you start your project. Start by drawing a sketch of your project including perimeter dimensions. example

The total square footage is important in determining the amount of stencils (if stencils are being used) and the amount of coating that will be required for your project. Multiplying the outside dimensions will give you the square footage of the project. For example, length x width = area.

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9. Lets find the center of your project.

It is pleasing to the eye when stencil patterns are started in the center of the driveway, allowing for balance along the outer edge. You can determine the center of driveway by measuring the outside length (both sides) and placing a mark half way along the length (both sides).

Hold a chalk line on both of these marks, tighten it up, lift the line about 10 inches at the center and let snap, leaving a chalked line across the width of the driveway. Repeat this procedure, this time measuring and chalking the width of the driveway. Where these two lines intersect will be the exact center of your driveway. example

This center point becomes important when your laying out a pattern that requires equal brick or tile pattern balance along the outer edges of your project.

note: When stretching a chalk line over 25' it helps to have an extra person place their finger straight down on the line (pressing the line to the surface of the driveway) holding the line and snapping first one side of the chalk line then the other. This procedure may also be necessary when the driveway surface is not even.

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10. How do you choose the angel for your Pattern?

Many driveways are not square, do not have straight borders and are not at a right angle to the street. When a garage door faces the street, patterns are usually placed at right angles to the garage door. The intersection at the street is generally not as critical as the pattern angle at the garage door.

example of right angle
example of odd angle

Knowing how to create a right angle can be handy on certain applications. An old trick called the 3,4,5 can easily give you a perfect right angle, even in areas where no reference lines are available.

example of how to create a right angle

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11. Installing Borders on your project

Now that you have established the angle at which your pattern will lie, borders (if any are being used on your project) can now be positioned. Borders generally follow the exterior perimeter of a project, but on certain applications can be used as a stand-alone feature to enhance a specific area of the project.

For the purposes of this instruction manual we will deal with borders that decorate the exterior perimeter of the project. Start by unrolling the necessary length of border stencil you will need, allow a few extra feet. Leaving the stencil lay flat for a few minutes will help iron out any roll curve the paper stencil may have developed during packaging and shipping.

Next, place the stencil border along the perimeter of your project starting at an outside corner.

Click on the photo for an example.

If your perimeter is not straight it may be necessary to cut one of the longitudinal grout lines in areas that the greatest angle is apparent. More than one cut may be necessary to accomplish the required angle. Be sure to tape the cut sections of grout line once the required angle has been achieved.

To secure the stencil to the surface, use small amounts of poster putty (can be purchased at most craft and hobby shops, check with your local department store as well) on any area of the stencil that is not laying flat on the surface.

Click on the photo for an example.

You are now ready to begin installing the main pattern.

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12. Installing the main stencil pattern.

Layout of the main stencil pattern should be based on the layout previously done on paper. Refer to your drawing for pattern placement. Ensure that you have followed the directions for setting center lines and angles as previously discussed in this instrucion sheet.

With center lines and angles determined, lay you stencil pattern (generally perpendicular to the length of the project. This again is up to the individuals preference)down onto the surface by rolling out the full width or length of the surface.

Click on the photo for an example.

Overlaping the outside groutline of the next length of stencil will ensure a constistant uniform groutline. Care should be taken to line up the pattern repeat, when placing two or more lengths of stencil on the surface. This can be achieved by placing a straight edge along a grout line repeat. Slide the stencil along until the patterns of the two stencil sheets align.

When you are satisfied that the repeat is correct, staple or tape the overlapping groutlines to ensure there is no further movement. Check the overall alignment to center and angle. Place small amounts of poster putty under any area of stencil that is not laying flat to the surface.

Note: The poster putty will easily come off the surface once you remove the stencil.

The final step will be to trim the stencil at the outside edge were it either joins the border of perimeter of the surface. Where the main stencil joins the border, trim the main stencil to overlap onto the border stencil but not to protrude onto the border itself. The overlap can then be stapled or taped to ensure proper placement.

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13. Hand taping a random pattern.

Large random patterns can be very attractive. These can be accomplished using a ½" to ¾" fiber banding tape. Patterns can be straight lines (a large tile pattern would be an example) or random forms (a random stone or slate pattern would be an example).

To ensure straight lines are accomplished, measure and mark the centers of your pattern. For example if you wanted a 36" tile you would measure and mark 36" centers down one side, the same on the opposite side. Repeat this procedure on the perpendicular side. Chalking these lines is not recommended because of the difficulty in removing the chalk deposit from the surface. A string line and marking pencil or crayon can be used to randomly mark the line. Click here for an example.

Note: The recommendation to not use chalk to mark lines is in contrast to the earlier recommendation of using a chalkline to mark centers and angles. In the earlier situation the chalk lines would be covered with the base coat. In the present situation you would most likely already have the base coat down and any chalk used would not be covered.

Random patterns are just that, random. Try not to repeat any specific sizes or shapes when randomly taping your pattern.

Click on the photo for an example.

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14. Spraying your top coat.

Take some time and review the mixing applications before you begin applying your top coat. Click here to review the mixing instructions. Be sure to add the GripSil addative to your top coat. This will provide not only surface slip resistance, but will extend the life of the coating by adding durable texture.

A slick tip when loading the hopper with coating.
Un-couple the air hose from the texture gun and place the hopper and gun in an empty 5 gallon pail. This will stablalize the hopper while you pour in the coating. Do not fill the hopper completley full, it will be too heavey to handle and chances are you may spill coating onto your surface.

Click on the photo for an example.

The hopper should be rotated on the gun so when the gun is pointed down to the surface to spray, coating will not spill from the top of the hopper.

Spray coatinging in a circular pattern to ensure even coverage. Spray straight down on the stenciled surface will ensure coating does not spray under the stencil.

Click on the photo for an example.

If you have applied your stencil to the surface without applying a base coat, ensure you apply two coats. over the stencils. Two coats also apply if you are applying the coating to your surface and not using a pattern.

Two coats of StencilCoat will ensure a long lasting, appealing surface.

Note: Borders can be top rolled after applying the top coat. This eliminates the need for masking when applying a complimentary border color.

Click on the photo for an example.

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15. Creating multi-color effects.

Multi-color effects can be accomplished using what we call "the dry roller method". Use a short nap roller dipped into the coating color you are accenting with. Roll the roller on a tray getting out most of the coating. Lightly roll the paint roller onto the areas you would like accented. A speckle affect can be obtained by spraying (using the smallest tip on the texture gun) another color or two over the top coat.

Note: It is a good idea to test the accenting in an area that can be easily recoated (if the desired effect is not achieved).

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16. Removing the Tape and Stencil

When the final coat of StencilCoat has dried enough to walk on stencils and tape can be pulled. This is typically 30 minutes to 1 hour when the temperature is 70°F and the relative humidity is 50%. Cooler temperatures or higher humidity will extend the dry time of StencilCoat.

Click on the photo for an example.

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