Masking the fuses and electrical outlets makes them visible after painting.

Wiping the metal increases its receptivity to paint.

Did you know...?

RUST-INHIBITION
All new ferrous metal surfaces should be primed with a rust inhibitor prior to applying a finish coat.

Primers are designed to protect the metals and provide a base for the finish coat. The finish coat protects the metal from moisture migration, but no coating can completely protect against water vapor.

Thus, the function of a rust-inhibiting primer is to absorb and tie up the vapor as it comes through the coating, thus preventing rust-forming reactions with the metal.

Direct-to-metal (DTM) coatings are available that allow contractors to bypass the primer and get down to top-coating more quickly. Since these coatings are half primer and half topcoat, they are not as corrosion-inhibitive as the traditional two-coat system.

The Best Application May Cost More

THE CHALLENGE: DPR Construction awarded General Coatings the painting contract on Syrrx Inc.’s (a drug discovery company) new laboratory and office building on Science Center Drive. The scope of the work, consisting of 54,000 square feet of exposed ceiling cavity, included copper, stainless steel and galvanized steel ducts and pipes. The beams supporting the ceilings, coated with Monocoat - a fireproof material that resembles foam - would also be painted along with the upper third of the walls to “hide” the ducts and pipes.

DPR Construction could coat these ducts and pipes with either DTM (direct to metal) primer, a water-based coating or a metal-based primer, a lacquer-based coating.

	Spraying the lacquer-based primer provides a superior base coat.

THE PROBLEM: The problem was that the metal-based coating, employing lacquer, creates strong, unpleasant and possibly harmful vapors to other trades working in the same environment.

THE SOLUTION: General Coatings’ estimator Victor Canizales and foreman Arturo Escalera felt strongly that the metal-based primer would do a superior job despite its potential inhalation problems. DPR’s on-site Superintendent, Dave Spork, agreed to the use of the metal-based primer which could be applied on the Saturday after Christmas, when only General Coatings’ personnel would be present. This was a quality decision because painting on Saturday would increase the cost in order to put safety first.

	The finished black ceiling cavity contrasts nicely with the finished wall.

Assembling its best tenant improvement team, Victor and Arturo first directed the painters to wipe all metal surfaces with acetone to provide a receptive surface for the primer. Then, the lacquer-based primer was sprayed on the ceilings and metal ducts and pipes, followed finally by a finish coat of water-based paint.

THE RESULT: The result was a beautifully finished exposed ceiling cavity using the best possible materials without endangering any fellow tradespersons. When a tough painting problem arises, General Coatings will find a solution.

Arthur Raybold is Vice-President of Marketing and Sales for General Coatings Painting providing painting, wallcovering and waterproofing services to multi-family, commercial and industrial accounts in Southern California for 17 years. (800) 464-1277 • (858) 587-1277 ext. 306 • www.gencoat.com

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