A repainting project of condominiums and homeowner association’s in South Florida are very sensitive to the harsh climatic conditions that become problematic to the painting contractor. In order to ensure a smooth-running and long lasting paint job, these conditions must be evaluated and dealt with at the onset of the painting project.
The climatic conditions in Florida, especially South Florida, are considered sub-tropical. The extreme humidity, strong sun and prevalence of heavy rain, especially in the mid-afternoon, pose as potential problems for the painting contractor.
The strong ultraviolet rays from the Florida sun take a toll on the exposed surfaces that are to be repainted, causing the paint on the stucco to degenerate unevenly, so stucco chalk must be removed via aggressive power washing. If there is mildew and algae growth, which is almost always, chlorine and mildew-cide must be applied prior to power washing.
The buildings that exist along the Florida coast have salt deposits that must be removed prior to painting. When repainting such a building, the power washing cannot precede the application of sealer and paint more than 72 hours, otherwise the salts will redeposit themselves on the surface and can cause premature peeling of the new coatings.
Another common problem faced by repainting contractors in South Florida is the ever-present possibility of rain. June through October is when rains and hurricanes are most prevalent, and many associations are skeptical about having painting done during these months. However, when hurricanes or tropical storms are forecast, there is sufficient time given by meteorologists to secure buildings and possessions. The painting contractor should remove, if possible, all ladders, swing stage equipment, hi-reach machines, paint, etc., away from buildings and secure his property. Depending on the severity of the storm, the downtime of the repainting job may be only one day, the day of the active storm, or may be longer if there are power outages or actual damage to the buildings.
If you plan intelligently and start your workday in the early morning, most of the rain, if any, is avoided. It is important to keep an open line of communication between the painting contractor and the association, and they should inform you if they leave the job early due to inclement weather so all involved can keep the job running efficiently and smoothly.
These are just some of the common problems faced by all painting contractors in South Florida. It is advisable to utilize contractors with substantial experience in this area who can better address these problems with forethought and local knowledge of the region helps in planning and executing a successful repaint project.
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Author : Hal Eisenstein and Brad Eisenstein
Company : South Coast Painting & Waterproofing
Hal Eisenstein and Brad Eisenstein are principals with South Coast Painting & Waterproofing in Coconut Creek, Fla.
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