How to apply Stone Coat's Ultimate Top Coat (UTC) Natural. | KCDC Designs

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Applying Stone Coat's Ultimate Top Coat Natural (matte) to 2 large countertops. - KCDC Designs
Are you struggling with the application process of Stone Coat's Ultimate Top Coat product? We've had great success with it and publish these videos to help others, so you too can have the same level of success.
Here's the mixing formula I use which can be found on pdf at www.RK3Designs.com/shop :
Total square feet x .275
For UTC Natural:
To determine how much water to add: Total ounces of UTC used x .16
For UTC Gloss:
To determine how much water to add: Total ounces of UTC used x .50
👉Chapter Breakdown:
0:00 - Intro to TITLE OF VIDEO
0:10 - Sanding the surface with 220 grit and red ScotchBrite pad
1:20 - Wiping down the surface
2:20 De-shedding rollers
2:30 - Using homemade Lint Roller
2:40 - Using wet-roller to apply the UTC to large island
3:29 - Back-rolling with wet roller
3:52 - Dry rolling the surface
4:51 - Time-lapse of UTC drying on island
5:05 - Applying UTC to long countertop with wet roller
5:15 - Dry rolling
5:40 - Time-lapse of UTC drying on long countertop
5:53 - Flyover of both projects, showing no lap lines or roller marks
I'm Keith McGinnis with KCDC Designs out of SE Nebraska. I build and install epoxy kitchen countertops, epoxy resin coated bathroom vanities, epoxy wall art and more, since I formed my company in 2019. Working with epoxy resin as a decorative finish is one of my passions, as well as sharing how-to tutorials to help other business owners and do it yourselfer's gain confidence working with epoxy, and different epoxy resin design and fabrication techniques.
Stone Coat Products: www.RK3designs.com
Epoxy classes: www.RK3designs.com

[@alissadenning9765]

Super informative! My favorite part is the singing 😊

[@kcdcdesigns]

Thank you, my friend! But the singing? LOL I normally edit it out, but thought I'd see if there would be any reaction from it. I'm always singing 😁

[@MMann-bs8wf]

Mama Tried!...Dig it!

[@kcdcdesigns]

LOL

[@belindagalle97]

One of my favorite songs! 🎶🎤🎵🎼🎸

[@kcdcdesigns]

By one of the best artists!

[@suegriggs5384]

Your work is beautiful

[@kcdcdesigns]

Thank you so much!

[@troyziems322]

Very nice!!! Great Serenade🤣

[@kcdcdesigns]

LOL, that's why there so much voice-over. I can't have the radio on for copywrite reasons, so I just sing 🤣. And thanks, buddy!

[@BayShoreConcepts]

Nicely done !

[@kcdcdesigns]

Thank you! :)

[@audreynoronha-teixeira174]

cheers, great lesson

[@kcdcdesigns]

Thanks, Audrey!

[@michaeloliver6745]

Great job! Beautiful countertops and wonderful singing to go with it!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@kcdcdesigns]

Thank you, Michael 😁

[@wendyolgine6912]

Thank you for this great tutorial!

[@kcdcdesigns]

You're very welcome, Wendy and thank you for your comment!

[@cheryllicata4198]

Great video I really love this product. I have both formulas. I have some tray tables and a couple of other pieces to put the UTC on. Friday I decided to go for it and get them done. Use the matte finish and boy did I have a problem with it. It finished real dull and took forever to dry. So yesterday I decided to scuff it up and go over with the gloss. Well it didn’t disappoint me. Everything looks great. Now I wonder if maybe the matte didn’t come out well because it was old. The gloss is a brand new purchase. It looks great.

[@kcdcdesigns]

Hey Cheryl and thank you. I'm glad the Gloss turned out great for you although, I'm curious about the issues you had with the Natural (matte). Do you recall how many ounces of UTC Natural you mixed up, and how much water you added to it?

[@cheryllicata4198]

@@kcdcdesigns I’m not sure what happened. I have used this product since it came out with no problems. In face my countertops are all done with this. I did use the gloss on mine but have used the matte on other projects. I still have the the same bottle since it came out. I’m wondering if it is to old. There’s probably 6 oz left so I decided to use it. Turned it upside down to make sure it was mixed up well. Made 3 oz and add I believe a little less than an oz of water. It went on real smooth and I checked it in 6 hrs and it looked horrible. So dull and filmy and it didn’t want to dry. Took a good 24 hrs before I could touch it. When I could I scuffed it up and covered with the gloss and it is beautiful.

[@thomasbreslin7759]

Thank you for your tip about mixing the utc with distilled water and to mix it to the consistency of 1% milk that’s helped me so much on my utc coatings

[@kcdcdesigns]

Hey, you're so welcome and thank you so much for your comment! Do you have a preference between the Gloss and the Natural, or find yourself using more of one than the other? Thanks again!

[@nicolehart7926]

I love this so much! Darker colors seem very intimidating to me, but you make it look pretty awesome! I thought I had settled on an exotic pour, but now I'm thinking the method you used for this piece came out perfect and seems the cleaner route to take. Is it easier in your opinion? Do you pour a flood coat after color before the UTC? Thank you! Please keep posting! Each video I watch, I learn something new

[@kcdcdesigns]

Thank you, Nicole! In over 3 years of doing this full time, I've done only one exotic pour. Maybe it's because I like being more creative with designs (but keep in mind, I couldn't draw a stick-man if my life depended on it!) and having more control. With an exotic pour I really don't know what the outcome will be. For a DIY'r, an exotic pour may be a viable option if not experienced with creating designs, I just like being more creative I guess. This design is so easy to do, IMO it's really about how you pour your colors out (not tiger-striped), melding them, and giving them time to soften. As far as darker colors go, I thought they would darken a kitchen (and so do customers) but they really don't. I think they add so much more character! And yes, I ALWAYS add a flood coat over my color coat! Even if I were doing wall art, I think I would still add a flood coat. Thank you so much for your comment and kind words, and please let me know if I can ever be of help! Keith

[@michaelschultz1688]

I just completed a color coat and clearcoat on my bathroom vanity with the integrated bowl and backsplash. Came out quite well. I’m about to do a matte finish UTC. Any suggestions on how I would roll out the sink basin to help lessen roller marks?

[@kcdcdesigns]

@@michaelschultz1688 I've not applied UTC to an integrated sink like that so I will see if I can get an answer for you. If you've not joined, check out the 'RK3 Designs Insiders, Pro Tips, Tricks and Fun Facts", on FB. It's a great group with great help and ideas. It's a private group but I'm a moderator and would happy to accept you in.

[@hobbythomas4414]

Nice colors and shining good…ummm I see the logo with 2 arrows ….I’m curious what’s for? Name company that u made for them ?

[@kcdcdesigns]

Hi Hobby! Thank you, and regarding the logo, it's a "brand" (like a cattle brand) that the customer designed, then I cut it out of vinyl on my Cricut machine.

[@hobbythomas4414]

Ohh cool brand… thanks Keith

[@hobbythomas4414]

@@kcdcdesigns your welcome 😁 Keith

[@robertsparks3518]

How long is that top? How did you build it? Stack and stagger the MDF?

[@kcdcdesigns]

If I recall correctly, I believe it's approximately 10' x 4'. I always seam MDF countertops upside down, so after seaming (using biscuits and epoxy as the adhesive) I then glue and screw a support piece expanding 8"-12" on each side of the seam. This way the seam is supported during transport and installation. In some cases if additional support is needed, I will router out a channel and epoxy in 1/2" square steel tubing as seen in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qIXXmK2XhsSHe7Msi=KL0pP7xxzRBfA7Wx Thanks for your question, and supporting my channel!

[@edwardhuang2475]

Hi, Sir, do you have to sand the surface before applying the matte finish ?

[@kcdcdesigns]

Hi and thanks for your question! Yes, wait at least 24 hours after your flood/clear coat, then sand lightly with 220 grit so you create a mechanical bond, i.e., something for the Ultimate Top Coat to bond with. And be sure to keep your sanding disc clean as it can load up and cause deeper scratches the UTC can't fill.

[@resinfx4131]

If a second coat is needed due to lap lines, what is the process for reapplying?

[@kcdcdesigns]

In the case of needing to re-apply UTC (Natural or Gloss), personally I will sand the UTC completely smooth, being sure there are no high/low points. IMO the second application will then give you the same sheen as if it were the first application. This is also assuming a clear flood coat was applied over the color coat, so if you happen to sand through the UTC, you won't be hitting your color coat. As a side note, it's best if you can wait at least 48 hours prior to sanding the UTC. This is so you have less chance of your sandpaper loading up, and possibly causing deeper scratches that the next application of UTC may not fill. Also, when sanding (especially Gloss), if 220 grit is not cutting the surface, or you're going through too many sanding discs, I have started with 120 or 150 first, followed up with 220 prior to the new application. I hope that helps!?

[@resinfx4131]

Indeed it helps! Thank you always!

[@patriotepoxyworks]

Are you using the current ratios for utc/water posted on rk3?

[@kcdcdesigns]

Yes, and I don't deviate from that formula as it's worked very well on every project. That being said, I also have a climate controlled studio where the temp is always around 72° with around 30% humidity. It's possible I would have to alter that some that if my temps were not so consistent.

[@ChristopherSuckow65]

what are you wiping your 22o with?

[@kcdcdesigns]

Hey Christopher! After sanding with 220 grit I wipe it down with dry paper towels to remove most of the debris, then spray it with 91% Isopropyl Alcohol and wipe it again. Then follow that with the homemade lint roller. Did that answer your question? And thanks for asking!

[@chadhess8597]

What type of rollers do you use

[@kcdcdesigns]

Hi Chad, I use 1/4 nap roller covers that I get from HD. The 9" are a woven polyester, the 6" mini rollers come in a pack of 6 and are Premium White Woven. I tried the green 9" ones by Purdy but they are awful and never stop shedding.

[@chadhess8597]

@@kcdcdesigns thank you for the information I really appreciate it

[@kcdcdesigns]

@@chadhess8597 You're very welcome! Feel free to reach out any time!