Solvent Cut-back Asphalt Undercoating

So you have narrowed your search down to an Asphalt Based Automotive Undercoating and now you want to decide on a Solvent Cut-back or Water Cut-back formulation. First thing you need to understand is what “Cut-Back” is actually referring to. A Cut-back is the product that is mixed with the coating in order to keep it fluid so you can apply the product easily. This is the same as house paint which is generally cut-back with water. Most house paints are Latex based that are cut-back with water. The products on this page are Asphalt based that are cut back with Solvent.

So… for Asphalt based products, let’s look at the benefits of being cut-back with Solvent versus Water. The main benefit is drying time. Because they evaporate very quickly, the coating can cure much faster. They also require less surface preparation because you aren’t adding moisture to the surface to be protected. Solvent Based products also have a long shelf life (2 years) when sealed properly.

Some of the down sides to using a Solvent Cut-back coating is that they have higher VOC (Volatile Organic Emissions) and they require harsher products such as Mineral Spirits to clean-up.

But if you are looking for an easy product to apply that dries very quickly and can be stored for longer periods of time… look no further than coating cut-back with Solvent.