Guest guest Posted December 12, 2004 Report Share Posted December 12, 2004 Coating helps shield home from hurricane-force winds http://www.canadaeast.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article? AID=/20041211/GUIDES67/41210071 By Bradley For The Associated Press Homeowners don't normally associate paints or other exterior wall coverings as offering protection from hurricane force winds and rain. But the same industrial-strength coatings used to protect airport control towers, bridges and schools holds promise for homeowners looking for the upper hand against strong winds. The key is tensile strength. According to a Florida company, its house coatings bond to exterior surfaces to create a thicker, far stronger surface than paint could ever hope to provide. " What the coatings do is add rigidity to exterior surfaces, " says Jay Haines of Textured Coatings of America. " It's similar to what would happen if you put epoxy on wood or paper. The thickness and hardening of the epoxy make the surface tougher and harder. " The coatings look no different from paint once applied, but that's where the difference ends. Haines says the coatings contain heavy concentrations of high-strength resins. Once the resins dry, the surface is all but impregnable to water and wind. Hence the improvement in surface tensile strength. The upshot for consumers, says Haines, is " the exterior walls will be in better shape to handle wind-driven rain. " His case in point is the common use of stucco to cover exterior walls in Florida and other Southern states. The stucco tends to " soak up water like a sponge " says Haines. Once exterior walls allow moisture to penetrate the surface, the door is opened to toxic moulds. The coatings contain anti-mildew inhabitants to deter mildew growth. Yet the coatings breathe, allowing humidity to pass through rather than collect on interior walls and materials. The effect of the heavy and dense coating product is like coating a house in breathable plastic, according to the manufacturer. The coatings are rated to withstand winds up to 98 miles per hour. Textured Coatings is a residential coating supplier to The Home Service Store, which says the density product and its commercial applications mean it is not a do-it-yourself project for homeowners. Specialized sprayers and coating techniques are required. The coatings come in dozens of colour options. " The coatings look like paint, it's just that they outperform paint, " says Haines. He says the same coating used on homes now also covers airport control towers in Orlando, Atlanta and Miami as well as seven of the 10 largest bridges in Florida. The coatings cost somewhat more than paint to apply, but Haines says a lifetime warranty and the ability to withstand chipping, peeling and flaking offset the higher initial cost. The coatings also do a better job of reflecting solar rays and thus the surfaces are cooler. This can reduce air-conditioning costs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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