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TAG GROUP: Projects

Problem Solving Forum (101)

Some painting specifications call for the use of “Best Effort” in relation to blasting. How does one determine “Best Effort?”

Where there is likely to be ponding water, what generic type of reflective roof coating will work best and why?

In what circumstances is third-party inspection justified on commercial coating work?

I’m converting a commercial space and am trying to decide on the floor. Should we polish the concrete floor or coat it? The concrete seems in fair shape, from what we can see under the dried mastic where the old vinyl tiles have been removed.

How do you properly coat welded joints?

How should a contractor respond when he/she reads a specification requirement that "the nominal dry film thickness of the coating shall be 3 mils"?

What is the correct procedure for carrying out preventive maintenance painting work in a small chemical product tank?

What is the most important factor to determine in a failure investigation and why is it so?

Animal fat in slaughterhouses often penetrates concrete surfaces. If the fat is not removed before the concrete is coated, the fat can cause the coating to fail. How do you identify and remove the contamination before coating the concrete?

What criteria should an owner use to determine whether to specify full removal or spot- or zone-repair on a maintenance project?

What is the best and quickest method for removing a polyurea tank lining?

How do I permanently get rid of efflorescence on clay brick?

On guardrails on a marine wharf, grating panels consisting of mild steel bars about 1/8-inch by 1-inch on a 2-inch-square grid were painted with a three-coat zinc/epoxy/urethane system. Inspectors are finding numerous pinholes in the finish coat along the inside corners of the grating where the 1-inch-thick bars meet at a 90-degree angle. These pinholes were not noticed in the zinc or epoxy coats, but the final coat's visual inspection is more detailed. What is the likely cause of the pinholing, and what could be done to prevent it on future applications? Also, what should the disposition of the parts with pinholes be, as in, repair, accept as is, reblast and recoat, or an alternative?

What is the recommended coating system and procedure for repairing deteriorated inorganic zinc/epoxy/polyurethane 3-coat systems? Does the repair system or procedure vary with the degree of deterioration and if so, how?

I need to remove coatings from masonry on a historic-preservation project. What are my options for doing so without damaging the mortar joints?

What is the best way to prevent corrosion of reinforcing bar in concrete?

For a one-coat inorganic zinc silicate painting system, what is the best method for touch-up and repair?

We need to paint our publicly owned lighthouse. What should I include in the specifications for this bid regarding surface preparation, coating systems, and other considerations?

What are the common moisture tests for vertical, below-grade concrete structures scheduled to receive a high-build, protective lining system?

How do you assess salts and other non-visible contaminants on concrete surfaces?

What coating problems are likely in storage tanks that have dissimilar metal sides and floors?

What is the most common or economical coating system for rehabbing the exterior of above-ground storage tanks?

How can I tell if my apartment building’s roof is suitable for installing a vegetative roof?

What’s the best way to protect a masonry wall from freeze/thaw cycling?

How do I clean off mortar smears that were allowed to cure for six months on a new architectural block building?

For coatings with a high-solids content (95% or more), what kinds of defects, such as holidays or micropores, are possible or likely to occur in the applied film? How can these be prevented or remedied?

What causes bubbling or cratering of epoxy intermediate coat when applied over epoxy zinc-rich primer?

If the walls of single-wythe CMU with core fill insulation become saturated, can they be adequately dried out for painting? If so, how?

What is the service life of a painted weathering steel bridge, compared to a painted carbon steel bridge in the same service environment?

When preparing to refurbish an old concrete secondary containment wall around a storage tank, what criteria should be used to determine if a crack can be repaired for coating or if the section of the wall should be rebuilt?

Some specifications may have requirements that the inspector may know to be extraneous or may be more restrictive than necessary to obtain a quality coating application. What is the ethical responsibility of the inspector to reject non-conforming coatings that they know will perform as intended, particularly where attempted repairs may degrade the coating system?

What can be done to prevent rust bleed in crevices when applying a zinc/epoxy/urethane system?

What are the best cycles to use in cyclic accelerated corrosion testing to achieve the highest correlation with atmospheric exposure in a northern, industrial environment?

I’ve heard about using crystalline admixture or crystalline materials on top of concrete to fill voids and make the substrate less permeable. When is this desirable, and what is the best way to use these materials?

What percentage of deterioration is acceptable at a one-year warranty inspection of water tank linings before a contractor must repair the coating job?

How do you repair delaminated areas of an elastomeric polyurea when the majority of the coating system is intact?

When we use field splice plate connections on structural steel projects, how do we prevent rust and rust staining at bolt heads and at the splice plate/steel interface?

What is the clearest way to specify the degree of smoothness that you want to be achieved by surface preparation on an exterior wood substrate that is covered with deteriorated, uneven and built-up layers of paint?

What is the best method for removing a day-glo orange spray graffiti from a brick wall?

When a food plant runs 24/7, even during coating maintenance, tiny airborne food particles can contaminate a prepared surface. How do you identify, prevent and/or remove such contamination before coating?

What should be considered in replacing a wooden deck with one made of concrete, in terms of the options for appearance, color and cost?

How should a contractor respond when he/she reads a specification requirement that "the nominal dry film thickness of the coating shall be 3 mils"?

How can it be determined if moisture within a CMU wall is causing repeated coating failure? If so, can the source of moisture entry be accurately identified for correction?

As an engineer in a moderate-sized chemical plant, how can I justify the cost of third-party inspection to upper management?

How do you keep sealants in control joints from cracking or separating from the substrate?

When specifying coatings for maintenance repainting of structural steel, under what conditions is it acceptable to settle for a surface-tolerant system, and when is such a system unacceptable?

When moisture permeates concrete slabs or walls below grade, how can this problem be solved and does it require excavation?

The facade of my late-19th-century, cast-iron office building has been coated several times, most recently in the 1960s. The paint is faded and delaminating, and I want to remove and replace it. How do I assess the condition of the cast iron and coating, repair weakened areas of the cast iron and prepare and recoat the surface?

What is the best way to repair localized coating breakdown on steel?

What’s the best way to prevent corrosion of reinforcing bar in concrete?

What is the proper surface preparation for stainless steel before coating to resist a salt-laden atmosphere?

What are the most effective procedures for protecting steel and adjacent concrete?

What must specifiers consider when selecting and using sealants and grouts to fill gaps and seal concrete structures?

How do you determine whether a lead-bearing coating can be overcoated or removed and replaced?

How can I determine the cleanliness of stainless steel for painting after blast cleaning?

We need to paint our publicly owned lighthouse. What should I include in the specifications for this bid regarding surface preparation, coating systems, and other considerations?

How do I get permanently get rid of efflorescence on clay brick?

What’s the best way to protect a masonry wall from freeze/thaw cycling?

What’s the best way to protect porous masonry from graffiti?

What is the best way to protect an exposed concrete foundation?

Can efflorescence be removed from integrally colored CMU without damaging the appearance? How?

How can you determine the moisture content of a concrete block (CMU) wall, and how can you judge when the moisture level is sufficiently low to paint?

What should be considered in replacing a wooden deck with one made of concrete, in terms of the options for appearance, color, cost?

How do I deal with the small cracks and fractures that occur along the edges and corners of the stone imprints in some of my stamped concrete work?

How do you keep sealants in control joints from cracking or separating from the substrate?

In what circumstances is third-party inspection justified on commercial coating work?

Where there is likely to be ponding water, what generic type of reflective roof coating will work best and why?

What is the best way to remove graffiti from the surface of historic stone masonry on a church while preserving the appearance properties of the substrate?

What are the alternatives for removing mildew from uncoated concrete block exteriors before coating?

What are the most important recommendations for successful field application of reflective coatings to aging single-ply roofs?

Are there any industry standards, technical references, guidelines etc. that provide direction to an owner as to when a low-slope roof membrane (single ply, mechanically attached, white thermoplastic) should or MUST be replaced?

How should a contractor respond when he/she reads a specification requirement that "the nominal dry film thickness of the coating shall be 3 mils"?

What should be included in the risk assessment of a particular painting project?

How do you strip paint from a cementitious substrate if you can’t alter the surface texture?

How many times can a building be repainted before the paint becomes too thick to perform properly?

We need to paint our publicly owned lighthouse. What should I include in the specifications for this bid regarding surface preparation, coating systems, and other considerations?

What is the best way to prevent tropical hardwood deck lumber like ironwood from developing a gray patina in sunlight?

What is the best way to remove graffiti from the surface of historic stone masonry on a church while preserving the appearance properties of the substrate?

How do you repair delaminated areas of an elastomeric polyurea when the majority of the coating system is intact?

What kind of surface preparation is most effective and economical before recoating aluminum window frames on a large office building? The original baked-on fluoropolymer has lost most of its gloss.

What are the alternatives for removing mildew from uncoated concrete block exteriors before coating?

What are the most important recommendations for successful field application of reflective coatings to aging single-ply roofs?

What is the best way to prepare a horizontal concrete surface for successful application of an acid stain?

What is the best method for removing fluorescent orange spray graffiti from a brick wall?

In what circumstances is third-party inspection recommended for commercial coating work?

What environmental and safety precautions must be taken when using chemical stripping and water blasting to remove lead-based paint from a commercial building exterior in an urban business district?

What type of material should I use to achieve bright, bold colors on a concrete floor that gets heavy foot traffic?

What should be considered in replacing a wooden deck with one made of concrete, in terms of the options for appearance, color and cost?

How do I get permanently get rid of efflorescence on clay brick?

What causes concrete “dusting,” and is there any way to prevent or remove it?

We’re converting a grocery store to a motorcycle dealership. Should we polish the concrete floor or coat it? The concrete seems in fair shape, from what we can see under the dried mastic where the old vinyl tiles have been removed.

What’s the best way to protect porous masonry from graffiti?

How do I clean off mortar smears that were allowed to cure for six months on a new architectural block building?

How do I deal with the small cracks and fractures that occur along the edges and corners of the stone imprints in some of my stamped concrete work?

How do I prepare an oil-stained, bare concrete floor for coating?

How do you keep sealants in control joints from cracking or separating from the substrate?

How many times can a building be repainted before the paint becomes too thick to perform properly?

How do you strip paint from a cementitious substrate if you can’t alter the surface texture?

Can efflorescence be removed from integrally colored CMU without damaging the appearance? How?

What is the best way to remove graffiti from the surface of historic stone masonry on a church while preserving the appearance properties of the substrate?

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