If you happen to walk by 8 Station St, Wollongong NSW, you'll notice the beautifully refurbished louvres that adorn the building's exterior. This is thanks to the hard work of Modern Painting Group, who were tasked with repairing and repainting the existing louvre brackets.
Surface preparation for the coating system
The first step in this process was to clean the existing galvanised steel. This was done to ensure that the surface was free of any dirt, grime or other debris that could interfere with the coating system. Once the steel was clean, it was then ground to create a rough surface, which would help the coating system adhere better.
Next, any damaged areas were spot repaired using Zincanode 202. This is a zinc-rich coating that provides excellent corrosion protection for steel. It also acts as a sacrificial layer, meaning that if the steel is damaged, the Zincanode 202 will corrode instead of the steel itself. This helps to extend the life of the steel.
Once the repairs were complete, the coating system was applied using a spray application. The system used on the external existing galvanised steel consisted of four coats:
The Triple Coating System: for Optimal Protection
Zincanode 202 is a two-pack epoxy zinc-rich primer that contains a high level of finely divided zinc metal, providing galvanic corrosion protection on steel. Upon curing, it forms a hard, abrasion-resistant coating that is ideal for heavy-duty finishes without the need for mist coating or a tie coat. Additionally, the dry film zinc levels exceed Australian Standard requirements. As the first coat, it was applied with a thickness of 50-microns (µm) DFT, ensuring excellent corrosion protection and acting as a primer for the subsequent spot repairs.
Durebild STE MIO Quickturn is a high-performance maintenance coating that can be used as an intermediate or topcoat for new work. It is particularly useful for surfaces that cannot be blasted and require high-pressure water, hand, or power tool cleaning. The second and third coats of this coating were applied at a thickness of 125-microns (µm) DFT, making it a high-build epoxy coating that offers superior adhesion to the Zincanode 202. Additionally, the inclusion of micaceous iron oxide in the coating provides extra protection against corrosion.
To complete the description of the coating application, it's worth mentioning that the topcoat used was Weathermax HBR. This high-performance polyurethane coating was applied at a thickness of 75-microns (µm) DFT and is known for its outstanding durability and protection against severe industrial and marine environments. The coating has excellent gloss and colour retention properties, even after extended service periods, and provides additional UV protection for the underlying coatings, ensuring long-lasting protection against corrosion and other environmental factors.
Dulux® Protective Coatings Trade Specialist, Greg Scott explains, “This coating system was chosen because it provides excellent protection against the high corrosivity of the marine environment. In fact, it meets the requirements of AS/NZS 2312.1:2014 Category C4, which is the highest level of protection required for this type of environment.
Overall, the repairs and repaint work on the louvres at 8 Station St, Wollongong NSW, is a testament to the skill and expertise of Modern Painting Group. "By using a high-quality coating system, they were able to provide long-lasting protection for the steel, ensuring that the building's exterior will remain beautiful for an extended period of time.