High-Performance Coatings for Commercial Applications
Hybrids
Last but not least, there are high-performance hybrids. These products combine the best features of two or more types of coatings to help you fine-tune your specifications and satisfy the unique demands of any project. Common examples include acrylic alkyds, which apply with the ease of a water-based acrylic and have reduced VOC levels, yet deliver the smooth, uniform sheen of an alkyd.
Acrylic epoxies have the durability of an epoxy, with excellent resistance to chemicals, moisture, and corrosion. As an added benefit, however, they have lower odor than solvent-based coatings, better application characteristics, and are available in low, and sometimes zero, VOC formulas.
Another advantage of acrylic alkyds and acrylic epoxies is that they can be cleaned up with soap and water during the painting process, eliminating the need for hydrocarbon solvents and paint thinners.
Finally, there are urethane alkyds. Engineered to deliver the excellent color and gloss retention of a urethane, this hybrid also offers the sleek, uniform look of an alkyd, making it a popular choice for areas where aesthetics are a primary consideration.
Despite their unique performance attributes, it's important to note that these coatings require no advanced skills or specialized application gear, so labor costs are readily controlled. That also makes labor costs more economical for facility managers with in-house maintenance crews using standard equipment. And because today's high-performance coatings are available in a wide range of colors and sheens, it's easy to accommodate existing color schemes.
Regardless of what type of high-performance coating is specified, an anti-graffiti coating can protect your client's investment against unsightly graffiti. This product forms a clear barrier over the topcoat, so graffiti simply washes away with soap and water, thereby avoiding a costly repaint when vandals strike. For facilities prone to this type of vandalism, a high-performance anti-graffiti coating is money well spent.
The Value Proposition
While it's true that high-performance commercial coatings are more expensive, on average, than conventional architectural paints, there's far more to the cost of a coating than the price on the can. A more accurate way to analyze cost is to consider the expense incurred over the life cycle of the coating. For example, how durable is the coating? Can it withstand frequent cleaning with harsh chemicals? Will it retain its glossy sheen and fresh color despite intense UV exposure? Is the paint film hard enough to resist abrasion and tough enough to protect the substrate from corrosive environments? Does moisture threaten to cause poor adhesion or blistering? How well a coating stands up to these kinds of challenging conditions has a direct bearing on the long-term cost of keeping substrates protected and facilities looking clean and attractive.
Of equal consideration is the labor factor. While every project is different, depending on the scope of the work, the contract price for a commercial paint project is typically comprised of 15 percent for the paint material and 85 percent for the painter's labor. The labor cost usually remains the same whether the painter is applying standard architectural paint or a high-performance commercial coating. Therefore, if the paint material cost is increased by 50 percent to upgrade the paint to a high-performance commercial coating, that only increases the total paint project cost by 7-½ percent.
The right high-performance coating will take a lot of abuse and still look great, year after year. That reduces the need for frequent retouching or repaints, minimizes labor expenses, decreases the burden on local landfills, and helps to limit costly downtime. This has obvious appeal on projects where long-term value outweighs initial cost considerations.
Gary Peterson, AIA, agrees that for clients who plan to continue to own and operate a facility, life-cycle cost is an important consideration. “These clients want to know, 'what am I getting, and what is it going to cost me?' If they can see a return value, they'll consider the higher cost product if they think it's going to pay off in the long run. Everything comes back to cost.”
To gain a better understanding of the likely cost of a coating over its life cycle, add the cost of the labor to the initial cost of the paint and materials, and divide that number by the expected service life of the coating. To illustrate this point, let's compare the cost of painting a commercial interior space with a standard coating versus a high-performance coating. Assume that the initial cost of the standard coating plus the painter's labor is $100,000. The expected service life of the standard coating is five years, resulting in a cost of $20,000 per year over the life cycle of the paint job. By comparison, the high-performance coating has a higher cost initially of $115,000. However, the expected service life of the high-performance coating is more than twice that of the standard coating. For this job, that reduces the per-year cost of the high-performance coating to just $11,500. Based on this example, that's nearly 43 percent less than the cost of a standard paint over the life of the coating.
Nick Schumann, of Schumann Consult, Ltd., believes this long-term view is essential. Your specification, he writes, “is the guardian of quality.” Once the project is handed over to a contractor, pressures like staying on schedule or controlling costs may drive the process. But in the long run, it's the quality of the materials you specify that will determine the success of the project—long after temporary cost and time factors are forgotten.
The Days of “Coating Compromise” are Over
In the past, limited choices made it difficult to specify a coating that was ideally suited for a commercial project. Standard architectural paints may have been the only choice for areas with strict environmental regulations or high aesthetic standards. But all too often, those coatings weren't durable enough to withstand the abuse of a commercial environment, and therefore failed to perform reliably over the long run. Conversely, coatings formulated for heavy industry applications could handle the rigors of the commercial environment, but they often required a contractor with advanced skills operating specialized equipment. Almost inevitably, these coatings couldn't meet LEED criteria or satisfy expectations for an attractive finish.
High-performance commercial coatings bridge the gap, with options engineered to eliminate “coating compromise” and allow you to meet the most exacting requirements for light industry or commercial applications. That, says Michael Rantilla, AIA, is a major advantage. “As an architect, you're counting on these coatings to perform well over time. You're buying peace of mind.”
Of course, to ensure that you have all the information necessary to specify the most successful coating system for any application, it's advisable to consult your paint manufacturer's commercial coatings representative. These professionals will be knowledgeable about the specific benefits of individual coatings and provide the guidance necessary to meet all your project parameters.
Course Summary
As momentum builds in the commercial sector, you’re working harder than ever to specify the most up-to-date, advanced materials to ensure the long-term success of every project.
Fortunately, the coatings industry has kept pace with evolving industry demands and the new generation of high-performance commercial coatings is engineered to satisfy increasingly complex regulations and client requirements.
Engineered to exceed the performance standards of traditional architectural coatings, these technologically advanced products provide the hard-wearing durability required for commercial and light industrial facilities. But while they perform like a heavy-duty coating, they have the application characteristics of a typical architectural paint. Gone are the days when “industrial coatings” required out-of-the-ordinary equipment, multiple application steps, or specialized skills. Most high-performance commercial coatings apply like a traditional paint, so any paint contractor or maintenance crew can expect excellent results with minimal effort.
Despite their general ease of application, high-performance commercial coatings are not “one size fits all.” They are identified by five primary categories, and each offers specific benefits that are tailored to different types of applications. These categories include acrylics, epoxies, urethanes, alkyds, and hybrids.
The versatility of acrylics makes them a popular choice for many commercial applications. Lower odor than solvent-based coatings and fast dry time minimize disruption to occupants, and their smooth finish is an attractive option for hotels, retail spaces, restaurants, and office buildings. Because they're water based, they typically have low or no VOCs, making them ideal for jobs with stringent environmental considerations.
Acrylics also boast lasting color and gloss retention, making them suitable for moderate UV exposure. Metal machinery, steel, and piping are common uses for high-performance acrylics.
With their hard and durable finish, high-performance epoxies are tough enough to withstand abuse in facilities where abrasion, chemicals, or moisture would undermine lesser coatings.
Although a tendency to fade or chalk makes them unsuitable for many exterior applications, they are an excellent choice for operating rooms, public lavatories, school showers, or processing plants—anyplace where moisture or harsh cleaning chemicals are in constant use.
Epoxies are even strong enough to wear well in high-traffic environments such as airport terminals and transit stations, and because some high-performance epoxies are available in zero-VOC formulas, they are equally well suited to sensitive environments like hospitals or senior care. For added convenience, high-performance epoxies are available in “single-component” pre-catalyzed formulas that do not require on-site measuring or mixing.
Typically, the best choice for long-lasting color and gloss on exterior substrates is a high-performance urethane. Resistant to UV and chemical degradation, urethanes are also flexible enough to handle temperature fluctuations while maintaining a beautiful, glossy finish. Bridges, storage tanks, petrochemical or power plants are suggested applications, as well as amusement parks or corporate logos that require superior aesthetics.
Several sub-categories of urethanes provide additional options for special challenges. For top-quality aesthetics in the most demanding environments, acrylic urethanes and fluorourethanes deliver the ultimate color and gloss retention of the urethane family. Or, if damp, unsettled weather is disrupting production schedules, consider a moisture-cured urethane. These coatings are formulated to cure in the presence of surface moisture and will form a strong, lasting bond when applied according to manufacturer's instructions.
Alkyds are the fourth type of high-performance coating. Good flow and leveling results in a smooth, attractive finish that stand up well to scuffs and burnishing. However, the oil-based formula has a tendency to yellow and therefore alkyds are not recommended for exterior applications. They are frequently specified for hand railings, metal doors or frames, and to highlight interior architectural details such as columns and crown molding.
Finally, there are high-performance hybrid coatings. Not surprisingly, these products combine the best features of two or more types of coatings, giving you greater resources to address special situations.
When it comes to high-performance coatings, it pays to remember, looks can be deceiving. In other words, these coatings provide beautiful look commonly associated with a premium architectural point without sacrificing rugged performance standards. Of course, they're also available in a wide range of colors and sheens, so you never have to compromise durability for design.
Long-lasting performance paired with an attractive finish is a powerful combination, but another consideration when writing specifications is environmental compliance.
Fortunately modern high-performance coatings are formulated to help you and your clients meet the most rigid environmental regulations. Many are GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified for low chemical emissions into indoor air during product usage and even meet higher GREEGUARD Gold standards. This is welcome news to customers who are striving to achieve LEEDv4 certification for new construction or capital projects.
Although high-performance coatings frequently have low—or no—volatile organic compounds, VOC levels are not the only criteria for determining a coating's sustainability. Coatings that are formulated to withstand abrasion and frequent exposure to strong cleaning agents will look fresh far longer than a standard paint. Resistance to weathering, fading, or blistering—even in harsh climates—increases a coating's longevity. Special formulas engineered to defend substrates against corrosion protect the surface while maintaining visual appeal. In short, high-performance coatings are engineered to outperform, and outlast, standard paints. Fewer repaints decrease the amount of raw materials consumed, minimizes waste, shrinks labor costs, and generally reduces the impact on our environment and our natural resources.
Inevitably, a final consideration when writing specs for a coating system is your budget. Because labor typically represents as much as 85 percent of the cost of a paint job, a high-performance coating that lasts twice as long as a standard paint has lower material cost and requires fewer repaints over its life cycle. Those economies can make the per-year cost of a high-performance coating 30 percent lower than a standard paint!
With so many objectives to consider, it can be challenging to choose the best materials for your most complex projects. Fortunately, high-performance coatings are formulated to help you meet that challenge. Durable performance, high-quality aesthetics, and environmental compliance are now available in a full range of colors and sheens, representing superior value in commercial and light industrial applications. It's also advisable to consult your professional paint manufacturer's representative to ensure that you have all the information needed to specify the best possible high-performance coating system for your next project.
References
• U.S. Green Building Council and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Standards are found at www.usgbc.org
• GREENGUARD Certification criteria available at www.greenguard.org
• The Watchful Protector of Quality, by Nick Schumann, Schumann Consult at http://schumannconsultltd.com/blog/watchful-protector-quality-architects-journal-october-column/#sthash.aVVpKKD2dpds
• Emerging Trends in Real Estate® survey results reported by the ULI Center for Capital Markets and Real Estate online at http://uli.org/research/centers-initiatives/center-for-capital-markets/emerging-trends-in-real-estate/americas/
• McGraw Hill Construction report on global trends toward “green” building available at http://www.worldgbc.org/files/8613/6295/6420/World_Green_Building_Trends_ SmartMarket_Report_2013.pdf
 |
For more than 147 years, Sherwin-Williams has provided award-winning coatings, color, and professional tools to builders, designers, specifiers, property managers, and contractors. Sherwin-Williams provides fast, flexible, responsive local service and personalized, expert advice. More than 3,900 stores and 2,200 sales representatives make Sherwin-Williams North America's largest single-source supplier of high-quality paints, stains, masonry coatings, and brand-name wall and floor coverings. www.swspecs.com specifications@sherwin.com |
Notice
