Friday, October 28, 2011
Paint Problems in Historic Structures
More often, complex maintenance problems are inherited by owners of historic buildings, including areas of paint that have failed beyond the point of simple cleaning, scraping, and hand sanding (even though much so-called "paint failure" is because of interior or exterior moisture issues or surface preparation and application errors with prior coats).
Even though paint problems are under no circumstances unique to historic buildings, treating multiple layers of hardened, brittle paint on complex, decorative--and possibly fragile--exterior wood surfaces inevitably requires an enormously careful approach.
In the case of new construction, this degree of worry just isn't needed since the wood is usually less detailed and, in addition, retention from the sequence of paint layers as a partial record of the property's history just isn't an concern.
When historic buildings are involved, however, a distinctive set of problems arises--varying in complexity based upon their period, architectural style, historical significance, and physical soundness from the wood--which needs to be cautiously evaluated to ensure that decisions may be made that are sensitive to the longevity of the resource.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Parking Structure Refurbishment and Regular Maintenance
This encompasses both steel and concrete rehabilitation. A parking garage refurbishment firm can arrive on site and make these parking garage repair evaluations on your behalf and structure an annual program for the parking garage.
Types of restoration that might be carried out are: overhead concrete replacement, full-floor concrete replacement, post-tension and post-tension repair, carbon fiber installation, steel plating and bracing, concrete installation, plaza rehabilitation, deck waterproofing systems, including joint sealants, traffic deck coatings, concrete sealers and expansion joint sealing systems.
Maintenance of the parking garage is key. Areas to check out in maintenance of parking structures are; structural systems: floors in parking garages can be evidence for cracks, expansion joints, unevenness across cracks, delaminating of concrete, shifting in the floor surfaces. It is good to examine drain areas where water settles in a parking garage. Inspection of floors of parking garages ought to be each three months.
Framing components in the parking garage are comprised from the building and columns, beams and spandrel panels. These are often constructed of steel, concrete or steel-encased concrete. Check out places where the concrete has cracked and where the reinforcing materials are uncovered and deterioration has set in. Framing components in a parking structure ought to be checked every three months.
Walls and towers in parking garages ought to be level. If you see cracking within the wall surfaces, stair treads become misaligned or the expansion joints might open up. Walls and towers of parking garages and concrete parking structures should be checked quarterly.
Connections in a parking garage are places where the structural system components are bolted, welded or grouted in place and should be carefully examined for deterioration, cracking, spalling or distress. Connections should be inspected on a quarterly basis.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
The Commercial Painting Planning Costs
Most costs related to paint applications are heavily weighted toward labor. Managers can verify a project’s relative costs by comparing these factors in their experiences with painting projects, or by checking the current manuals of painting-cost estimates, which break down labor and material unit costs separately.
For instance, the manuals show that costs for interior floor, wall and ceiling paint and coating applications typically are comprised of 70-80 percent labor and 20-30 percent material. Managers also can note the exceptions, such as floor coatings, by checking specific kinds of paint applications to determine their relative labor-material weights.
Proper preparation also is essential for ensuring attractive, long-lasting, low-cost jobs. This step includes ensuring that paint crews have the right tools, file and sand rough spots, clean surfaces thoroughly to remove grease and loose material, and dry the surface well.
Workers should apply a sealer coating to the substrate before painting in some cases, such as when painting over new plaster, wall board or heavily soiled surfaces.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Warehouse Floor Coatings Resist Diverse Types of Hazards
When these coatings succeed, the warehouse floors are better protected and guaranteed a longer service life. When pedestrian and mechanical traffic goes unbroken inside the warehouse, with hardly a skid or even a slide or an untoward floor accident happening, then the silent workhorse that is the warehouse floor coatings system is successful.
Nearly all warehouse floor coatings offer resistance to diverse kinds of hazards that warehouse floors are usually exposed to. In commercial or industrial buildings, warehouse floors are sometimes assaulted by chemicals, abrasive elements, physical scraping, and load impact, among others. Warehouse floor coatings contractors often place a premium on products that provide greater resistance. Another comparable benefit of warehouse floor coatings is the ability to protect floors from environmental surroundings like changeable temperature, moisture intrusion, and high humidity.
Facility managers often favor warehouse floor coatings that are user-friendly or simple to apply. Such coatings make the application process more effective. These coatings are generally simple to handle, mix, apply, cure, store, and dispose.
Nearly all facilities these days favor and gain benefit from warehouse floor coatings which are natural environment-friendly in their application process and coatings which are compliant with VOC regulations and emit minor hazardous substances to the environment.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Smart Color Choices for the Office
Today's office environments are vibrant, active places that should motivate workers and present a positive image to clients and vendors. The color scheme you choose can affect the mood and emotions of the workers, so taking time to consider your paint options can be worthwhile in better productivity and improved office morale.
It's a good idea to seek the advice of an interior designer or painting contractor. Proper use of color can improve lighting, develop a sense of a bigger or smaller space, and reflect your company's philosophies. Ask your design professionals about computer programs which will enable you to see just what the office will look like after it's painted.
Researchers have revealed that different colors in the work environment have a direct effect on workers. Blues and greens seem to be calming and reassuring, often producing a sense of well-being. Red and yellow are described as 'stimulating' colors that can fire up feelings of braveness and strength as well as aggression and action. Black and white combinations are sometimes thought to evoke a sense of authority and power.
Color combinations can often modify a strong color while maintaining a comfortable ambiance. Be careful using any intense or extreme color, such as neon green or fire engine red since they might be very stimulating. If you’re drawn to those colors, use them in moderation. Keep in mind accessories like picture frames, plants and flower arrangements may also add color to the office theme.
As you consider colors, remember the floor and windows. Floor treatments are actually available that reflect light and brighten rooms. Ask your painting contractor about floor coverings and window trims that best utilize natural light.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Painting an Airport Requires a Specialist
You may wonder why it is important to work with an experienced airport contractor versus the property or facilities contractors you are accustomed to using. The explanations for doing this are plentiful, and this post aims to stipulate just a few.
Working inside and around an airport is without doubt a different task to standard contracted work, and requires using expert air port contractors that recognize both the industry and protocols put in place, and laws and the governmental procedures and regulation that define the nuts and bolts of the industry.
A number of things characterize contracted work inside the airport facilities industry, one being the capability for flexibility and fast response. As many of us know, the airport environment can change in a short time with the development of safety or security challenges, and have to be capable of reacting fast to conditions particularly if it results in a lack of service for the airline of airport. This is one reason why knowledge is absolutely key, as an airport contractor with well-established connections and an understanding the security and safety procedures can work quicker and guarantee a higher quality job.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Facility Managers keep up to date with Parking Lot Striping Improvements
It is not even enough that there is budget for the activity, or an excellent implementation plan. On top of these requirements, parking lot striping requires facility managers to have a keen eye on the present, and an even keener eye on the future.
Facility managers keep up to date with new technology
Parking lot striping techniques and methodologies are continually developed, to stay ahead of the evolving taste of customers and the developments in parking lot style. Facility managers ought to be attuned to cutting-edge technology, and reap the benefits of current improvements in parking lot striping and products. They must always be on the lookout for improvements in quality.
Think ahead and into the longer term
Business parking lots eventually evolve in size and style to keep up with the demands of business. A growing shopping center may need more parking spaces five years from now. This should be considered when planning the parking lot striping activity of today. Anticipate possible business expansion, prepare for the inevitable aging process, plan for future physical damage that may be incurred by day-to-day vehicular traffic in the facility. Take these issues into account and address as early as today for your parking lot striping project.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Paint Storage Tanks Successfully
To paint storage tanks requires the same careful surface preparation as every other surface.
Any coating system will fail if the paint adheres poorly on the surface that needs be painted. Not even the use of the highest quality paints will prevent a coatings failure, when the target surface has poor adhesion properties.
What is the reason for poor adhesion?
Foreign contaminants like dirt, oils, dust or water can ruin adhesion. Better surface adhesion is also achieved when the surface includes a rougher profile or texture -- allowing coatings to rest over the irregular surface better than when the surface is smooth.
Painting New Storage Tanks
To paint storage tanks successfully, surface preparation must be done with more care. New tanks, in particular, come with smooth surfaces initially. This smoothness or glossiness needs to be removed to increase the adhesion properties on the tank's surface. To organize the tank, the exterior must be blasted with sand with the use of a sand-blaster or by hand, removing the glossy surface.
Another way to remove the glossiness prior to painting the storage tanks is to expose the surface to heat using a hand-held propane torch. But this process should be done very carefully, so as not to hold the flame too much in a single location on the surface.
To paint storage tanks that are older, a rough surface may are already achieved, and surface cleaning will suffice to prepare it for painting.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Industrial Floor Coating Application & Qualification
The truth is, the contractor factor at this stage of the project, is extremely critical to assuring project success. It is because a good industrial floor coating specialist or contractor can work with a bad batch of coatings or knows how to accommodate it, but a poorly-skilled or unqualified applicator can botch the job even using good quality paint. Unskilled personnel can even jeopardize the success on the project by failing to recover from unexpected mistakes or not being skilled enough to spot potential problems early on.
Listed here are the minimum requirements that an industrial floor coating contractor should fulfill to ensure project success:
1. A minimum of 15 years of experience in general flooring methods and applications.
2. 5 or more years experience in the specific flooring application required by the project.
3. Certification to SSPC-QP 8 or the "Standard Procedure for Evaluating the Qualifications of Contracting Firms That Install Polymer Coatings or Surfacing on Concrete and Other Cementitious Surfaces" and other appropriate certifications.
4. Qualifications from manufacturers of industrial floor coating or other materials.
5. Excellent understanding of Quality Control and Quality Assurance (QC/QA) processes to have the ability to participate in the inspection, testing, installation and monitoring components of the project.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Elastomeric Weatherproofing Coatings
These specialized coating systems are ideal for applications on stonework, stucco as well as concrete. Elastomeric's flexible nature makes them a good choice to help bridge minor high line cracking. In situations where cracking has already occurred, experienced crews tuck point open mortar joints or remove and patch concrete prior to coating.
Elastomeric coatings are waterproof, but allow for dampness transfer, which will allow for the stonework structure to release damp vapors without interfering with the adhesion and also the performance of the coating.
Elastomerics have the ability to withstand wind driven rain up to 100 mph. These particular coatings can also bridge minor cracks where standard paints cannot. They have considerably more elasticity and elongation compared to traditional paint. Consequently, you usually receive much longer life from the product. Simple application means elastomeric coatings are generally applied without the trouble of extra high performance coatings
Painting companies will work with you to determine how an elastomeric coating can help to serve your project’s requirements. Extremely skilled craftsmen are trained to work with elastomeric and several other types of high performance sealant and coating options.
Call an experienced painting company and discover more about elastomeric coatings and how they might help waterproof your facility.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Minimize Downtime During Water Tank Painting
This can be through the use of a containment system wherein the temperature and humidity can be controlled. A ventilation component is added to the containment system to control air movement, which reduces dirt and contamination in the area.
Elevated water tank painting projects can cost facilities a huge amount of money, due mostly to the need to take the tank out of service. Water tank painting requires a dry surface to assure good coatings adhesion. But water condensation is inevitable given that the tank's inner chamber is filled with water. To prevent coatings failure, water tank painting specialists have to drain the tank of its content and dry it completely before any coatings application can commence. The bottom line is that the water tank is out-of-service in the duration of the activity.
Recent developments in coatings technology provided another option that lessens the time and money spent in water tank painting projects. Moisture-cured urethane coatings can be applied to tank surfaces without having to drain them of their content.
The effective application of moisture-cured coatings have made it possible for in-service tank painting, particularly of water tanks for major industrial, commercial and community facilities.
Moisture-cured coatings possess a unique chemistry suitable for water tank painting -- they dry quickly, apply easily, and are not vulnerable to failure in the presence of humidity-born hydrogen components.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Eco-friendly Organic Resin Coatings
Fusion-bonded epoxy coating involves the application of epoxy coating to steel pipes, rebars (reinforcement bars), pipes and valves to protect the structures from corrosion for a long time.
Epoxy coatings are a very viable and green alternative to protective coating. Facility managers intending to comply with federal and local regulations on environment protection and conservation should consider using epoxy coatings in their protective coating and maintenance projects.
Because epoxy coating is made from eco-friendly organic resin, surfaces applied with epoxy coatings are guaranteed free from environmentally-hazardous solvents or substances often found in ordinary paint. Such dangerous substances often come off the surface when subjected to natural elements like air and water, potentially causing health and safety risks to users and the environment.
The FBE process starts with dry epoxy powder melted at prescribed temperatures of around 180 to 250°C (360 to 480 °F). At the correct temperature, the epoxy powder turns into liquid form and adheres into the steel surface. Once the liquefied epoxy powder dries, it cross-links or "fusion-bonds" to every square-inch of the steel surface permanently. This means the epoxy coating applied to the steel material is impervious to any external changes from then on, thereby protecting the steel structure effectively and permanently.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Skilled High Rise Painting Crews Add Value
Once surface cleanup is done, the concrete coatings are re-applied when there is any amount of coating damage, such as chipping, peeling or cracks. When required, another coat of protective coating is also applied to extend the coating life, and perhaps another film of decorative coating to restore the original look and color of the building exterior.
The high rise painting crew often work the walls using power washers handled carefully, constantly conscious of the long drop below and the pull of gravity working against water outlets, hoses and equipments. The crew work against time to mix and coat the surfaces, conscious of the working pot life and the drying time as they apply the coatings. A steady work platform is nearly nonexistent, owing to wind and weather turbulence. When the wind picks up, the crew will be forced to stop working for safety reasons.
The work is long, tiring, and demands perfect execution and attention to detail. High rise painting contractors work with attention to the altitude, weather, and gravity. A simple high rise painting project is actually a minor feat of human ingenuity.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Painting Maintenance Plan for Your Facility
The responsive personnel at most painting companies provide painting maintenance plans to their immediate local areas. Seek painting companies that have been in the painting business at least ten years or more and therefore have seen a lot of properties that could have prevented full paint jobs if a suitable painting maintenance plan had been implemented.
A professional painting contractor company will make an annual visit to your facility to make sure your paint is holding up to the weather elements all year round. They will recognize trouble spots early on and can prevent large scale problems later on. Call and check to investigate if a paint service agreement is right for your building or retail store.
Advantages of Implementing an External Painting Maintenance Plan:
- Ensures the paint is protecting your facility from deterioration - limits expensive replacement
- Recognizes potential difficulties before they develop into major replacement issues
- Maintains paint appearing bright and new for a longer time
- Extends how many years before the full repaint job is required
When the facility manager or property manager decides it’s time for a full paint job, select skilled painting crews that can easily adapt their painting techniques to whichever type of surfaces they coat and the environment the paint will face. Having your facility competently painted will lengthen the time between needed repaints and reduce overall maintenance costs.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Budgeting Used for Commercial Coating Initiatives
Altering the contracting process and utilizing purpose driven spending are two project budgeting alternatives.
Spending Driven By Purpose:
Usually, people think of commercial painting as a regular, ongoing maintenance expense. It's easy to see that a good coating and painting treatment is a wise measure in preventative maintenance. A good paint job is easy to apply and will protect the surface (and therefore the structure) of a building against damage. Some budgets separate operating costs from preventative maintenance. In this case, the painting project could be presented as an operating cost, and money could be available from the management team.
On the other hand, coating and painting application can add up to more than just a maintenance benefit. When thinking about the retail environment, it is clear that the way a building looks will have an effect on the amount of business it will attract. There are two possibilities for funding a painting project: the maintenance budget and the marketing budget.
Making Changes to The Contracting Process:
It may seem like overkill to resolve painting budget issues by changing the contracting process. If your facility utilizes outsourcing to a great extent, the practice of administering contracts utilizing this new method can save you money.
Job order contracting (JOC) systems are used by a number of large corporations to handle the process of contracting. Defined as an indefinite demand/quantity system, JOC utilizes pre-set base prices to determine cost of service. The price is settled on by a process of multiplying the base cost by a co-efficient that is pre-selected.
The contracting process can be streamlined by using a JOC system. This is common among many organizations, including government agencies and schools. Here is where you will see real savings: Faster RFP finished product time, lowered administrative needs, a reduction in advertising expenses. Centennial Contractors Enterprise, Inc. published a hard-copy report that indicated that using JOC system could save as much as 21% in ordinary costs.
After a JOC system has been put in place, it can be applied to other outsourced services. It is not limited to painting contracts. Nonetheless, you should think about hiring a JOC expert to help you implement this process if you are not already using it.
In The Final Analysis:
Because it is unlikely that the budgets allowed for facility maintenance will increase in the near future, it is important to think outside the box when considering maintenance, construction, and painting projects. At the end of the day, your company may choose to change the contracting process or go with purpose driven spending. Either way, it is important to establish a uniform decision across all company settings and get management approval. This will insure that your company will be able to handle its commercial painting budget effectively.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Five Preventive Guidelines for Upkeep on Commercial Buildings
Appropriate repair lowers operating expense by prolonging the lifetime of facility materials, as well as the mechanical systems that might prevent a building from operating inefficiently.
1. Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
The heating and cooling systems are vital to keep an acceptable temperature as well as prevent the pipes from freezing in the wintry weather. The furnace and air conditioning unit needs to be thoroughly cleaned at least once a year. Heating system air conditioner filters need to be replaced at least month to month, and extra often for extremely grimy or dirty environments. Airborne dirt and dust as well as debris buildup in air vents and can cause allergies therefore should be cleaned twice a year.
2. Plumbing Problems
To avoid major plumbing problems, precautionary maintenance needs to be routinely performed. Inspect every bathroom, faucet as well as spigots for leaks, then fix accordingly. Water heaters should be flushed annually, especially if they are not used too often. In cold climates all exposed pipes have to be wrapped utilizing utility heat tape to prevent freezing.
3. Electrical Errors
The electrical wiring of your facility must be correctly maintained to prevent outages, fires or individual injury from the shock. Check all uncovered wires for fraying or worn casing and change the damaged wire right away. All outlets need to be inspected for signs of overheating. The utility panel should be checked for loose wires as well as have the panels breakers changed in accordance with the manufacturer's recommended rules.
4. Building Exterior
The exterior of the majority of facilities are in general low up-keep except for windows as well as entrance openings. Inspect these doorways for water or air leaks and plug with every-weather silicone caulk. Additionally it is a good idea to inspect the outside surface for paint peeling or erosion, which is very frequently the first sign it needs a fresh coat of paint immediately.
5. Roof Rules
The roof of the building offers protection from the weather as well as falling tree branches plus debris. Based on the roofing material it should be checked two times annually for impairment or else excess wear, which can cause leakage. Flat or rolled roofing should be checked for cracks and be repaired by applying tar correctly. Metal roofs have to be checked for frost damage, seams caulked as well as substitute sheets installed. Composite shingle roofs needs to be inspected for absent shingles or brittle, weak shingles and replaced accordingly.