by David Heffler, Vice President, 1st Call Painting Contractors, LLC
When engineers or facility managers see rust on steel tanks or beams, many feel the best way to deal with the problem is to sandblast. However, the high-tech coatings available on the market today can protect steel for less money than sandblasting.Most major paint manufacturers including Sherwin-Williams/Con-Lux, Benjamin Moore, Tnemec, Carboline and other5s make special epoxy and urethane paints that eliminate the need to sandblast exposed steel.Conventional epoxy systems will leave a three-coat system with 6 mils dry film thickness minimum. Conventional Alkyd, or oil-based systems, will leave a three-coat system with a 4.5 mils dry film thickness. An epoxy mastic prime coat with an epoxy or urethane finish coat will leave a two-coat system with an 8 mils dry film thickness minimum.
One coat is eliminated, thereby saving labor costs. Plus, the noise and dust created by sandblasting are eliminated. The cost of removing the spent sand, and having to keep manifest records for the D.E.P. or E.P.A. is eliminated, saving more money and problems.
These paints are designed to adhere to rust and previously painted surfaces and provide more protection while cutting application costs and down time in the effected work area.