STP ShaliKote T-32
A cold-applied, clay-type bituminous emulsion that brushes on to form a tough, water-impermeable film on roofs, chajjas and below-grade concrete — no torch, no heating, no primer bought separately.
What is it?
A water-based, cold-applied clay-type bituminous emulsion from STP, made of selected grades of bitumen dispersed in water with clay and inert fibre fillers.
Where is it used?
Roofs, verandahs, chajjas, sunshades and below-grade concrete and masonry, plus buried pipework and structures needing a protective bituminous skin.
Why use it?
It builds a continuous, water-impermeable bituminous membrane that resists thermal movement, industrial fumes and saline air, at a fraction of the cost of a liquid-applied polymer membrane.
How is it applied?
Brush or trowel two coats cold; the first coat is thinned 1:1 with water to act as a penetrating primer, followed by a full-strength finishing coat.
About STP ShaliKote T-32
ShaliKote T-32 sits in the workhorse tier of STP’s bituminous range. It is a clay-type emulsion — selected grades of bitumen held in a water phase, thickened with montmorillonite clay and reinforced with inert fibres — that carries more bitumen than the lighter T-10 grade, so it lays down a heavier, more durable film per coat. Because the carrier is water rather than solvent, it spreads without a strong solvent smell, cleans up before it cures, and can be applied straight from the bucket by brush or trowel with no heating and no torch. That makes it a practical choice on occupied buildings and confined below-grade pockets where hot-applied bitumen or open flame is impractical.
The product earns its place on Indian sites because it tolerates the conditions those sites actually present. It can be laid even on a damp or wet subgrade, which is a real advantage during monsoon repair windows, and once set it forms a coating that stays impermeable through daily thermal cycling, exposure to industrial fumes and the salt-laden air of coastal projects. The fibre content gives the cured film a measure of toughness against shock and vibration, so it holds up on roofs and structures that flex and move under service loads. It is not a decorative or a warranted elastomeric system — it is an honest, economical protective barrier that does one job reliably.
The technical insight
The chemistry that makes ShaliKote T-32 work is the clay-stabilised emulsion. Bitumen on its own will not disperse in water, so it is emulsified — broken into fine droplets held apart by clay particles (montmorillonite) acting as the stabiliser. In the wet state the material behaves like a brushable paste; once applied, the water evaporates and the clay-armoured droplets coalesce and knit into a continuous, hydrophobic bitumen film. That is why the first coat is deliberately diluted 1:1 with water: the thinner, lower-viscosity primer wets out and penetrates the pores of concrete or masonry, keying the system to the substrate, while the full-strength second coat builds the membrane thickness. The inert fibres bridge micro-defects and add cohesive strength, so the dried skin resists the cracking that a plain bitumen film would suffer under vibration. Because the bitumen phase is inherently non-polar and water-repellent, the set coating blocks liquid-water ingress while remaining chemically stable against the mild acids, alkalis and salts encountered in fumes and coastal exposure.
Where it is used
- Waterproofing coating for roofs, verandahs, chajjas and sunshades, applied cold in two brush coats
- Below-grade damp-proofing on external concrete and masonry faces before backfilling
- Protective bituminous skin on buried and semi-buried pipework against soil moisture and corrosion
- Anti-corrosion coating on steelwork, rails and embedded metal exposed to moisture
- Penetrating primer coat over porous concrete and brickwork when thinned 1:1 with water
- Damp-surface repair work during monsoon windows where the subgrade cannot be fully dried
- Insulation-board and protective bonding coat in built-up roofing and tanking systems
- Coating for water-retaining and civil structures needing an economical, fume- and salt-resistant barrier
Key advantages
- Cold-applied — needs no heating, boiling or open flame, so it is safe on occupied and confined sites
- Water-based carrier means low odour, easy water clean-up before cure and no solvent-flash hazard
- Can be applied even on damp or wet subgrade, keeping monsoon repair schedules moving
- Higher bitumen loading than the T-10 grade gives a thicker, more durable film per coat
- Fibre reinforcement resists cracking under shock and vibration on flexing structures
- Set film is impermeable to water and stable against industrial fumes and saline coastal air
- Brush- and trowel-applicable straight from the bucket, needing no specialist plant
- Cost-effective barrier — a fraction of the material cost of liquid-applied polymer membranes
Limitations & considerations
- It is a protective bituminous barrier, not a crack-bridging elastomeric membrane — it will not accommodate significant structural movement or open cracks
- Not intended for permanently ponded water or hydrostatic pressure situations without a suitable overlying system
- Bitumen darkens and can soften at high surface temperatures, so exposed roof coats usually need a protective screed, tile or reflective topping
- No manufacturer product warranty of the kind offered on engineered PU or membrane systems
- Being water-based, it must not be applied when rain or freezing is imminent before the film has dried
- Not suitable as a potable-water-tank internal lining — use a certified food-grade system for that duty
Selection & best practice
Prepare the substrate first: it must be sound, free of loose material, oil and laitance, though it may be damp. Apply the priming coat by diluting ShaliKote T-32 with clean water in a 1:1 ratio and brushing it well into the surface so it penetrates the pores; allow it to dry. Follow with a full-strength finishing coat by brush or trowel, working it out evenly to build film thickness — plan on roughly 0.6 kg/m² per coat on concrete (about 150 microns dry) and about 0.8 kg/m² per coat on metal (about 200 microns dry). Apply two coats, letting each coat dry — typically around 24 hours depending on temperature and humidity — before overcoating. Do not apply if rain is expected before the film sets. On exposed roofs, protect the cured coating with a screed, tiles or a reflective finish to shield the bitumen from direct solar heat. Keep the material in its tightly closed bucket in a cool, dry, shaded store away from any source of ignition.
Specifications
| Product type | Water-based, cold-applied clay-type bituminous emulsion |
| Composition | Bitumen 40-50%, montmorillonite clay powder 30-50%, with inert fibre fillers |
| Appearance / odour | Dark brown paste; mild bituminous odour |
| pH | 3 to 7 |
| Coverage on concrete | approx. 0.6 kg/m2 per coat (~150 microns dry film) |
| Coverage on metal | approx. 0.8 kg/m2 per coat (~200 microns dry film) |
| Application | Two coats by brush or trowel; prime coat diluted 1:1 with water |
| Drying time | Approx. 24 hours between coats (temperature/humidity dependent) |
| Pack size | 20 kg bucket |
Industry use cases
Residential & Commercial Roofing
Two-coat cold waterproofing of RCC roofs, chajjas and sunshades on housing and commercial blocks, protected with a screed or tile finish for long service.
Below-Grade & Foundations
External damp-proofing of retaining walls, footings and basement faces before backfill, where the subgrade is often damp and torching is unsafe.
Water & Civil Infrastructure
Protective bituminous coating on non-potable tanks, channels and civil concrete exposed to soil moisture, fumes and saline conditions.
Industrial & Coastal Plants
Anti-corrosion and moisture-barrier coating on buried pipework, steelwork and structures in fume-laden or salt-air environments.
Monsoon Repair & Maintenance
Fast, cold-applied re-coating of leaking roofs and slabs during the rains, where damp-tolerance lets crews work without waiting for full dry-out.
Frequently asked questions
Is ShaliKote T-32 the same as ShaliKote T-10?
Do I need a separate primer?
How much material will I need?
Can it be applied on a wet or damp surface?
Is it safe to use — is it flammable?
Can I leave the bitumen coating exposed on a roof?
How we position STP ShaliKote T-32
ShaliKote T-32 is the value tier of protective waterproofing — an economical bituminous barrier for roofs, chajjas and below-grade concrete where torch-applied or premium membranes are not warranted. Within STP’s own range, step down to ShaliKote T-10 for lighter-duty priming and coating, or move to STP’s polymer-modified and torch-applied APP membranes (Superthermolay) where a bonded, higher-performance roofing system is specified. When the project needs a genuine crack-bridging, elastomeric or warranted system rather than a protective bituminous skin, we would point you toward Fosroc Brushbond RFX (acrylic-cementitious, ideal for wet-area and tank waterproofing) or Fosroc Nitoproof 600 (pitch-modified liquid PU) from our Fosroc range, or Dr. Fixit’s equivalent liquid membranes. Talk to Space Arc and we will match the grade to the substrate, exposure and warranty requirement rather than over- or under-specifying.
Fosroc Nitoproof 600 — A specifier steps up from ShaliKote T-32 to Nitoproof 600 when the structure needs a seamless, crack-bridging, pitch-modified polyurethane membrane with real elastomeric movement capability rather than a basic protective bituminous coating.
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