Galston Community Project: fire station floor topped with Dulux Avista Decorative Flakes

Staffed only by volunteers, the Galston Rural Fire Brigade protects the community during fires, floods and other emergencies. When volunteer firefighter and Dulux Avista Accredited Applicator Dan Hughes asked for help, we jumped at the chance to donate internal flooring products. 

The Galston Fire Station, in Sydney's Hornsby Shire, was built in 1985. More than three decades later, it was time for a facility makeover in 2022. For one, the uncoated concrete floor did not make life easy for volunteers.

Station Captain David Aslin explained: “The old, bare concrete floor was very dated, oil stained and very, very time consuming to clean."

As the owner of Sydney's InSpec Coating, Dan Hughes had attended a Dulux Avista training day with our Technical and Training Manager Chris Murphy. The two put their heads together to deliver this Dulux Avista Community Project.

“The magnitude that this project reached would not have been possible without Dulux Avista. The donation of products, materials and the involvement by all made this project such a success,” Dan said.

Another Dulux Avista Accredited Applicator, Newcastle Concrete Resurfacing donated grinding services to prepare the concrete for new coatings.

Watch our video to see the team in action

A fit-for-purpose flooring solution

With more than 200 square metres of concrete floor, the fire station needed a super-tough floor that was chemical resistant and easy to clean. Low odour products and a fast turnaround time were also key priorities, so the volunteers could get back to work quickly.

Step 1: The floors were prepared with a grinder.

Step 2: Low odour Dulux Avista Waterbased Epoxy was applied by roller. Dan chose Trunk Grey from our Dulux Avista In Store Tint Range to complement the station's existing colour scheme.

Step 3: Dulux Avista Decorative Flakes in Deep Granite were hand cast over the base coat. The flakes deliver a seamless finish that is very low maintenance, especially compared to the old bare concrete!

Step 4: The surface was sealed with Dulux Avista Polyaspartic Sealer, our toughest and fastest-drying sealer.

Polyaspartic Sealer the right choice for heavy vehicles

Polyaspartic Sealer is one of Dulux Avista's newest technologies, offering superior durability for these high traffic floors. The one-coat system dries rapidly and can be walked on within the hour.

In recommending products, Chris considered durability and drying times. “The return to service [means] the guys can get back on the floor very, very quickly. These trucks weigh a lot and if they’ve been out in the fires...the warm tyres come and park on the floor. That’s something we had to look at.”

Restoring pride

For Dulux Avista, supporting this project was an easy choice, said Chris. "We try to get involved in community projects. This one was ideal because the guys have done it tough over the past couple of years with floods and fires around the local areas. As a representative of Dulux Avista, I am so proud to be a part of this project.”

Completed in November 2022, the flooring upgrade was part of a larger facelift at the fire station. “It’s going to change the face of the place and bring so much pride back to the membership,” Captain Aslin said.

Dan enjoyed learning more about Dulux Avista products working alongside Chris for the day. But the personal rewards of helping his community were above and beyond.

"I’m a volunteer firefighter for Galston Rural Fire Brigade. They do so much for the community. I am not always here to help the guys on the ground with the hose but this is something that I can give back to the community. Doing this floor for them was great."

Find out more

• Read more about Dulux Avista Polyaspartic Sealer.
• Explore our Decorative Flakes colours and patterns.
• Check out our Community Projects in Victoria and Queensland.