Things to Consider Before You Start Painting

Essential Pre-Painting Checklist: Avoid Mistakes That Cost You Money

Written by
AF1S
Published on
August 29, 2024 at 2:54:31 PM PDT August 29, 2024 at 2:54:31 PM PDTth, August 29, 2024 at 2:54:31 PM PDT

Before you bid, field a crew, select a paint, or start painting, consider the following:

Craftsmanship:

  • Worker experience and technique are crucial factors in application efficiency and final job quality, but they are often overlooked. The better the craftsman, the better the craftsmanship. The less experienced the painter, the greater the need for supervision to avoid paint failure or unsatisfactory results. This is especially true when painting difficult surfaces or using unfamiliar products.

Environmental Conditions:

  • Temperature, climate, and job site conditions influence the outcome of the job. Consider if it’s the right time of year to refinish. Temperature and humidity may impact the choice of the Chem-Bake® base coat system. We have seen plenty of otherwise good jobs ruined by dew, precipitation, or even windblown dirt when weather wasn’t considered.

Tenant Access:

  • Tenants will not be able to access their units during refinishing, usually for a 16-18 hour window. Consider the facility’s hours of operation, the busiest times of the month, and the appropriate advance notice for tenants. You’ll avoid problems with interrupted work, overspray situations, and a tenant’s ‘emergency’ access to a unit ruining paint that hasn’t fully cured.

Type of Surface Being Refinished:

  • The existing substrate should be considered, especially when painting over difficult factory finishes like Silicone Modified Polyester (SMP) or Kynar®. Glossy surfaces should be abraded using one or more of the following: silicon carbide sandpaper, Scotch-Brite® abrasive pads, one of our abrasive brushes, or other methods to create a surface profile. If there are concerns about coating suitability without a primer, perform an adhesion test before proceeding.
  • All bare metal should be spot-primed with an appropriate iron primer. Chem-Bake® bonding primer should not be used directly on rusty or bare ferrous metal.

Condition of the Doors:

  • No paint will adhere to old, peeling paint layers. In some cases, applying a new coat of paint over peeling paint can cause the old layer to peel even faster.
  • All dirt, grease, silicone, and chalk (oxidized paint) must be cleaned off the door before painting.
  • If there are questions about the suitability of doors for refinishing, conduct adhesion tests on test areas to determine the best refinishing system. Note: Chem-Bake® is generally not suitable for doors with catastrophic paint failure due to the strong bonding action of the product and the stress this would put on unstable areas. However, each situation is different, and the use of Chem-Bake® is preferred whenever possible, as it offers a finish that most closely matches the durability and appearance of the original SMP coating.

Weather Conditions:

  • Ensure that the weather will be suitable for the entire painting and prep window. Factors such as temperature, dew point, wind, direct sunlight, and available light are critical for properly applying Chem-Bake®. Favorable conditions should be ensured one day before and two days after the project is completed.

Simple Tape & Cross Hatch Adhesion Testing

Adhesion testing is essential before painting surfaces like self-storage roll-up doors to ensure coating integrity. This article covers two quick methods: the Simple Tape Test and the Cross Hatch Adhesion Test. These tests assess paint adherence, identifying potential issues with paint bonding. Results can be compared to ASTM standards for evaluating adhesion quality, ensuring a durable finish.

Read More

How-To Prepare Roll-Up Doors with Peeling Issues

This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to properly prepare and paint roll-up doors with wide-spread peeling paint. From cleaning with Zap-It! to priming with Bond-All and applying durable coatings like Chem-Bake or Endura-Crylic, you'll learn how to repair peeling areas and protect your doors from future damage.

Read More

Self-Storage Roll-Up Doors: A Guide for Painters

This guide offers professional painters a comprehensive approach to evaluating, preparing, and painting roll-up doors using the Chem-Bake® system. It addresses the challenges of SMP coil-coated surfaces, provides tips on surface preparation, adhesion testing, and correct application techniques for achieving a durable, smooth finish on self-storage roll-up doors.

Read More

Coil Coated Steel: Revolutionizing Self-Storage Construction

Coil coated steel is a versatile and durable building material widely used in the self-storage industry. This pre-painted sheet metal forms over 90% of structures, including roofs, walls, and doors. Commonly coated with silicone modified polyester (SMP), it offers excellent durability, UV resistance, and weathering. Its smooth surface can be challenging to repaint but ensures long-term performance.

Read More

SMP Prep for Refinishing Roll-Up Doors & Metal Panels

Properly preparing an SMP (Silicone Modified Polyester) coated surface is crucial for achieving a lasting finish. This guide walks you through the essential steps of cleaning and abrading your substrate, from pre-rinsing to applying Zap-It! and inspecting the final surface. Ensure your next painting or clear coating job is a success with these expert tips on substrate preparation.

Read More

Additional Reading

Self-Storage Roll-Up Doors: A Guide for Painters

This guide offers professional painters a comprehensive approach to evaluating, preparing, and painting roll-up doors using the Chem-Bake® system. It addresses the challenges of SMP coil-coated surfaces, provides tips on surface preparation, adhesion testing, and correct application techniques for achieving a durable, smooth finish on self-storage roll-up doors.

Read More

Part Failure Part 2: Other Causes, Testing & Wrap-Up

There are a lot of reasons why paint fails. We'll wrap up a few other causes here and then cover solutions and other topics in subsequent articles. Aged Paint: When paint ages past its life expectancy, it becomes brittle and prone to failure. Recoating over such a surface increases the risk of peeling, cracking, or flaking, as the old paint may not adhere well. Proper preparation, including cleaning, sanding, and priming, is essential to ensure the new coating bonds effectively and lasts longer. We also touch on what can be done with a peeling paint job and wrap up with issues of worksmanship.ID#PF0001

Read More

Paint Failure Part 1: Diagnosing the Root Causes

Paint failures due to a variety of preventable issues can lead to substantial material and labor costs, and in some cases replacement of roll-up doors. Understanding why common problems like peeling, chalking, fading, cracking, and blistering occur is crucial for facility operators and painting contractors. By identifying the root causes of these issues, such as improper surface preparation, inadequate application techniques, or environmental factors, these paint failures can be avoided. For paint contractors implementing best practices can yield better results, and help avoid problems that can cost you both money and reputation. A variety of resources are provided to help diagnose and avoid common paint failure situations. These resources include guides, frequently asked questions, tips with images to diagnose the cause of a particular failure, and recommendations. ID#PF0001

Read More

Disclaimer: The information provided in the Self-Storage Learning Center is for general informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, All From 1 Supply makes no guarantees regarding the completeness or reliability of the information. Use of this content is at your own discretion, and we encourage independent verification before making decisions based on the material.

Need a Self-Storage Contractor?

Start your search with our fast growing nationwide directory of painters, handyman, maintenance, repair and construction serving the self storage industry!

Click Here