Abstract
Although many industry resources for the design and selection of effective and durable coating systems are available to coating specifiers and manufacturer’s technical representatives, too often the wrong surface preparation and/or coating system are specified and completed during construction and rehabilitation projects. This results in less effective coating systems and costly future remedial work. A case study of a project in a seacoast environment will be reviewed to illustrate an installation which resulted in significant remedial work on the existing structures. As a result of poor project specifications, limited or improper technical support, and deficient construction, the structural framing on this project deteriorated prematurely and required extensive remedial work. The project specification and construction deficiencies resulted in widespread coating failures and deterioration of the structural framing. In addition, the various field and laboratory techniques utilized to determine the cause(s) of the coating failures will be discussed. The scope of the completed project and remedial work will also be reviewed. Based on the findings related to the project, general recommendations, and practical steps to avoid such deficiencies that could be used by coating specifiers and manufacturer’s technical representatives will be reviewed for the case study.
