These products meet the requirements for MPI’s Extreme Green (X-Green™) paint standard: maximum 50 g/l VOC; trace or zero quantities of various undesirable chemical components; performance that meets the requirements for the MPI # indicated, and certification of VOC emissions requirements for indoor air quality. Click the name of the paint supplier to see a complete list of all their MPI-approved products.
These paints and coatings have passed MPI testing for the MPI standard indicated and were added this month to our Approved Products List. Click the name of the paint supplier to see a complete list of all their MPI-approved products.
These products meet the requirements for MPI’s Extreme Green (X-Green™) paint standard: maximum 50 g/l VOC; trace or zero quantities of various undesirable chemical components; performance that meets the requirements for the MPI # indicated, and certification of VOC emissions requirements for indoor air quality. Click the name of the paint supplier to see a complete list of all their MPI-approved products.
These paints and coatings have passed MPI testing for the MPI standard indicated and were added this month to our Approved Products List. Click the name of the paint supplier to see a complete list of all their MPI-approved products.
Interior walls can be subject to all kinds of marks such as dirt, scuffs or hand prints. Cleaning interior walls requires some consideration, excessive cleaning or cleaning using inappropriate cleaning methods can cause irreparable damage to the coated surface.
Within this article we discuss the best practices for successfully cleaning interior walls.
Determine substrate
Before you carry out any cleaning it is best to determine what type of coating has been previously applied to the surface or substrate (if any)
Low gloss coatings – are less durable than higher gloss coatings making them more susceptible to damage from harsh abrasion and chemical cleaning.
High gloss coatings – are more durable, so will endure more abrasion and chemical cleaning, but are less often used on interior walls because they tend to enhance any surface defects, making them more visible.
Cleaning solutions When choosing a cleaning solution check for any abrasives, alcohols or harsh chemicals. Low gloss latex coated interior walls especially cannot endure this type of cleaning product, but some other products would fail if alcohol, bleach or other harsh chemicals are applied to them.
Test patch
Before commencing any cleaning on the full surface, carry out a test patch in an out-of-the-way area to assess the effect on the coating.
Rinse thoroughly
Whatever cleaning solution is used must be removed thoroughly or risk leaving streaking, especially if repainting the surface over the solution. Washing procedures should always be from the “bottom up” to also avoid streaking.
Recommendations
For best results, if you know what coating has been used to coat the surface, speak to the coating manufacturer about any recommended cleaning products or methods to be used.
Products tested by MPI are listed in the MPI Approved Products List (APL) under the relevant standard #. Look out for the MPI Approved Product Label on paint cans! CLICK HERE for more information.
Mock-ups (or test-patches) are an invaluable tool in the paint and coatings industry for keeping paint projects on time and on budget.
They are sample patches applied either to sample panels or directly onto the substrate in a less visible location before the actual coating work begins. They applied using the same materials, techniques, and personnel that will be used on the final project.
The purpose of this is to assess the final result of the coating and determine any potential coatings failures before the entire painting project is undertaken.
A mock-up also sets the standard for balance of the project.
Mock-ups on conventional concrete surfaces
On conventional concrete surfaces, mock-ups are a useful tool for testing the effectiveness of surface preparation as well for determining how the specified system will perform.
This is especially important with the increasing use of fly ash concrete. The usual specified water-based alkali-resistant primer for the first coat of the system may fail when applied to fly ash concrete.
This failure is thought to occur because the fly ash is composed from coal. Coal is essentially the same product as oil, so the fly ash may impart oily characteristics into the concrete.
In theory, abrasive blasting could create a profile with sufficient tooth for the water-based primer to adhere where fly ash has been used, but the suspected oily residue could still be present, so a mock-up would be imperative. Additionally, if the project is an interior project abrasive blasting would be prohibited.
To date, solvent-based bonding primers have shown to be effective as a first coat solution for fly ash concrete surfaces, however, it must be noted that concrete is highly alkaline, so solvent-based primers without alkali-resistant properties should not be used.
Correcting any issues that may lead to coatings failure with a test-patch is far less costly and time-consuming than corrections made after large-scale coatings application has commenced.
Wide-scale coatings failure can be avoided by using a mock-up on a small section of the project before large-scale work commenced.
Products tested by MPI are listed in the MPI Approved Products List (APL) under the relevant standard #. Look out for the MPI Approved Product Label on paint cans! CLICK HERE for more information.
These products meet the requirements for MPI’s Extreme Green (X-Green™) paint standard: maximum 50 g/l VOC; trace or zero quantities of various undesirable chemical components; performance that meets the requirements for the MPI # indicated, and certification of VOC emissions requirements for indoor air quality. Click the name of the paint supplier to see a complete list of all their MPI-approved products.
These paints and coatings have passed MPI testing for the MPI standard indicated and were added this month to our Approved Products List. Click the name of the paint supplier to see a complete list of all their MPI-approved products.
Mold and mildew are types of fungi that settle on a surface and thrive in warm and damp situations.
Mold and mildew forms in many different colors, including blue, green, yellow, brown, gray, black, or white. It grows as a flat pattern on surfaces which may appear either powdery or downy, or it can be fuzzy in appearance.
These fungi can cause health problems such as respiratory issues and headaches, also inflammation including pain in the joints, mental status changes, and extreme fatigue. Where mold is present structural damage to the surface can occur over time.
Where is it found?
Mold and mildew is quite common in damp, humid conditions out of direct sunlight. It can also be seasonal, with dry and wet cycles.
The fungi are not caused by the actual surface but occur when spores are attracted and thrive. Rough and textured surfaces are more prone to growth because they tend to trap airborne dirt, spores, and moisture. Whereas smoother surfaces have less of a profile that would hold onto the contaminants.
Removal
Removal of mold and mildew growth can be difficult on rough and textured surfaces, any previous coating or finish can be affected by the roots of the growth. Damage to the coating or finish can result from overly aggressive cleaning.
Below are some steps for the successful removal of mold and mildew:
The following processes are recommended to see if the fungi can be removed without damaging any underlying finished surface.
Use a building or industrial cleaner in solution with water and scrub the surface. Then rinse off the residual dirt, mold or mildew, plus the cleaning solution before it can dry on the surface. The cleaning solution should have no more than 10% of household bleach added to the mix. (please note – the use of bleach products is completely prohibited on some projects) There is a range of industrial type mold and mildew cleaners and building cleaners such as “30 second” cleaners that may work.
If a standard cleaning does not work try ‘power washing”. Start at a low pressure and increase until the desired cleaning is attained. The power washing can disturb the finish and can tear up the surface, so care must be taken.
If chemical cleaning and power washing do not work the only alternative is power sanding and/or abrasive blasting. Both of these methods will change the texture of the surface and also remove any applied coating or finish. Re-coating will be required.
More information on Mildew treatment on painted surfaces can be found in the MPI Repaint Surface Preparation Standard = MPI RSP-9 in the MPI Maintenance Repaint Manual
Caution Note: Both bleach and TSP are corrosive. Rubber gloves and eye protection should be worn during mixing and application. Plants and shrubbery located near the work area should be protected from direct contact with the solution.
Products tested to MPI Green Performance and MPI Extreme Green have the lowest VOC, with proven high-performance. Look for these logo’s on the paint cans. CLICK HERE for more information.
While proper surface preparation is integral to the success of any painting project, this is especially true with concrete floors. Coating concrete floors can be a challenge as there are specific factors that need to be taken into consideration to avoid systems failures.
Typically concrete floors are “poured in place” and finished with a steel trowel to produce a smooth, dense surface. In order to slow down the rate of water evaporation and improve hydration and curing of the slab, curing compounds are often applied after the troweling process is complete.
Both of these factors could cause problems for any potential coating system. Below you will find information on how to deal with them.
Curing Compounds
Although curing compounds improve the strength and hardness, as well as the physical and chemical properties of the concrete slab, they are typically made from low strength resins that do not provide sufficient adhesion or film strength to function as either a primer or sealer. If these compounds are not adequately removed any coating applied over them will fail.
In order to accomplish this, the surface should be washed with a suitable detergent or an emulsion cleaning solution and then thoroughly rinsed with clean water to remove any remnants of the curing compound.
One of the ways to test for any remaining compound is to apply a muriatic acid solution to various test areas of the surface. The acid solution cannot penetrate through the curing compounds, so where there is no bubbling, spitting or foaming where the solution is applied, the surface is not sufficiently clean for painting and should be re-cleaned.
Smooth Surface
The troweling process leaves a smooth surface on the concrete. If the surface is too smooth, there is no profile for an applied coating to adhere too. An ideally prepared concrete floor will have a texture similar to 100 grit sandpaper.
In order to accomplish a sufficient anchor pattern for the coating to adhere to the surface should be abrasive blasted or acid etched.
Acid etching
In addition to providing a better surface profile or anchor pattern for adhesion, etching the surface will also lower the surface pH levels of the concrete. Alkaline (basic) surfaces like new concrete can impede the adhesion of coatings that are not designed to perform in high alkaline environments, etching the surface with an acid prior to coating will not only provide the slightly rough surface needed for the paint to grip, but also a more neutral pH level that will result in a more consistent and durable bond between the coating and the substrate.
Surfaces shall first be wetted down with clean water, then a solution of muriatic acid (commercial quality – 30 to 38% Hydrochloric acid) made by diluting one part of concentrated acid (See Caution) with two parts of water by volume, is recommended. Apply at the rate of one gallon (4.5 liters) of the solution to each 100 square feet, and scrub well while applying. Allow the solution to remain on the surface until it stops bubbling (approximately 20 minutes), and then flush thoroughly with a large quantity of clean water. If the surface does not dry uniformly within a few hours, not all of the acid has been removed. In this case, flush the area again, but use a weak solution of household ammonia and clean water. After the surface has dried thoroughly, painting may proceed.
Moisture Vapour Tests
Capillary moisture in the concrete may be detrimental to the performance of certain coating systems that cannot tolerate moisture on or within the surface boundary. A moisture vapor test can be carried out, such as the plastic patch test ASTM D 4263 for example.
Caution Note: Adequate handling precautions must be taken. Always refer to the material safety data sheet (MSDS) to become aware of relevant safety hazards. Any person handling, mixing, or applying acid solutions, should wear rubber gloves, aprons, boots, goggles, a face shield and proper breathing apparatus. DO NOT mix acid with any other chemical. When diluting, always add acid to water. Never add water to acid. Accidental splashes on the skin should be treated immediately by flushing with clean water. If the burns are severe (or in all cases of eye contact), contact a physician immediately. Wash hands thoroughly before handling food. (Taken from 1.3 ACID ETCHING – CONCRETE AND MASONRY – MPI Architectural Coatings Manual)
Products tested to MPI Green Performance and MPI Extreme Green have the lowest VOC, with proven high-performance. Look for these logo’s on the paint cans. CLICK HERE for more information.