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.