BEB Fall 03

Fall/Winter 2009
Restoring a Kansas City Treasure
Perma-Wash® Helps Reclaim
the Historic Empire Theater
Designed by Rapp & Rapp, one of the nation’s leading designers
of early 20th century movie palaces, the Mainstreet Theater
opened it doors on October 30, 1921 as Kansas City, Missouri’s
premiere vaudeville theater and movie house. During the early
1920s, some of vaudeville’s most celebrated performers headlined at
the venue, including Cab Calloway, Charlie Chaplin and the Marx
Brothers and the 3,200 seat theater boasted an average attendance
of more than 4,000 daily.
With the demise of vaudeville and the advancements made in the
film industry, the theater was renovated several times over the
years. In December 1960, it became the Empire Theater -- the
entertainment destination for Kansas City moviegoers.
From 1985 to 2005, the theater remained vacant, at risk for
demolition. But thanks to the City of Kansas City, the theater was
rescued and is now one of the cornerstones of the city’s new
Power & Light District, a vibrant eight-block entertainment mecca.
But, the restoration of Kansas City’s historic theater would prove
more challenging than anyone ever anticipated.
Water, Mold & More . . .
When the Kansas City office of Tetra Tech, Inc., a leading provider
of environmental engineering and consulting services worldwide,
was retained by the City of Kansas City to provide
environmental consulting services for the Power
& Light District and write the remediation
specification for the Empire Theater, their original
concern was the abatement of asbestos and
other hazards from the historic building. But
the scope of the project – and the
remediation specification – dramatically
changed when a water utility main break
occurred adjacent to the theater.
More than 1-million gallons of water
rushed into the building on August 16,
2005, degrading surfaces, decreasing
stability and creating a significant
mold problem. Rachel Norton, an
environmental consultant for Tetra
Tech and project manager at the Power & Light District
remembers the scenario all too well.
“There were hundreds of contractors working in a 10 to
12 block area when the water main broke,” said Rachel.
“We hadn’t gotten to the Empire Theater site yet, but it
quickly became a priority.”
“Kansas City temperatures can rise above 100 degrees
in August and combined with the water from the main
break, the theater became a breeding ground for mold,”
she continued. “The challenge was to remove the water,
asbestos and mold from the building in a way that would
not have a negative impact on workers while meeting our
obligation to the city and the developer to certify the
building was safe for occupancy.”
Revising the Protocol
Since initial testing revealed the presence of several
different kinds of mold and due to the overall conditions
at the Empire, Tetra Tech’s revised protocol called for a
complete interior demolition of the theater including the
removal of all wood, plaster and other materials with the
potential for mold growth.
Continued on next page...
Tech Forum
The Science & Art of Formulating “Next
The Clean Air Act of 1990, followed by the National Volatile
Organic Compound (VOC) Emissions Standards for
Architectural Coatings of 1998, gave rise to a host of
regional regulations that put lower, more stringent VOC limits
on architectural paints and coatings. In response, a number
of new, lower VOC paints emerged on the market.
Unfor tunately, many of these “first generation” low VOC
formulations lacked the performance characteristics of their
higher VOC predecessors.
During the 1990s and early 2000s, the formulation of
primers to meet emerging VOC regulations proved
particularly challenging because technology was one step
behind the regulations.
Unlike paint, performance
– not color – is the overriding reason for using a
primer. Therefore, if a
primer does not meet
specific performance criteria, it’s of no use to
anyone – low VOC or not.
Fortunately, technology has
come a long way since the
beginning of the decade,
as has coating chemists’
knowledge. This explosion
of knowledge and technology has given rise to
new advanced water-base
“Next Generation” primers offer excellent
hide – even over dark colors.
primers that meet or exceed VOC requirements without
sacrificing the performance criteria of “traditional” primers –
hide, stain-blocking, adhesion, sealing and the ability to
solve other surface challenges. But formulating these “next
generation” primers is not only about science – it’s also an
art.
New Technologies plus the Art
of Formulation
Primers contain four primary ingredients – pigment, resin,
solvent and additives – and coating chemists recognize that
all of these ingredients
can have an impact on
VOCs when formulating
a zero VOC primer. While
a slightly higher VOC
threshold is permitted
when formulating an advanced water-base primer,
there is still concern that
the formulation be compliant with the South Coast
Air Quality Management
District’s VOC regulations
for “Primers, Sealers and
Undercoaters” – still the
Adhesion is an important performance
most stringent in the
criteria for any primer.
country. The goal of the
Restoring a Kansas City Treasure continued...
“It is the industry standard protocol that the physical removal of visible mold is the preferred
remediation technique. The project staff worked closely with all regulatory agencies throughout
the course of the project, as well as with Kingston Environmental Services, Inc., the firm that
was awarded the abatement work,” said Rachel.
Kingston Environmental Services conducted the abatement activities at the theater under full
containment, using wet gross removal techniques to ensure that all asbestos and mold
containing materials were completely removed from the site. After the abatement, visual
inspections were conducted over a multi-day period to ensure the absence of all visible mold.
An Extra Layer of Security
When no visible mold was present, the application of a biocide/fungicide was specified
to provide an extra layer of security and to kill any airborne mold spores. Zinsser
Perma-Wash® Disinfectant & Fungicide Interior Concentrate was selected for the job.
“Kingston Environmental Services recommended Perma-Wash during one of the many
brainstorming sessions we had throughout this project,” said Rachel. “Based on their experience with the product
on similar projects and its EPA registration, I felt confident that it was the right product for the job.”
Generation” Water-Base Primers
chemist is also to formulate a primer that’s LEED compliant
and meets or exceeds new Green Seal GS11 standards, which
raised the bar on performance.
For tunately, the solvent used in the formulation of waterbase primers is water, which unlike oil, has no VOCs.
Additives and pigment have both gotten significantly
“greener” over the last decade, as manufacturers of these
products strive to meet more stringent requirements to meet
the needs of coatings manufacturers striving to hit new
regulation benchmarks.
Since resins are the cornerstone of primer technology
and are responsible for performance characteristics like stain
blocking and adhesion,
primer chemists have been
increasingly challenged to
work with new suppliers –
or formulate new resins,
including high performance
polymers and modified
acr ylics – that can be
combined with solvents,
pigments and additives to
create “next generation”
formulas. These new resin
systems don’t require the
use of VOCs or are less
VOC demanding, yet
Advanced water-base primers like Smart
per form as well, if
Prime completely block water stains.
not better, than their
predecessors.
But, creating a new resin or
resin system that responds
the way you want it to –
or combining ingredients to
create a primer that achieves
specific performance characteristics -- is not an exact
science. It’s an art form that
takes time – and sometimes
failure – to get to the right
spot. It takes experience,
patience and sometimes a
little luck, but when chemists
push beyond the limits of existing knowledge and science,
the results can change the primer paradigm.
Such is the case with new Zinsser Smar t Prime, an
advanced formula water-base
primer that blocks water
stains and has many other
per formance characteristics of an oil-base primer
and new Bulls Eye ZeroTM,
our new “extreme green”
zero VOC primer. Read
about these exciting new
primers – and other new
products that set new
standards for quality and
innovation – in this issue of
Bulls Eye Briefs.
Perma-Wash is EPA-registered for mold and mildew control and is a disinfectant, fungicide,
virucide, bactericide, mildewcide and midewstat in one. Featuring DuPont’s unique Cryocide
technology, it offers broad-spectrum efficiency and economy, making it ideal for remediating the
damaging effects of hurricanes, floods and other natural and man-made disasters. It also has a
safer profile than bleach and many competitive brands, making it the product of choice for many
disaster restoration professionals.
Perma-Wash was applied to every interior surface in the theater as a
precautionary measure and to kill any airborne spores. Since that time,
Rachel has specified Perma-Wash, as well as Zinsser Perma-White® Mold &
*™ Sealer,
Mildew-Proof*™ Interior Paint and Perma-Guard® Mold & Mildew-Proof*
on several other remediation projects, confident that it will work as
effectively as it did at the Kansas City theater.
“I’m confident that the Zinsser system will give me the extra layer of
protection I look for when specifying products for mold remediation projects,” said Rachel. “And
because Perma-Wash is easy to use and does not interfere with coating adhesion, it’s ideal when the
application of a coating like Perma-White or Perma-Guard is required.”
Today, the “new” AMC Mainstreet Theater in the Kansas City Power & Light District is heralded as one
of the most state-of-the-art movie theaters in the country – as well as a tribute to the tenacity of the
City of Kansas City, Tetra Tech, Kingston Environmental Services and Perma-Wash.
*These products contain a mildewcide to prevent the growth of mold & mildew on the paint film only.
What’s New?
Our labs have been on the fast-track of product
development this spring and summer.
The Performance of Oil in an Advanced
Water-Base Formula
After years of extensive research and testing, the Zinsser lab has done it again! New
Smart Prime is the first primer that gives you all the benefits of a water-base primer without
sacrificing the performance of oil.
Featuring advanced water-base technology exclusive to Zinsser, Smart Prime effectively
blocks all stains – even water stains – so you can use one primer for all projects. It seals
tannin bleed in redwood and cedar like an oil – and offers the exterior flexibility of a waterbase – but won’t raise wood grain like a water-base primer can. The fast drying, low VOC,
LEED compliant formula penetrates deeply for better sealed surfaces and offers the
superior flow and leveling and tenacious adhesion you expect from a Zinsser primer. It’s
the only primer you’ll ever need!
Zero VOC – Zero Compromise
Bulls Eye Zero™ Primer delivers “best in class” performance in an eco-friendly, zero VOC,
LEED compliant formula that’s great for all interior and exterior surfaces.
Tough on the job, yet gentle on the environment, the “extreme green” formula features
high-performance polymers to offer superior hide – even over dark colors. It blocks
common stains like residual nail head rust, asphalt, creosote, tannin bleed, lipstick,
crayon, oil and grease and seals porous surfaces like concrete and masonry for better
topcoat coverage.
Like all Zinsser primers, the durable, fast drying, low odor formula offers legendary
Zinsser adhesion to all surfaces thus eliminating the need to pre-sand.
And, it is packaged in a 100% recycled plastic gallon, which is 100% recyclable, to save
landfill and create a “greener” world.
Superior Stain-Blocking in Just One Coat
Formulated to block water stains – and other common stains – Zinsser Ceiling Paint gives
you a beautiful bright white finish in just one coat.
The advanced water-base formula combines Zinsser’s “next generation” stain-blocking
technology with a mold & mildew-resistant paint film that’s so durable, it’s backed by a
Lifetime Guarantee.
Zinsser Ceiling Paint applies pink, dries white, so you never miss a spot – and its onecoat coverage saves you time and money.
Here are just some of our exciting new products
that set new standards for quality and innovation.
2X the Coverage, 2X the Value
Rust-Oleum® Painter’s Touch® Ultra Cover 2X features innovative Double Cover Technology
to cover twice the square footage of other compeditive general purpose spray paints. The
breakthrough formula contains up to 44% more solids to deliver the ultimate in performance
and hiding power in fewer passes. Just one can of Ultra Cover 2X performs and covers like
two, so you save time and money.
Available in 71 colors, Ultra Cover 2X features a 360-degree delivery system that makes it
possible to spray at any angle – even upside down – for those hard-to-reach surfaces. Plus
it’s designed with a comfort tip to reduce finger fatigue.
Ultra Cover 2X contains less solvent than traditional spray paints, so it’s gentler on the
environment. And, because it delivers twice the coverage of ordinary general purpose spray
paint, there are fewer cans for the landfill.
Better, Easier than Elastomerics
New WaterTiteTM Flexible Primer & Finish is a high-build, moisture and mildew resistant
coating formulated to protect exterior stucco, concrete and masonry against water
intrusion from wind driven rain.
Featuring the qualities of an elastomeric, yet easier to apply, it expands and contracts to
fill hairline cracks making it ideal for use on new and existing vertical tilt-up, stucco, brick,
pre-cast, poured-in-place concrete, CMU, cement block and other concrete and masonry
surfaces. It also can be used on high pH surfaces without degrading the surface.
One coat of WaterTite Flexible Primer & Finish primes, while two coats prime and finish.
The low-VOC, water-base formula dries to a smooth, flat finish that’s backed by a 10-year
Durability Guarantee. It can be tinted to off-white and mid-tone colors.
The Ultimate Odor Blocker
You asked for it, Zinsser delivered: the odor blocking power of B-I-N® in a clear, de-waxed
shellac formula that’s perfect for wood and other interior surfaces when a white
pigmented coating is not desired.
The ultimate odor blocker for any interior surface, new CLEAR B-I-N® Sealer permanently seals
and eliminates lingering odors from fire and smoke damage, mold and mildew, pet urine,
cigarette and cigar smoke, and more. Formulated for use on all interior surfaces including
wood, drywall, cured plaster, masonry, metal and PVC, CLEAR B-I-N is ideal for use on
subflooring, rafters, wood floors, kitchen cabinets – even musty furniture. It’s no wonder it’s
already become a favorite with disaster restoration professionals, remodelers, flooring
installers and other contractors who need to seal a lingering odor without changing the color
of the substrate.
(WHAT’S NEW?)
A Fast, Eco-Friendly Solution for
Wallpaper Removal
New DIF® Quick Wallpaper Stripper – the newest member of the DIF family – penetrates
fast to remove wallpaper in just 2 minutes. The convenient, ready-to-use, non-staining
liquid removes the most difficult adhesives and leaves walls clean for painting or hanging
new wallpaper.
DIF Quick contains no VOCs and is formulated with biodegradable raw materials and no
toxic compounds to offer a “greener” alternative for wallpaper stripping.
The Ideal Surface Sealer for
Smaller Projects
Like “original” GARDZ®, new GARDZ® Surface Sealer Spray penetrates deep into porous
surfaces to seal damaged drywall and other problem surfaces. The convenient trigger
spray makes it ideal for sealing damaged drywall and patching compounds before and
after patch, sealing residual adhesive prior to painting or wallpapering and other small
projects. Its moisture-resistant film also makes it great for locking down unstable and
crumbling surfaces or for popcorn or acoustic ceiling repair.
Offering easy soap and water clean-up, it’s the versatile water-base sealer for
smaller projects.
Advanced Nano Technology for Floors
Available in 22 on-trend colors, new Nano Shield™ Advanced Floor Stain features micro
processed pigments to offer superior color coverage and optimum color intensity in just
one coat. The fast-drying professional formula can be top coated in just two hours, so you
can get to the finishing faster.
The Nano Shield™ family of professional floor finishing products also includes Nano Shield™
Advanced Floor Finish, a unique single component finish that has the performance of a two
component system – no catalyst required. The crystal clear water-based formula performs
like oil and contains aluminum oxide nano technology for maximum scratch and scuff
resistance even in high-traffic areas. Its available in gloss, semi-gloss and satin sheens.
New Ready-To-Use Formula
Disaster restoration professionals have relied on PERMA-WASH® Disinfectant & Fungicide
Interior Concentrate to effectively kill mold, mildew, bacteria and odors after hurricanes,
floods and other natural and man-made disasters. Now it’s available in a convenient readyto-use formula – PERMA-WASH® Fungicide, Disinfectant and Deodorizer Ready-to-Use.
A DuPont formulated technology, PERMA-WASH Ready-to-Use is a power ful
non-bleach formula that is EPA-registered to kill mold, mildew, bacteria and odors on
walls, floors and other hard, non-porous interior surfaces. Ideal for use on jobsites where
water is unavailable, the new ready-to-use formula offers broad-spectrum efficiency and
economy for commercial, industrial, institutional, and residential use.
Case Study
Second Generation
Wallcovering Contractor
Relies on GARDZ®
Mike Kelly has been around the wallcovering business for more than three decades.
His father founded Michael J. Kelly & Son in Wayne, PA in 1947 and even as a boy,
Mike had a keen interest in the family business, as well as a desire to perfect his skills
in the art of wallcovering installation.
In 1978, Mike joined the National Guild of Professional Paperhangers (NGPP) and
quickly became actively involved. Over the years, he was NGPP’s president, served on
its Board of Directors and served on several NGPP committees. He’s learned about
many new products during his years in the business and association with the NGPP. But
according to Mike, few are as reliable and versatile as
GARDZ® Problem Surface Sealer.
“Lots of contractors know about GARDZ and use it
when they encounter a problem. It’s a terrific sealer
for damaged drywall,” says Mike. “But we consistently
use GARDZ on most of our jobs because we know it’s
going to work in a variety of situations.”
The seven to ten men in the field that work for
Michael J. Kelly & Son use GARDZ routinely to seal
new drywall and builder’s flat on both residential and
commercial jobs.
“It seals the surface completely and gives you extra
working time when installing new wallcovering. It
promotes the adhesion of the wallcovering, bonds
well and strips great. It’s a real time-saver,” says
Mike.
While over the years, the company has expanded its
offerings to include the installation of specialty
wallcovering, including silk and digital murals and
vinyl laminates, it still gets its fair share of painting
and repaint jobs. Mike explains that his crew uses
GARDZ on these jobs too.
“We use GARDZ to seal the wall, apply hot muds,
apply GARDZ again and then paint. We’re confident that the surface is thoroughly
sealed and the paint will look its best,” he says. “It’s also a must for sealing chalky
surfaces before painting. It’s a great surface
conditioner.”
GARDZ Problem Surface Sealer is a unique
water-base sealer that’s formulated to deeply
penetrate and dry to a hard, moisture resistant
film to seal and bind down porous, chalky and
crumbling surfaces, paints and textures. It
effectively repairs torn paper on damaged
drywall and seals skim coat and spackling
compounds. It also protects surfaces from
damage when it time to redecorate. For more
information about GARDZ visit www.zinsser.com.
It’s 1853 and the first Zinsser
shellac product – White French
Varnish – receives a First Premium
Award at the International Exhibit in
Philadelphia. Elsewhere in the
nation and the world, these events
are taking place:
• Franklin Pierce is inaugurated
as the 14th president of the
United States.
• Dutch expressionist painter,
Vincent van Gogh is born.
• The first potato chip is prepared
by Chef George Crum in Saratoga
Springs, NY. The product is so
popular that commercial
production begins almost
immediately.
• Giuseppe Verdi’s opera “La
Traviata” premieres in Venice.
• The first World’s Fair opens
in New York.
• Cincinnati becomes the first US
city to pay firefighters a salary.
• Harriet Tubman begins her
Underground Railroad to help
slaves escape.
• Gail Borden patents her process
for condensed milk.
• Commodore Matthew Perry sails
his frigate Susquehanna into
Tokyo Bay.
• Street signs are authorized at
San Francisco intersections.
• Yellow fever kills 7,790 residents
of New Orleans.
• John Morrissey wins boxing title
when Yankee Sullivan leaves the
ring after the 36th round to slug
Morrissey’s fans.
Education Briefs
Training Available 24/7 on aecdaily.com
We recognize the importance of continuing contractor education. Yet we know it can be difficult to leave the jobsite to access
the practical training you want and need.
That’s why we’ve teamed up with AEC Daily, one of the leading providers of continuing
education, to offer three online courses on aecdaily.com. Our courses – The Use of
Coatings to Prevent Mold & Mildew Damage, Moisture Protection for Concrete & Masonry
and our newest course, Introduction to Priming – are eligible for continuing education units
(CEUs) from the Construction Specification Institute (CSI), American Institute of Architects
(AIA), Building Owners & Managers Institute (BOMI), the National Apartment Association
(NAA) and many other professional organizations. And the courses are free – and easy to
access 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Just log onto www.aecdaily.com, type Zinsser in the search box on the upper right corner
on the screen and select a course. It’s that easy!
Decorative Finishing Classes
Exclusively for Painting Contractors & Decorative Painters
Located throughout the United States and worldwide, Platinum Training Centers are an elite group of decorative finishing
schools dedicated to teaching beginner, intermediate, production and advanced techniques in the art of decorative painting with
Modern Masters specialized decorative finishing products. World renowned instructor, Kelly S. King, has created the exclusive
curricula to include some of the most unique and sought after finishes in the industry. For additional course information and
courses offered at the Platinum Training Center near you, contact Betty Miller-Henderson at 1-800-980-3289.
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