Health and Safety at Work Act (1974)
Health and Safety at Work Act (HASAW)
Health and Safety in the workplace is the responsibility of all irrespective of the activities being carried out.
The highest percentage of accidents is caused by trips and falls within the building and construction industry. It is of paramount importance that work areas are kept free and clear of all potential hazards.
Whenever a potential hazard is identified it should be reported immediately via your line management to ensure that any resident health and safety officer or project manager is made aware of the situation.
Contact: https://www.hse.gov.uk
Analysing Paint Problems
Analysing Paint Problems
When problems occur on site they can normally be associated with the following elements:
Specification employed, substrate conditions, weather/ internal environment, application methods, materials usage.
In the majority of cases most problems should be relatively straight forward to resolve. However, if they cannot then it may be necessary to seek a third party involvement.
Case History.
The last applied coating had after a relative short period began to show signs of cracking and flaking. The client would not accept the decorator’s opinion that he was not at fault.
Under the circumstances as a substantial monitory sum was involved both parties agreed to obtain the services of an independent consultant and both parties agreed to accept the findings and recommendations.
Site visit.
The first step was to carry out a site visit and assess the situation. At this time a visual examination of the problem was made and a sample of the defective paint film removed for examination.
Examination
When the dry paint flake was removed from surface it was brittle and the coating left on the surface was powdery/under bound in nature. (Distemper). This under bound coating was also attached to the rear of the paint flake.
The removed sample measured an overall film thickness of 708 micrometres and was recorded.
The under bound coating, firmly attached to the reverse side of the paint flake was easily removed when washed and taken back to a firm washable surface.
The film thickness was again measured and recorded as 427 micrometres resulting in 281 micrometres of the powdery material being removed.
35 micrometer is the average film thickness of modern paints. The cross section of the paint film removed shows the number of coats and the film thickness of each.
Conclusion
The problem encountered is due to the combined tensile strength and film weight of other coatings applied onto the original powdery/under bound material. The initial coat applied to the under bound surface has limited adhesion properties. Therefore this along with subsequent coatings has aged meaning that the overall tensile strength of the paint film is greater than the adhesion of the initial coat. Cracking, crazing and flaking has occurred.
Note: The difference in colour shown of the original sample taken off he wall and the other samples shown was due to the artificial lighting.
See specification/distemper.
For onsite assistance contact: [email protected]
Assessing & Dealing with Problems.
Problems do arise from time to time, “What’s gone wrong?”; “What should I do?”; “Am I going to be blamed”?; “Will I be out of pocket?”; “Will I lose a client?”.
These are all questions which can quickly run through the minds of those who encounter a problem.
It is quite easy to seek help from your product supplier and if necessary ask for the assistance of the paint manufacturer’s technical staff. They are there to help, not to apportion blame.
Today’s technology and production faculties enable manufactures to produce paint in large batch sizes of up 40,000 litres at any one time.
Quality control procedures by raw material suppliers and the manufacture ensure as far as possible, that the products manufactured are consistent. Even so they too can occasionally get it wrong.
For technical and environmental reasons, coatings have changed over the years along with the types of surfaces that require painting. These changes have made it more difficult to always get it right and it is not necessarily the problem of anyone person.
When it is necessary to call in the supplier/manufacture or an independent consultant, to save unnecessary time it is best to obtain all the relevant details relating to the issue and the following is suggested:
-
-
-
-
- Name, Address, Telephone Number.
- The best time to contact.
- Your Client’s Name and Address (with consent).
- Information relating to the product (s) used.
- Specification employed. Who issued the specification
- Interior – Exterior.
- Surface condition.
- Weather conditions.
- Temperature.
- Batch numbers of the product (s) used (always printed on containers).
- Method of application.
- Your interpretation of the problem.
-
-
-
The above will enable the supplier/manufacture to check if the actual product (s) of the same batch is/are in stock. If not, they can check the retained sample. (All manufactures retain a small sample of the product batch for 12 months or longer). It is always best to deal with matters in this way, as the supplier's/manufacture's representative will know before arriving on site if the product is at fault or not.
What is Distemper
What is Distemper
Distemper is available in three qualities, soft, hard and oil based.
Soft distemper is the most permeable for interior use and the dry film is chalky and can easily rub rub off when brushed.
Hard distemper is modified with casein (glue) to offer greater resistance to abrasion.
Oil based has been modified with oils such as raw linseed oil giving greater resistance to wetting.
Specification
General
All surfaces new or previously applied distemper should be thoroughly cleaned down by the most appropriate means to remove loose, defective material, dust, dirt, organic growths and any other contaminates to leave the surface clean and dry.
Areas affected by organic growths should be treated with a fungicidal solution in accordance with manufactures instruction.
All making good with the appropriate filler and sanded down.
Priming
Apply one coat of Clearcole primer to all new or bare areas of plaster and allowed to dry.
Painting
Apply two or more coats of Distemper in accordance with the manufactures instructions.
For further information contact: https://www.roseofjericho.co.uk Tel: 0193583676
Limewash
Limewash also known as Whitewash
Limewash should only be applied to previously applied Limewash and Lime based surfaces, new brick or stonework where a lime mortar has been used.
Specification.
Preparation of previously lime washed surface.
Remove by the most appropriate means, all loose, defective or otherwise suspect material back to a firm edge. Treat all organic growth as necessary, ensuring the surface is clean and and free from all dust, dirt and any other contaminates.
Make good all defective area with a lime based mortar and allow to dry.
All surface must be thoroughly dry, although, it is necessary to lightly wet (dampen) the surface by brush or fine spray to reduce the surface porosity immediately prior to applying limewash.
Painting
Apply each coat (normally 3-4 coats) as required allowing each coat to thoroughly dry out before applying the following coat.
Apply in accordance with selected manufactures recommendations.
Note:
Ensure the material has been thinned in accordance with manufacturers instruction.
Mix the limewash on a regular basis by hand or mechanical means
Dampen the surface prior to each coat being applied and paint small areas at any one time to keeping the wet edge open.
When applying limewash the wet film opacity appears poor but on drying out the full colour and opacity becomes apparent.
Do not apply to none lime based or none porous surfaces in low or high temperatures.
For Limewash to harden and gain strength it is necessary for it to dry out slowly therefore for the first 3-4 hours the applied material should be dampened with a mist coat of water.
Current water based paints are not compatible with Limewash
See: Limewash in Problem and Remedies also Limewash Toolbox.
For full product information on Limewash contact: https://roseofjericho.co.uk/
Masonry Paint Flaking Over Oil Bound Distemper/Limewash
Masonry Paint Over Oil Bound Distemper Flaking
Distemper See Limewash
A water based breathable coating based on chalk to which coloured pigment be added.
Limewash/ Soft Distemper Flaking
Limewash/ Soft Distemper Flaking
Cause
The characteristics of both products are similar and binders can be added to both for external use.
When underbound surfaces are present often an alkali resisting primers or stabilising solutions are recommended to consolidate the powdery surface. While this will bind the top layer to overcoat with Acrylic, PVA water based finishing paints over a period of time problems as shown can occur.
In the illustration the failure is because the tensile strength of the top coats is greater than its adhesion onto the underbound material causing cracking, shrinkage and subsequent flaking.
Remedy
Remove all loose, flaking material by the most appropriate means followed by washing down to remove all underbound material and allow to dry.
Priming.
Apply one coat of stabilising solution by brush to consolidate the residual powdery material.
Note, after the application of the stabilising solution should the surface appear glossy then this should be thoroughly abraded before applying water based PVA and Acrylic based paints.
Finishing coats.
Apply the selected finishing paint, following the manufacture's instructions, including any necessary Personal Protective Equipment.
For further product information:
https://www.duluxtradepaintexpert.co.uk/en/services/architects-specifiers
https://www.johnstonespaint.com
Typical house constructionDoor Components
The component of a door as shown in standard although in certain parts can vary in description.
The alternative names can relate to:
Casing - Refers to the Architrave moulded or plan trim around the door frame.
Door frame - can also be known as Door liner which is fitted into the Door opening.
A door from can be of solid wood which is rebated to incorporate the door stop.
A Door lining is normally thinner and the door stops are supplied a separate item.
Sticking - refers to the moulding surrounds of the panels.
Door Threshold also known as the Door Saddle incorporated on external doors
Door Furniture. Comprises of the hardware : including Lock, Handles, Escutcheons (key hole cover), Finger plate, Kicking plate.
How is water based paint made
How is water based paint made?
The components for a decorative water based paints are different to those for an oil based product and consist of a resin/binder which generally is either Polyvinyl Acetate (PVA) or Acrylic resin containing a coalescent solvent which helps to bind , Pigments (the same as used in oil paints), Thinner (water) plus various additives such as anti-foaming, to stop aeration of the product particularly when applied by roller and leaving pin holes in the surface), thickening agents to give body and biocide(to stop mould growth within the container).
Unlike oil based paints the manufacture of water based paints is easier byway of dispersing pigments and extenders into a solution of water and resin PVE (Polyvinyl Acetate) using high speed mixers.
The range of water based coatings is extensive and manufacturers different formulations depending on their market target.
In general the variants in raw material can lead to product description being similar but product quality can be different with the lower cost material not always offering the same coverage power (opacity) flow (reducing brush or roller marks) and washability.