Polyurea is made by mixing two liquid parts that react and set within seconds. Before it reacts, one of those parts needs careful handling, which is why our sprayers wear supplied-air respirators and full protective gear and customers stay out of the spray bay. Once it has set, polyurea is a solid, stable plastic. You can drive the truck home the same day.
What polyurea is
Polyurea is a coating made from two liquids. One side contains isocyanates and the other side contains amines. They are pumped separately, heated, and mixed at the spray gun under high pressure. The moment they meet, they react and start to set, usually within seconds. What lands on the truck bed becomes a tough, flexible solid almost right away.
We spray pure aromatic polyurea for the liner. The UV option adds an aliphatic topcoat over it. A primer goes on the sanded bed first, in the same ventilated bay, so the liner has something to bond to.
Polyurea is used well beyond truck beds, on things like industrial floors, tank linings and secondary containment. It is a common, well-understood material. Like most industrial coatings, the care is in how it is handled during application.
Where the risk is
The risk with polyurea is in the liquid, uncured material and the spray mist, mostly from the isocyanate side. Breathing it in or getting it on skin while spraying is the concern, and it is a workplace safety issue for the people doing the spraying.
That is why the spray bay is set up the way it is:
- Our sprayers wear supplied-air respirators, not just dust masks.
- Full coveralls, gloves and eye protection during prep and spraying.
- The bay is ventilated, and no customers or visitors are in it while we spray.
- Material is stored and handled following the supplier's safety data sheets.
What about you and your truck?
By the time you pick the truck up, the liner has set. The chemical reaction that makes the material hazardous in its liquid form is done. You may notice a faint smell for a day or two, which fades. If you are sensitive to smells, leave the truck outside or the windows down for the first day.
You can drive it home right away. Light use is fine the same day, and heavy loads can go in after 24 hours. Our new liner care guide covers the first week.
Is it safe for pets, kids and gear?
Once set, polyurea is an inert solid. Dogs ride on it, kids climb on it, and tools sit on it without trouble. We would not call any bed liner food grade, so if you carry food, keep it in a cooler or container like you would in any truck bed.
And the environment?
Pure polyurea systems are high in solids, so there is very little solvent to evaporate during spraying compared with many paints. Leftover and waste material is cured and disposed of properly rather than poured out. A liner that lasts the life of the truck also means not buying and throwing away plastic drop-in liners.
Quick answers
Can I wait in the shop while you spray?
No. The spray bay is closed to anyone without protective equipment.
When is it fully cured?
It sets in seconds and is ready for full loads after 24 hours. Prices for every finish are on our Pricing page.