These Days' Paint Company's 'Best-Selling Product', Single-Component Waterproof Paint

Type 1 Waterproof Paint. From the left, KCC 'Monotan', Noroo Paint 'New Singletan', Samhwa Paint 'One Shot Tan'
[Photo by each company]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jonghwa] As the rainy season begins, sales of 'one-component' waterproof paint are on the rise. One-component paint has the advantage of being easier to apply and more cost-effective compared to the commonly used two-component paint for rooftop waterproofing.

One-component paint is a product that comes pre-mixed with a curing agent, so you just need to open the lid, stir, and apply it immediately. In contrast, two-component paint requires separate equipment such as a mixer to combine the curing agent, and it hardens quickly and applies thickly. For this reason, one-component paint is easy for beginners to use, while two-component paint is difficult to use without professional expertise.

With the "do-it-yourself" trend sparked by COVID-19, more people have been enjoying applying waterproof paint themselves on rooftops and inside their homes. It is analyzed that these users choose the convenient one-component paint because of the fun and satisfaction of doing it themselves rather than perfect application.

According to the paint industry on the 24th, the domestic waterproof paint market is estimated to be around 200 billion KRW. Especially this year, the ease of application and cost-effectiveness of one-component paint have become widely known through YouTubers after COVID-19, leading to a sharp increase in customers attempting "self-waterproofing" with one-component paint.

KCC, the leading company in the paint industry, reported that sales of one-component waterproof paint increased by more than 80% for oil-based and 30% for water-based products by the end of May compared to May last year, ahead of the rainy season. KCC's main one-component product, 'Monotan,' which is primarily polyurethane-based and highly durable, saw sales increase by over 80% compared to May last year.

Noru Paint's 'New Singletan,' known for excellent adhesion and elasticity of the coating film, also saw sales grow by more than 25% compared to May last year, with sales amounting to 3 billion KRW just this year.

Samhwa Paint's representative product is 'Oneshottan,' which withstands contraction and expansion due to temperature changes and prevents moisture penetration in cracked areas. Sales increased by about 35% during the same period. Gangnam Jevisco's 'Woobang Coat' also sold well. While most waterproofing materials showed an upward trend, Woobang Coat's sales increased by about 40% during the same period.

An industry official explained, "In the past 1-2 years, demand for 'self-waterproofing' using one-component paint has increased tremendously," adding, "Customers living in detached houses or multi-family houses, excluding apartments, almost always choose one-component paint."