|
Removing
chemically resistant coatings can be a contractor's worst nightmare.
Epoxies, urethanes, and elastomerics have bedeviled many a removal
effort. Robert Fuller, Lakeside Interior Contracting of Maumee,
OH, should know. Lakeside was selected to remove a stubborn elastomeric
coating from the natural and split-faced brick exterior of a retail
electronics store in Toledo, OH.
Originally
applied more than five years ago to protect the masonry, the 20
- 40 ml thick elastomeric coating had failed, with potential for
significant substrate damage. It was essential that the coating
be removed to preserve the integrity of the brick.
Sandblasting
was not an option. Grains of sand bounced harmlessly off the elastomeric
at distances that would not harm the brick, but coming in close
enough to penetrate the coating could seriously damage the brick
beneath.
 "This
coating was like kryptonite," reported Fuller. "It appeared impervious
to just about everything we threw at it during patch testing,
including a variety of commercially available chemical removal
products."
With
one exception - Peel Away® 7 from Dumond Chemicals, Inc. Outperforming
all others during patch testing, Peel Away® 7 demonstrated a strip
rate of 98% following one application.
Peel
Away® 7 is a unique, safe system designed to remove paint and
chemically resistant coatings including oil and latex paints,
epoxies, urethanes, elastomerics, chlorinated rubber, marine,
automotive and aerospace.
A
poultice system, the product is designed for use with the fibrous
laminated cloth provided by the manufacturer. The paste and cloth
work together for optimum performance while controlling evaporation.
While not all projects require use of the specially designed cloth,
it provided maximum product efficacy here.
The
paste was sprayed onto the brick, moving smoothly through thin
tubing and adhering without running to form a tacky, light layer
over the elastomeric coating.
The
Peel Away® cloth was then smoothed into place over the paste,
with the crew working from the top down.
Once
covered with the cloth, the paste was left to dwell for about
24 hours. Following dwell time, the cloth was "peeled away," and
with it, the bulk of the paste and stubborn elastomeric coating.
 A
power wash with clean water was the final step. Any remaining
paste and coating were easily washed away, revealing the bare
brick beneath. The run off - a thin, milky liquid - washed easily
from the grooves between blocks and crevices on the stone face.
The
results were immediate and obvious. With one application, Peel
Away® 7 safely and easily stripped the stone of the elastomeric
coating that had resisted all other removal efforts.
Because
Peel Away® 7 is free of hazardous chemicals and solvents, containment
needs were minimized. Run off and debris were collected in poly
sheeting for disposal as per state and local regulations.
The
building's entire exterior was stripped in about 12 weeks using
Peel Away® 7.
For
further information about this and other paint removal and masonry
restoration products, contact: Dumond Chemicals, Inc., 1501 Broadway,
New York, NY 10036. PHONE: 212/869-6350, FAX: 212/764-5762 or
visit www.peelaway.com.
OTHER ARTICLES: SMART STRIP SEAWALL PROJECT | DREAMWORKS | GARFIELD HOUSE | PARK AVENUE BUILDING | RESTORING A VICTORIAN | ITTLESON CENTER | CIRCUIT CITY | US TREASURY BUILDING | TIVOLI STUDENT UNION | NORTHHAMPTON COUNTY COURT HOUSE | LUNT FONTANE BUILDING
|
