Big box stores are massive structures with equal-sized maintenance challenges. Every Wal-Mart or Target store operating in almost every city in the country has a maintenance team with their hands full of maintenance challenges. With floor-to-ceiling merchandise and a mecca of shoppers filling the facility every day, the difficulties are mounting. A subset of maintenance issues that the team needs to address relates to the facility’s commercial paint system.
Retail Store Waterproofing
Perhaps the biggest problem big box stores have to deal with is water intrusion. The commercial paint system provides a waterproofing line of defense. If water enters the facility but is not addressed and managed in time, waterproofing failure is inevitable with costly consequences.
Commercial painting contractors cannot ignore the potent power of water to cause damage to facilities. They understand how it travels in and out of the building and assess its diffusion and reaction to surrounding conditions. Since vapor always moves from damp indoor areas to lower humidity outdoor ones, they install commercial paint solutions that provide adequate insulation and prevent condensation. When condensation occurs and wets surfaces on uncoated or improperly coated surfaces, it can cause rust, corrosion and contamination in the installation.
Waterproofing solutions for the big box store are often presented at the beginning of construction. The commercial paint system installed at this time is carefully designed to take into account the amount of water that will be present in the freshly poured and hardened concrete blocks. The cement slabs must be completely free of water before the installation of the waterproofing.
Aesthetics for the Big-Box Store
Large retail stores need commercial paint systems to provide the necessary aesthetics and enhance the appearance of the building. Deterioration caused by time can erode the building’s cladding systems, causing it to lose its clean and beautiful appearance.
The siding maintenance team often evaluates siding products for their performance when exposed to store-specific damaging agents. They rely on the MSDS, which is a product of the lab tests done for the formulation. Testing exposes the product to weather, UV rays, condensation, fog, corrosion, and other elements, and evaluates changes in paint texture, color, and gloss.
Contractors are better informed in their selection of coatings, precisely targeting the best replacement for damaged coating systems. The new commercial paint system removes the chipped, charred or blistered appearance of facility substrates, restoring appearance.
Corrosion Problems in Retail Stores
Retail stores are not spared from corrosion damage and require corrosion protection just like any normal building. Commercial corrosion resistant paint systems should be installed and inspected regularly. Steel foundations are particularly vulnerable to corrosion. They can rust and deteriorate if left unchecked. Creeping corrosion can undermine the structural integrity of the building and also make the building look unsightly.
Corrosion is not prevalent in the internal areas of the large store, because internal temperatures are often controlled. But in areas, internal or external, that do corrode, they are properly cleaned and prepared prior to commercial paint application. Acid-based cleaning agents are used to prepare the surface and restore a good bond. Loose dirt and paints are removed with pressure washer from substrates, and corrosive substances are removed with needle guns, scrapers, sanders or wire brushes. Different types of blast cleaning may also be needed to clean, level and prepare surfaces, depending on the existing condition of the surface. Proper preparation is critical to proper coating adhesion and the overall result of any coating project.
As with any facility maintenance activity, regardless of the size of the building, proper techniques and methodologies must be observed in paint selection, surface preparation and actual application. This ensures that the commercial painting of the hypermarket will be a great business success.