Coating Economics

Economics of surface coatings on metals are discussed with emphasis on surface preparation, especially when large scale coating operations are conducted. Relative cost and other parameters affecting the choice between manual and machine blasting are considered, including the area cost of surface preparation, health and safety factors, incidental pollution, and other variations. Advantages of high build surface and multi‐purpose primer application are related along with comparisons of cost between initial and manual recoating of structures after erection. Importance of proper coating maintenance is emphasised. Economic case histories are given, including large scale surface preparation of tank plates and piping, differences between sand abrasive and centrifugal blasting, factors related to intercoat adhesion, cost of Zn rich with epoxy or alkyd topcoats, and the high cost of repainting when scaffolding is necessary. Regulations on surface preparations, ecological controls, and safety are discussed. Two coat simplified systems are recommended, along with automatic and semiautomatic surface preparation when the size of the job makes either one possible. Tabulated data on area costs of various modes an locations for surface preparation and coating costs for various metal configurations are provided.