Paw-some Protection

Spray Foam Magazine – Winter 2025 – ArmorThane embodies excellence as a manufacturer and distributor of premium protective coatings, as well as providing innovative design and fabrication of commercial application equipment. Troy Bacon, the head of marketing, deeply trusts in the reliability of their products, using them for a personally meaningful project. In an inspiring exchange with the team at Spray Foam Magazine, Troy shared the details that highlight the intersection of professional expertise and heartfelt commitment.

Troy and his wife, Dr. Meda Bacon, DVM connected through their shared passion for animals while volunteering at a nonprofit animal support group. Their bond was immediate, leading to a swift marriage anchored in mutual devotion to animal welfare. This love for animals became the foundation for a remarkable venture. Years later, their home is filled with an extraordinary array of 22 goats, 32 chickens, four turkeys, four cats, two dogs, a chameleon, and around 40 Canadian geese.

Today, Dr. Bacon proudly owns the McClure Veterinary Clinic in Ozark, Missouri. This new clinic represents a dream realized with a new 10,000-square-foot, full-service veterinary center built from the ground up, a significant upgrade from her former 1,500-square-foot facility. From the very start, her vision focused on prioritizing animal health, cleanliness, and long-term durability.

Guided by her husband’s knowledge of dependable coatings, they chose ArmorThane’s AquaSafe polyurea flooring system for this essential space.

Coatings play a crucial role in a veterinary clinic, delivering both practical benefits and a pleasing aesthetic that fosters a sterile environment where sanitation matters most. Every space from consultation rooms, waiting areas, and surgical theaters, is designed to be free from contamination, ensuring a germ-free environment that protects the health of every patient. With hygiene as a top priority, a seamless flooring system is vital, one that repels moisture, cleaning agents, and animal waste.

The basement before the coating was applied.

An upstairs hallway after spraying.

The finished downstairs space, now transformed into the kennel area.

By eliminating grout lines and cracks, polyurea prevents the growth of bacteria while also blocking chemical absorption and moisture intrusion, key factors that can lead to odor and deterioration in animal facilities. These hygienic surfaces significantly reduce the risk of infection, creating a setting that is inhospitable to viruses and bacteria. This is particularly crucial in surgical theaters and treatment rooms, where maintaining maximum cleanliness protects the health and recovery of all animal patients.

AquaSafe polyurea is certified safe and non-toxic, is VOC-free and suitable for animals. Its rapid curing allows spaces to return to use swiftly, offering exceptional resistance that surpasses standard epoxy or urethane systems, making it the ideal choice for a veterinary clinic. Using their dedicated ArmorThane crew, comprising of four full-time members and three additional assistants, they arrived on-site, armed with skill and enthusiasm. Their roles included a lead spray operator, two hose and mixing assistants, and a dedicated prep and masking technician.

With top-tier equipment, including the PMC Premier proportioner system and a heated hose, they undertook the task with precision while ensuring their own safety through full protective equipment. The building, featuring a robust steel frame and concrete slab flooring, was ready for transformation. The crew skillfully utilized diamond grinding to prepare the surface and ensured optimal conditions through careful vacuuming and moisture testing.

A primer boosted adhesion, followed by multiple layers of AquaSafe, covered over 8,000 square feet of crucial areas including exam rooms, surgical suites, treatment spaces, and more. Spraying directly onto meticulously prepared surfaces, the AquaSafe coating was applied at an average thickness of 125 mils. The process began with a light flash coat, releasing any trapped moisture and air, followed by several build passes to create a flawless, solid surface.

“We wanted a flooring system that would last as long as the building itself while being completely safe for our patients. AquaSafe gave us exactly that — durability, safety, and a beautiful finish all in one.”

Following the curing, the team conducted a thorough cleanup, ensuring a pristine environment ready for service. What set this project apart was the ability to harmonize medical-grade sanitation with aesthetic design, achieving a clean, modern look capable of withstanding daily washing and high traffic. With an eye for detail, the crew thoughtfully color-matched the coating to the clinic’s interior palette, cultivating a tranquil, welcoming atmosphere for both animals and their owners. Together, they turned a vision into reality and created a space where care, commitment, and quality unite to create a haven for all who enter.