FAQs

ECOTONE is an industry leader in long-lasting colour applications and functional coatings designed for the built environment in Australia and New Zealand.

While we love what we do, we also recognise it is a specialist field with unique considerations for every project.

Find common questions that our customers typically ask our team.

General

What are colour applications? How are they different to functional coatings?

ECOTONE are colour coatings made of water, light-fast colourants and durable binders. They’ve been designed to add long-lasting colour to surfaces in the built environment. ECOCLEAN are clear coatings with functional benefits.  They use photocatalysis and nanocatalysis to provide long-lasting cleaning and air purification properties in the built environment. We see colour applications and functional coatings as complementary products in our portfolio.

How are your colour applications different to paint?

Our applications are not comparable to paint. ECOTONE is made of water-based emulsion stains that have been scientifically formulated to preserve the breathability of existing surface materials preventing fading, cracking and peeling while maintaining colour for longer. With low VOCs, they make better use of raw materials, energy and water than paint alternatives making them a better choice for the built environment both in visual appeal and long-lasting impact.

Are your products environmentally friendly?

Our philosophy is Stunningly Sustainable. We work with our industry partners to create beautiful places and safer spaces. We start by working with more sustainable building materials in the built environment. We then apply long-lasting colour applications that are water-based with low VOCs minimising environmental impact as well as replacement and maintenance costs. In addition, our ECOCLEAN functional coatings decompose airborne VOCs that come into contact with a coated surface, maintaining the surface appearance and extending the life of an asset. This makes our products and our approach an environmental net-positive choice. Discover more on our Products & Features page.

Can I apply ECOTONE or ECOCLEAN coatings myself?

While it is possible to apply ECOTONE and ECOCLEAN coatings yourself, we do not recommend you do so without appropriate training. These are specialist products that require surface preparation, correct equipment, and specific application procedures. For a guaranteed result, we recommend you contact your local ECOTONE representative.

Can you be more specific about your 25-year guarantee in colour systems?

We offer a 25-year guarantee on all our standard and bespoke colour systems. There are exceptions where the colour specification is so unique in a project that we can not offer the same guarantee. However, we make this very clear to our customers to enable them to make an informed decision.

What is involved in working with ECOTONE?

We use Customer Experience Design (CXD) which is a customer-first approach that works through Desirability, Viability, and Feasibility stages in a project. By collaborating with our customers, we find it easier to deliver what we call the ECOTONE wow in every project.

How long have you been around in Australia and New Zealand?

Our team has been supporting the Australian and New Zealand building and construction industry for almost three decades. In that time we’ve completed thousands of projects across the region from Colour Matching, to Colour By Design and more recently Functional Coatings through our ECOCLEAN portfolio.

Why did you change your name to ECOTONE in 2021?

We changed our name to ECOTONE in 2021 to become a truly locally owned Australia and New Zealand company. The world had changed and we’d changed with it. By being truly locally we felt we could better serve the needs of our thriving industry and our vision to deliver more Stunningly Sustainable solutions that are unique to our market. Learn more from About Us and Our Philosophy.

Why did you call the company ECOTONE?

In rebranding our company, we wanted a simple and memorable name that was true to our vision: To partner with our industry to create Stunningly Sustainable places and spaces in our urban landscape. We do this through the multi-layered approach we take to surface design based on building material, colour application and functional coating. ECOTONE captures the essence of our bold new vision supported by our Colour for Life promise. Learn more about our company values on our Our Philosophy page.

How are you represented across Australia and New Zealand?

We are located in every state in Australia and service the New Zealand market through offices in Auckland and Christchurch. We share best practices across the region but with a local footprint that can support the specific needs of local customers. Meet Our Team and Contact Us to get in touch with your local ECOTONE office.

What is the relationship between ECOTONE and Nawkaw in Australia and New Zealand?

In July 2021 we changed our name to ECOTONE to allow us to become a truly local Australian and New Zealand owned company.

ECOTONE is more than a change of name for us. It’s a bold new vision to support the local building and construction industry with long-lasting colour and functional coatings

Brick Appeal and Ecotone Coatings no longer represent Nawkaw in Australia, and are no longer licenced to sell or apply Nawkaw products. Customers wishing to purchase Nawkaw products for use in Australia should contact Nawkaw using the details below:
Email: info@nawkaw.com
Telephone: 1300NAWKAW
Website: https://nawkaw.com/nawkaw-australia

COLOUR MATCHING

What is Colour Matching?

Colour Matching occurs where you have mismatching surfaces that need to be corrected to maintain aesthetic appeal. It is relevant for a variety of building materials including brick, block, mortar, concrete, stone and cladding.

What are the benefits of Colour Matching?

Colour Matching reduces the need to replace a surface material extending its design life and preventing replacement costs. By adding eco-friendly Functional Coatings with self-cleaning properties, surfaces can benefit from looking as good as new for longer in addition to reduced maintenance costs.

What products are used to deliver a Colour Matching project?

We use ECOTONE emulsion stains with added colour to deliver the desired appearance. Our industry experience and multi-layered approach to surface design mean we can pretty much match any building material required of a project brief.

How long does a typical Colour Matching project take?

Timings depend on the size and scale of a project. Complete our Project Enquiry form or Contact Us today for an estimate.

What costs are involved in delivering a Colour Matching project?

The cost per square metre varies based on your project, the materials involved and the site conditions. Complete our Project Enquiry form or Contact Us today for a quote.

COLOUR BY DESIGN

What is Colour By Design?

Colour By Design is a growing part of our company where we collaborate with our industry partners in the creation of new and unique surfaces designed to transform the appearance of a building or facade. Colour By Design is used mostly on concrete and cladding building materials.

What products are used in a Colour By Design project?

We use ECOTONE emulsion stains with added colour to deliver the desired appearance and surface effect. Our multi-layered approach to surface design means we can deliver a variety of colours and finishes to turn architectural dreams into reality.

How long does a typical Colour By Design project take?

Timings depend on the size and scale of a project. Complete our Project Enquiry form or Contact Us today for an estimate.

What costs are involved in delivering a Colour By Design project?

The cost per square metre varies based on your project, the materials involved and the site conditions. Complete our Project Enquiry form or Contact Us today for a quote.

Are ECOTONE coatings waterproof?

Our long-lasting coating systems have been developed to include an elastomeric membrane that is NCC compliant. Our multilayer system protects external concrete facades from water damage whilst maintaining a design’s aesthetic appearance.

Are ECOTONE coatings weatherproof?

Our long-lasting coating systems have been adjusted to be NCC weatherproof compliant when applied to external concrete. Our multilayer system protects external concrete from the impacts of weather such as rain, UV radiation, temperature fluctuations, and condensation whilst maintaining a design’s aesthetic appearance.

FUNCTIONAL COATINGS

What are Functional Coatings?

Our Functional Coatings under the ECOCLEAN brand are invisible and eco-friendly products with self-cleaning and air purification properties in the built environment. They mimic how mother nature self-cleans the earth using photocatalysis as an example. They are particularly suited to the built environment for their ability to maintain surface appearance while sustainably reducing cleaning, maintenance, and replacement costs of building assets.

How do Functional Coatings work?

Functional Coatings use natural light and water vapour in the air to break down harmful compounds into harmless by-products through a process called photocatalysis. However, the technology has advanced so much that functional coatings in internal spaces don’t need light to work. We call these nanocatalysts.

What are the benefits of Functional Coatings through ECOCLEAN in an exterior environment?

ECOCLEAN coatings address three common, costly, and unsightly problems in an exterior environment. Through photocatalysis, they have self-cleaning properties protecting the appearance of building surfaces and reducing their cleaning costs. They reduce the impact of weathering and carbonation in concrete buildings extending asset life. They have graffiti resistance properties preventing the need for abrasive and aggressive cleaning.

What are the benefits of Functional Coatings in an interior environment?

Our ECOCLEAN functional coatings have immeasurable benefits on interior surfaces. They not only improve internal air quality (IAQ) but have antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-mould benefits. This has been proven to keep people and the environments in which they live, work, and move cleaner and safer. Contact our team to learn more.

Can Functional Coatings be used to reduce the spread of viruses like COVID-19?

The answer is yes. Our ECOCLEAN Antiviral Coatings have been scientifically proven to reduce the spread of viruses like COVID-19. They are a more effective and sustainable solution to sanitiser products. Visit the ECOCLEAN website to learn more or Contact Us today.

Can you combine colour applications and Functional Coatings in one project?

We are trying to educate our industry on the benefits of combining ECOTONE and ECOCLEAN coating systems to deliver even more Stunningly Sustainable results. The number of projects in our portfolio that are benefiting from the long-lasting benefits of both is increasing. View Our Portfolio to see recent examples.

What costs are involved in delivering a Functional Coating project?

The cost per square metre varies based on your project. Complete our Project Enquiry form or Contact Us today for a quote.

URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE

What is urban infrastructure?

Urban infrastructure are the assets and facilities that make up our urban landscape. ‘Hard’ infrastructure are the large physical networks required to run a modern industrial nation such as road, rail, shipping, and airport transport systems. ‘Soft’ infrastructure refers to the institutions that maintain the economic, health, education, cultural and social standards of a country such as schools, universities, stadiums, hospitals, courts, police and emergency services.

What type of infrastructure projects use ECOTONE coatings?

All forms of infrastructure can benefit from ECOTONE coatings whether they are considered hard or soft. ECOTONE coatings can be applied to a number of building materials to achieve specific colours and textures. This makes ECOTONE extremely versatile. See our Urban Infrastructure Case Studies to learn more.

How do infrastructure projects benefit from ECOTONE coatings?

ECOTONE coatings deliver long-lasting colour to surface designs in the built environment making them an innovative and sustainable choice. Complementary to ECOTONE coatings are our invisible functional coatings called ECOCLEAN. These coatings have multi-surface benefits in the built environment including self-cleaning properties which help to extend asset life and reduce maintenance costs. See our Urban Infrastructure Case Studies to learn more.

What costs are involved in delivering an infrastructure project?

The cost per square metre varies based on your project. Complete our Project Enquiry form or contact us today for a quote.

If you have a question we may not have thought of,

our team would love to hear from you.

Contact us

Accreditations

Accreditation - Ecotone