Building Management Hawaii - June/July 2012 - (Page 27)

It’s Best to Test By Stan Perreira A paint test can detect lead, and be the trick in finding a paint that will stick. W The Pink Lady gets a fresh coat by Jade Painting Inc. hile maintenance painting can obviously save you money, the additional coats of paint can actually be detrimental once you consider the proper testing and surface preparation. Before applying a fresh coat of paint, ask yourself a few questions: What is the age of the building? What type of material or paint will you be painting over? Is a leadchip test required, prior to disturbing the existing surface material? If you’re working on an older building, it’s best to test before you start to prep and paint. There are actually several types of contaminants that could be revealed by testing so it’s important to refer to a certified EPA/state of Hawaii lead-based paint inspector licensed to perform work in Hawaii. Contact inspectors before you try to remove any samples yourself. They should have information on what to do before you take on any older project. If any of the tests receive positive lead test results, then DIY is no longer an option. At this point you need to take extra precautions and hire a professional painting contractor whose personnel have received lead-awareness training and know the necessary dust-free methods of protection, testing and surface preparation. On the other hand, if the paint material contains no contaminants, such as lead, asbestos or other, then go ahead and prep. Normal hand tool surface preparation such as scraping, sanding or the use of power tool methods, should all be considered prior to painting. Your paint store professional can offer advice, including help with selecting what paint to use. All Paints Are Not Created Equal Selecting paint can be tricky. You should consider that some paints could lift the existing coating when painting over them. So don’t assume any kind of paint will stick, or will properly cover the existing surface. It doesn’t work that way. If you are looking to maintain a surface that was originally painted by a professional painting company, be aware that the building’s architect may have specified the use of a durable, chemical resistant industrial coating. In such cases, you’re dealing with painting over a coating that could be a two-component industrial epoxy, or polyurethane, which is not user-friendly for the uninitiated. These products often have several containers that are mixed together and need special solvents for thinning and cleaning up. So before you paint, you need to know whether the old and new products are compatible. Continues on page 28. www.buildingmanagementhawaii.com BMH June-July 2012 27 http://www.buildingmanagementhawaii.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Building Management Hawaii - June/July 2012

Contents
Editor’s Note
When the Winds Blow
Why Waterproof? Keep your building watertight & upright.
Get Watertight Water is the greatest solvent in the world ... keep your building dry.
What Drains Your Building?
Asbestos Exposed How to safely recover from mold and flood damage.
Mold Misunderstood
Water Leaks—from Bad to Worse
The Power of Paint
Life of Paint
It’s Best to Test A paint test can detect lead, and be the trick in finding a paint that will stick.
Industry News
Movers & Shakers
Association Updates
Resource Guide: Waterproofing & Painting

Building Management Hawaii - June/July 2012