Custom Painting, Inc. is a full-service residential and commercial painting service company serving residential and commercial clients in the Bay Area. We offer a broad range of interior and exterior painting services, including full surface preparation work, power washing, priming, staining application, cabinet painting, and more.
Since we opened our doors to business in 1982, Custom Painting, Inc. has developed into one of the most trusted and reputable. We take pride in our team of painters and carpenters and unparalleled customer service.
True to our name, we at Custom Painting, Inc. does custom work to meet the expectations and preferences of our clients, whether it’s painting different colors, installing crown molding, or applying fresh paint after popcorn ceiling removal.
Custom Painting, Inc. painting experts recently completed a large warehouse project at IPT-4 Grantline in Tracy, CA. They excel at large commercial projects like this, and we are glad to have another satisfied customer.
The warehouse was around 600,000 square feet, and our crew had to paint the interior and exterior surfaces of the building, which took us roughly three months to complete. We used an estimated 3,000 gallons of paint for the project. The type of paint we used was elastomeric paint for waterproofing the exterior.
How did we manage the challenges?
Like many other paint projects we have tackled, our IPT-4 Grantline warehouse project had its share of challenges.
1) Painting the warehouse’s interior walls – IPT-4 Grantline Tracy warehouse had significantly high walls. The lower portion of the wall measured 10 feet tall, which was higher than the standard height. Thus, that portion required thorough cleaning and prep work before being painted.
After doing the prep work, we painted the upper portion of the walls and had to return to paint the lower portion.
However, we could not paint from the ceiling down to the floor. Because of that, there was a visible transition line between the upper and lower sections. That’s why we had to apply an extra coat of paint to smooth the transition, making the final coat of paint appear more uniform, and achieve a seamless finish.
2) Waterproofing the building – The project required us to apply elastomeric paint to achieve the necessary waterproofing. The brand we used was Sherwin Williams Sherlastic elastomeric coating. Our crew made sure they were applying the paint following the manufacturer’s recommendations to reach the suggested mil thickness so that the paint would work as intended.
3) Safe painting process – We used wash-out barrels to avoid possible environmental impact. We sent these barrels to a hazardous wastes and materials facility. We also used containment systems under the barrels to prevent accidental spills from reaching the ground.
4) Environmental and health concerns – Custom Painting, Inc. is always mindful of the impact paints can have on health and the environment.
Painting an occupied building can pose a great challenge. Most businesses and facilities decide to continue their operations while their buildings are being painted. In this project, our crew had to ensure that the warehouse staff, visitors, and themselves remained safe while painting the facility.
Regular paints contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including xylene, benzene, and toluene.
Exposure to such VOCs may have the following temporary or long-term effects on health, such as:
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Breathing difficulties
- Nausea
- Irritation of the eyes, nose, or throat
- It could also trigger allergic reactions, particularly asthma
- Long-term exposure could lead to severe ailments, such as certain cancers
To make indoor painting safer, we used paints with low VOCs. Elastomeric paints usually have low VOCs. It means that such paints give off fewer harmful fumes into the air, making elastomeric paints absolutely safe for both indoor and outdoor painting.
Dealing with hazardous materials
In this project, we used 55-gallon metal washed-out barrels with sealable lids. They enabled us to clean out our pumps, rollers, and brushes. These washed-out barrels were then picked up and processed at a facility that deals with hazardous materials called Invert Environmental Consultants.
We usually use containment systems under the barrels in all our commercial paint projects to ensure no accidental spills reach the ground.
Handling hazardous wastes and materials in California
The California Health and Safety Code defines hazardous material as:
“A substance or waste that, because of its physical, chemical, or other characteristics, may pose a risk of endangering human health or safety or degrading the environment.”
According to the code, flammable, combustible, corrosive, reactive, radioactive, or toxic substances are hazardous.
The code implies that any material or substance considered harmful under any other safety, environmental, or transportation law or regulation is likely considered “hazardous material” in this code. These include:
- Substances requiring a Material Safety Data Sheet under worker protection laws
- Substances regulated as hazardous under transportation laws
- Substances listed as radioactive under federal environmental regulations
Some of the most common hazardous materials:
- Oils
- Fuels
- Paints
- Thinners
- Cleaning solvents
- Compressed gases
- Radioactive materials
How should a hazardous facility be able to go operational?
The Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA) is an agency that regulates facilities that generate hazardous wastes or store hazardous materials. It is certified by the Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency (CallEPA).
Any facility that handles hazardous material or waste management facilities is required to obtain permits from CUPA.
Once they have permits from the CUPA, the facility will be able to handle underground storage tank construction, removal, modification, and operation.
If you’re proposing a new facility or have plans on modifying an existing one, it is a good idea to contact the following agencies:
- Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA),
- Air pollution control district,
- Fire department (which has jurisdiction over the fire code implementation),
- Local community service agencies, and
- Local planning and building authorities.
Please remember that these agencies have additional permits or other requirements as soon as possible in the planning process.
Why did we choose elastomeric paints for the project?
This project required us to use elastomeric paints for the necessary waterproofing. But why elastomeric paints and not regular paints?
Elastomeric paint is a high-build coating that protects masonry surfaces, such as brick and building stones, which include adobe, cast, concrete, glass, granite, limestone, and marble. It can also be applied on other surfaces, such as wood, metal, and vinyl.
Elastomeric paints are typically used in commercial and industrial painting. Just like other types of coating, elastomeric paints are applied in liquid form, which then hardens and forms a durable but flexible and water-tight coating if applied correctly.
Here are the benefits of elastomeric paint:
- Durability – Elastomeric coatings can withstand wear and tear for a long time. When applied correctly on a well-prepared surface, these coatings can last 10 years or even longer.
- Flexibility – Elastomeric coatings can move with the surface where it is applied. They can stretch and return to their original form along with the changes in weather in temperature without damaging the surface.
- Protection – Traditional paints can be easily battered by heavy wind-driven rains, damaging the coating over time. On the other hand, elastomeric paints are made to protect surfaces from rain and storms.
- Density or thickness – Elastomeric paint is a high-build coating, which is also thick and heavy. The very density creates a strong, solid, and durable layer that can effectively protect any surface where it is applied.
- Energy efficiency – Walls and roofing systems can absorb heat from direct sunlight, making your building hot. The elastomeric coating reflects the sun’s heat away from the building, thus preventing the surface from absorbing a lot of the heat and allowing the interior of the building to remain cooler without using any electricity. In turn, you will be able to enjoy energy savings.
How thick is elastomeric paint?
When you’re used to regular paint, you might be surprised that elastomeric paint is thick and heavy. You will also notice the difference once it dries on the surface. It’s because elastomeric paint has more mils than traditional paint.
The term “mil” refers to a unit of measurement used to determine the density or thickness of substances, such as paint. A mil equals a thousandth of an inch (1/1000th, 0.001”, or 1.0 mil).
Elastomeric paints usually have 10 to 20 mils per coat compared to regular paint, which only has up to 3 mils per coat. The reason for elastomeric paint’s thickness is that it will provide a strong and durable layer that can effectively protect any surface from various weather elements.
Conclusion
Our project at IPT-4 Grantline warehouse was a success. We managed to work on the project’s challenges, such as painting the high interior walls and preventing possible environmental impact as we painted. We are happy to have another satisfied customer.
Planning to open a new business or repaint an existing commercial property? Contact Custom Painting, Inc. We are a licensed, bonded, insured residential and commercial painting company across the Bay Area. Please get in touch with our office at 925-866-9610 or fill out a request form to schedule an appointment for a free estimate.