TMI Coatings Blog

Protective Floor Coatings

May 20th, 2009 · No Comments · Industrial Flooring

A leading Midwest technology supplier to the medical industry contacted TMI Coatings recently to apply protective flooring in several areas at their facility. Some of the areas were carpeted and other areas were previously coated. The owner wanted to create a clean room environment as well as a more aesthetically pleasing work area for the employees.

Prior to TMI beginning work, the owner removed the carpet squares, mastic and vinyl molding. TMI used our vacuum steel shotblast unit and hand-held grinders with vacuum attachments to prepare the flooring surfaces to ensure that the new flooring would adhere. Severely cracked and eroded areas were restored to the surrounding plane.

TMI applied CHEM-RESIST flooring system consisting of a 100% solids, low odor epoxy resin with aggregate fillers. The finish texture was approved by the owner’s representative at the time of installation.

If you have a need for industrial floor coatings, contact TMI at 651-452-6100 or visit our website for a no obligation quote.

TMI Coatings Team

Lead-Based Paint Removal

May 11th, 2009 · No Comments · Sandblasting & Painting

A manufacturing company in Wisconsin needed their propane tanks painted due to corrosion. After testing the paint chips with an accredited laboratory, the paint showed lead content. TMI worked closely with the manufacturing company and an environmental consultant to ensure work was completed in accordance with Wisconsin DNR regulations throughout the job.

TMI prepared the tanks by high pressure washing to remove the loose and flaking paint and further hand and power tool cleaning per SSPC standards.

A rust-inhibitive epoxy metal primer was applied followed by a finish coat of an aliphatic urethane which provides excellent gloss and color retention. Both the primer and finish coat were applied by roller to avoid the risk of overspray.

The owner was pleased with the outcome of the project and the communication between the TMI Foreman and the manufacturing company’s staff. TMI was able to follow a plan for the removal of the lead and not cause inconveniences for the owner and its employees.

If you have a lead-based paint removal project, contact TMI Coatings at 651-452-6100 or visit our website for a no obligation quote.

TMI Coatings Team

Protective Coatings

April 24th, 2009 · No Comments · Coatings

A 100 year old food plant in the upper Midwest was expanded over the years and as a result interior older brick and block walls showed their age with cracks and voids. These were nesting places for bugs and bacteria.

TMI filled these voids to restore the walls to a smoother finish and then applied FIBERLIFE to the walls. Now the old plant has a seamless wall surface that is tough and durable, can handle pressure washing without leaving “pockets” of water and meets FSIS/USDA inspections.

If you have a need for fiberglass reinforced plastic coatings, contact TMI at 651-452-6100 or visit www.tmicoatings.com for a no obligation quote.

TMI Coatings Team

Sandblasting & Painting

April 16th, 2009 · No Comments · Sandblasting & Painting

A North Dakota malting company recently contracted with TMI Coatings to sandblast and coat the elevator steps and railings at their facility. Both the steps and railings had loose, flaking paint and extreme corrosion. The owner wanted a long-term solution that would prevent the rust and corrosion from reappearing for several years. Other businesses in the area had painting work done by others and had peeling/flaking paint a short time later. The owner requested a high quality paint be applied to prolong the life expectancy so as to not have to redo the sandblasting and coating in the near future.

TMI sandblasted the elevator steps and railings to remove the rust and prepare for the new coating adhesion. The building behind the staircase was carefully protected from sandblasting and paint overspray. A rust inhibitive epoxy metal primer and a quality direct-to-metal finish coat were applied.

When the TMI Project Manager called to follow up, the owner commented that the “crew has been working hard. I haven’t even noticed them.” He went on to say that he was pleased with how the project was completed and how the TMI crew cleaned up.

If you have an industrial painting project, contact TMI at 651-452-6100 or visit our website at www.tmicoatings.com for a no obligation quote.

TMI Coatings Team

Building Restoration

April 9th, 2009 · No Comments · Restoration

TMI Coatings completed exterior building repairs at 7-Sigma in Minneapolis several years ago and the owner was pleased with our work.

After pressure washing to remove the defective mortar and flaking existing paint, we used caulk and mortar to fill joints, holes, cracks and defects in the building. Tuckpointing was completed for all necessary joints using pneumatic grinders. Mortar was cut back 3/4″ deep, new mortar fill was added to be flush with the brick surface, then tooled and brushed to a neat finish. This was done before applying an elastomer waterproof coating in three different colors.

TMI also removed loose bricks and replaced with new bricks to match similarly to the existing bricks.

Elastomeric coatings outlast paint for building exteriors in the upper Midwest. The elastomer coating expands and contracts in changing temperatures. The coating is breathable yet resists wind driven rain. When properly applied, elastomeric coatings come with a 5 year waterproof warranty guaranteeing no peeling, chipping or flaking for years to come.

If you have a building in need of restoration or would like more information on elastomeric coatings, contact TMI at 651-452-6100 or visit our website at www.tmicoatings.com for a no obligation quote.

TMI Coatings Team

Industrial Coatings

March 19th, 2009 · No Comments · Coatings

TMI Coatings installs dike linings for splash and spill and short term containment of a variety of chemicals. TMI has installed dike linings for medical manufacturers, chemical companies, world food suppliers and agricultural laboratories.

TMI begins by sandblasting and/or mechanically abrading using hand-held grinders to create an anchor pattern for new coating adhesion. Once surface preparation is complete, any eroded areas are repaired to restore to the surrounding plane. Depending on the chemicals used, the appropriate lining is then installed.

If you have a specific industrial coating project, contact TMI at 651-452-6100 or via email at tmi@tmicoatings.com to request a no obligation quote.

TMI Coatings Team

Elastomeric Coating

March 11th, 2009 · No Comments · Coatings

TMI Coatings has installed elastomeric coatings to food plant ceilings where peeling paint couldn’t be tolerated, and it has turned out to be the right solution for these humid environments.

The “rubberized” coating has elastomer properties and can handle frequent wash downs. The white color brightens the room for an aesthetic appearance.

Marron Foods in Durand, WI, Bush Brothers in Augusta, WI, Kraft Foods in Mason City, IA, and Hormel in Algona, IA are just a few of the plants where TMI has installed this protective coating.

If we can assist you with a specific project, contact us at 651-452-6100 or via email at tmi@tmicoatings.com for a no obligation quote.

TMI Coatings Team

Exterior Painting in Winter

March 5th, 2009 · No Comments · Sandblasting & Painting

While winter may not necessarily seem like the ideal time to do exterior painting work, there are low temperature paints that can be applied in very cold weather. Credible manufacturers of industrial paints and coatings make paints suitable for installation in cold weather. The paint will cure down to 0° F.

For example, TMI shoveled off the snow from around five plastic resin silos and sandblasted to SSPC-SP 6 Commercial Blast. The steel was then primed with a urethane mastic. This work was completed in January for a Bloomington, MN plastics company.

For a quote or specific recommendation of an industrial paint to meet your needs, contact TMI Coatings at 651-452-6100 or visit our website at www.tmicoatings.com.

TMI Coatings Team

Concrete Ceiling Repair

February 16th, 2009 · No Comments · Restoration

A Wisconsin manufacturer of heavy-duty, industrial paper products contacted TMI Coatings regarding the concrete ceiling of their wood drop chest. Due to the chemicals used in the chest, the concrete ceiling deteriorated and was in need of repair.

TMI removed the loose and delaminating existing concrete and cleaned the underside (ceiling) of the chest by sandblasting. The exposed rebar was primed to prevent further corrosion. A cementitious spray mortar was then applied to help rebuild the eroded areas of the ceiling. The manufacturing company was pleased with the repairs and restoration of the chest ceiling in such a difficult and corrosive environment.

If you have a need for corrosion protection, contact TMI Coatings at 651-452-6100 or email us at tmi@tmicoatings.com for a no obligation quote.

TMI Coatings Team