Frequently asked questions
Technical answers to the most common questions about liquid waterproofing, industrial epoxy flooring, and erosion control in the Caribbean.
Frequently asked questions · About COTEC
COTEC is a company specialized in technical systems for Caribbean construction, part of Grupo Cobian, with more than 55 years of regional experience (founded in 1970). We offer three service lines: liquid waterproofing with polyurea and polyurethane, industrial epoxy flooring, and erosion control with TEMA geotextile mats.
COTEC operates primarily in the Dominican Republic, with project-execution capacity in Puerto Rico, Panama, Jamaica, and the rest of the Caribbean. Our operational base is in Santo Domingo, and we serve hospitality, industrial, critical-infrastructure, and high-end residential projects across the region.
The difference is specialization. High-end liquid systems (pure polyurea, elastomeric polyurethane) require 280-bar spray equipment, engineering supervision, applicator certifications, and technical knowledge of how the Caribbean substrate behaves. COTEC focuses on these systems specifically to deliver installations that meet European ETA standards — not generic solutions.
COTEC is led by three partners: Sebastián Martino (Director of Operations, Bryant University graduate, with direct hospitality-waterproofing experience in Jamaica); Juan Manuel Martino (Director of Materials Distribution, with experience on projects such as Punta Cana International Airport); and Javier Herrera (Director of Finance and Sales, Bryant University graduate with a Master's in Financial Mathematics from Babson College).
Yes. We work closely with architects, structural engineers, and specifiers to provide technical memoranda, product datasheets, applicable certifications, and specification-phase support before execution.
Warranties vary by system. Pure polyurea systems carry a certified service life of up to 25 years under the European ETA standard. We additionally offer an application warranty and post-delivery follow-up with a maintenance plan. Each project receives its specific warranty documented in the technical proposal.
Our process has three phases. First: technical diagnosis — site visit, substrate evaluation, environmental conditions, and intended use. Second: specification — technical proposal with system, thickness, certifications, and warranty. Third: execution and warranty — application with certified crews, engineering supervision, and a post-delivery maintenance plan.
COTEC quotes are requested through our website coteclatam.com, by email to ventas@coteclatam.com, or by phone at +1 849-524-4932 (Caribbean) or +1 786-603-8908 (United States). Every project begins with a no-commitment inspection visit for preliminary technical diagnosis.
Frequently asked questions · Liquid waterproofing
Polyurea is a liquid membrane applied by high-pressure spray (280 bar) that cures in seconds, forming a continuous coat with no seams or overlaps. It is resistant to UV, mechanical abrasion, chemicals, and structural movement. In the Caribbean it is particularly effective thanks to its tolerance for high humidity, extreme heat cycles, and salt exposure.
Both are elastomeric liquid systems but with different properties. Pure polyurea cures almost instantly (5–15 seconds), offers higher mechanical and chemical resistance, and better UV behavior. Polyurethane cures more slowly (30–120 minutes), allows better self-leveling, and is more economical. The selection depends on use: polyurea for heavy traffic or aggressive environments; polyurethane for residential flat roofs and aesthetic applications.
It is ideal for flat and curved hotel roofs, parking decks exposed to vehicular traffic, intensive-use terraces, technical areas, water tanks, planters, basements, and complex architectural geometries where prefabricated membranes cannot be installed properly.
Pure polyurea systems applied correctly have a certified service life of 20 to 25 years under the European ETA standard in Caribbean conditions. This assumes basic maintenance every 5–7 years and application carried out by manufacturer-certified personnel.
Several. First: fast application — a 1,000 m² roof is completed in 2–3 days vs 7–10 days for an asphalt membrane. Second: longer service life — 20–25 years vs 7–10 years. Third: no seams — eliminates the typical failure points of rolled membranes. Fourth: adaptable to any geometry — domes, curves, complex shapes. Fifth: better behavior under structural movement and extreme temperatures.
We work exclusively with internationally referenced manufacturers certified under ETA and EOTA standards, with CE marking under European Regulation 305/2011. Our suppliers include Alchimica (Greece), Tecnopol (Spain), and Danosa (Spain) — the same systems these manufacturers have installed on projects such as Camp Nou and the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.
In many cases yes, avoiding demolition costs. It requires prior technical evaluation of the existing membrane's condition, its adhesion to the substrate, and any patching or seam treatment. COTEC performs the technical diagnosis and specifies whether the system can be applied directly, requires intermediate preparation, or whether the old membrane must be removed.
Price varies by system (polyurea vs polyurethane), specified thickness, substrate condition, and project size. As a general reference, liquid systems in the Dominican Republic range between USD 25–55 per square meter installed. COTEC issues a formal quote after a no-commitment technical visit.
A 2,000–3,000 m² hotel roof typically takes 5 to 10 working days, including substrate preparation, primer, system application, and curing. This compares favorably with asphalt membranes, which require 15–20 days for the same area.
The liquid waterproofing systems COTEC applies comply with: ETA (European Technical Approval), EOTA (European Organisation for Technical Assessment), ETAG (Guideline for European Technical Approval), EN (European Norms), BS (British Standards), WRAS (potable water contact certification), and CE (European Conformity under Regulation 305/2011).
Yes — it is specifically designed to tolerate extreme thermal cycles. Polyurea systems retain their elasticity between -40°C and +120°C, withstanding daily expansion/contraction cycles that in the Caribbean can reach 30–40°C of variation between day and night, especially on exposed roofs.
Yes. Pure polyurea systems are designed for pedestrian and even vehicular traffic depending on the applied thickness. For heavy-use roofs (terraces, parking decks), a system with greater thickness and an anti-slip finish is specified. For non-trafficable roofs, the base system is sufficient.
Frequently asked questions · Epoxy flooring
It is a monolithic surface formed by applying liquid epoxy resins that cure into a continuous, seamless finish — resistant to impact, abrasion, chemicals, and heavy vehicular traffic. It is the standard for pharmaceutical, food, and chemical industries, as well as hospitals, parking decks, and manufacturing plants.
COTEC installs epoxy floors in three main sectors: industrial sites (pharmaceutical, food, chemical, and manufacturing plants), healthcare (hospitals, clinics, laboratories, surgical areas), and parking (residential, commercial, and industrial with heavy vehicular traffic).
Service life depends on the specified system and usage conditions. Well-installed industrial epoxy floors last between 10 and 20 years under normal conditions. High-performance systems for heavy industry can reach 25 years with maintenance.
Yes. Epoxy floors are designed to resist a wide range of chemicals: dilute acids, alkalis, solvents, oils, fuels, and industrial cleaning products. The specific resistance depends on the system (standard epoxy, chemical-resistant epoxy, or systems with specialized topcoat).
Epoxy floors in the Dominican Republic range between USD 35–90 per square meter installed, depending on the system (self-leveling, multilayer, decorative quartz), thickness, and the necessary substrate preparation. COTEC issues a formal quote after a technical visit.
The slab must be structurally sound, free of oils, dust, and excessive moisture. The concrete is diamond-ground or shot-blasted to create anchoring texture; cracks and holes are repaired; and a specific primer is applied. Proper preparation is the most critical factor for system durability.
Yes. They are the standard for hospitals because of their continuous, seamless surface (which eliminates niches for bacteria), ease of cleaning and disinfection, resistance to sanitizing chemicals, hygienic finish, and traceability for critical areas. COTEC installs systems certified for the hospital and pharmaceutical sectors.
Yes. Traffic lines, safety signage, area demarcation, and corporate logos are integrated directly into the epoxy system during application or as a final layer. This is standard in industrial plants and parking decks.
For a typical 1,000 m² industrial project, the full process takes 5–7 days: 1–2 days of substrate preparation, 2–3 days of layered application (primer, base, topcoat), and 1–2 days of final cure before light traffic. Heavy traffic after 7 days.
Frequently asked questions · Erosion control
TEMA mats are geotextile products that protect exposed soils from erosion caused by wind, rain, and runoff impact. They are installed over slopes, channels, and structural fills while vegetative cover or permanent stabilization is established. Two families exist: biodegradable (straw, coir, natural blends) and reinforced synthetic.
COTEC installs erosion-control mats on road slopes (highway cuts and fills), drainage channels, structural fills (berms, dikes, embankments), and coastal areas (dune stabilization and wind-eroded zones).
Biodegradable mats (straw, coir) provide temporary protection while natural vegetation is established — they degrade in 6–24 months, integrating into the soil. Reinforced synthetic mats provide permanent protection for critical zones: channels, high-gradient slopes, and areas where vegetation alone cannot stabilize sufficiently.
Anchor density is calculated according to the slope's gradient. On gentle slopes: 1.1 staples/m². On slopes steeper than 2H:1V: 3.4 staples/m² or more. Each project requires its own structural calculation based on the angle, soil type, and expected runoff exposure.
The mats comply with ASTM D-4632 (Grab Tensile strength), ASTM D-4595 (wide-width tensile strength), ASTM D-6818 (Rolled Erosion Control Product classification — RECP), and the guidelines of the ECTC (Erosion Control Technology Council).
Yes. One of the main functions of biodegradable mats is to improve the soil's surface microclimate by retaining moisture, moderating temperature, and protecting seeds until germination. This accelerates the establishment of vegetative cover in exposed areas.
Erosion-control systems in the Dominican Republic range between USD 8–22 per square meter installed, depending on the type of mat (biodegradable vs synthetic), slope preparation, and the required anchor density. COTEC quotes after a technical evaluation of the slope.
With a biodegradable mat and proper seeding, initial vegetative cover appears within 30–60 days, and full stabilization within 4–9 months, depending on the seeded species and climate conditions. The mat continues protecting the soil throughout this entire process.
