About Surface Preparation
The primary objective of surface preparation is to provide maximum coating adhesion which is key to coating performance and long life.
The Coblaco Team relies on extensive experience and knowledge when understanding and controlling variables and relationships between substrates, media selection and methods. Using a variety of medias, materials and utilizing the most up to date customized equipment, our ability to drive the surface preparation portion of the specification is another way we continually separate ourselves from the competition.
Our internal training program and our commitment to outside industry training through the SSPC and NACE provides our team with the knowledge to understand and execute to every standard and specification.
“Surface preparation operations depend on so many variables. Surface to be cleaned, the type of structure, the equipment and methods, whether the work is being done in the shop or in the field, local environmental conditions, understanding regulations, and many other factors. Only experience will serve as a guide to the best methods of carrying out the operations”.
Coblaco Surface Preparation Projects
Located in Eldorado Canyon, the South Boulder Diversion Structure channels water into Denver Water’s treatment system. Constructed over 75 years ago, this site was due for some rehabilitation, including the application of industrial coatings.
The City of Aurora contracted Coblaco Services to perform coating repairs on the Spinney Mountain Dam outlet piping, located southeast of Fairplay, CO. The scope of work involved blasting and coating the interior and exterior of a 96-inch diameter section of outlet pipe and a mag meter at the reservoir.
The Texoma 72” Pipeline Improvement project was something new for American Pipeline Services. To retrofit this concrete-mortar lined pipe with cathodic protection, the steel needed to be exposed at each joint so that copper wires could be welded from one pipe to the next. An absolute minimum of 900 joints needed to be fully completed in two weeks.
The East Cherry Creek Valley Sanitation District contracted Coblaco Services to recoat the interior and exterior of an aerial run of 30-inch sewer pipe. There were many variables with the project including:
small diameter of the pipe
a flowing creek beneath the pipe
thickness of the existing coating
the need to maintain sewer service for over 50,000 residents in this area via pipe bypass
Timing to complete this project was critical, due to the expense of the bypass. Coblaco’s crews had to work long days and through the weekend in the punishing June sun so that the sewer pipe could be returned to service as soon as possible. A specified coating scope of work was done by Coblaco’s skilled technicians in spite of the environmental conditions, both internal and external. The quality inspection on this project was a critical path for delivery back to the customer, and was done so with diligence beyond the required scope specification.
Highly trained Coblaco technicians performed specialized surface preparation and installed high-performance interior and exterior protective coatings for a 146' diameter, 16' high welded steel domestic water tank.
The window to perform the specified scope of work was limited to not impact growing water requirements for the surrounding community. The production schedule was strictly managed by dedicated project management providing dependable communication throughout the project and to ensure on-time performance and technician safety; meeting the specified scope of work throughout ever changing weather conditions. Through our proven process, relentless effort and dedicated project management, the project was executed flawlessly ahead of schedule and within budget.
Performed high performance coatings on complex structures including turbine generators, long stretches of large diameter pipe throughout the new facility.
Architectural coatings included truss, joists and ceiling located more than 70 feet above the turbine room floor. Accessibility was strictly managed to ensure technician safety while meeting the specified scope of work.
Through our proven process, relentless effort and dedicated project management, the project was executed flawlessly alongside multiple trades. The project was recognized by Engineering News-Record for the ENR 2019 Project of the Year!
Performed surface preparation and high performance interior and exterior protective coating systems on a 3.34 million gallon welded steel domestic water tank. Coordinating water demand and rehabilitation of the tank established a short window to perform proper protective coating application for immersion service, cure schedules and AWWA C652 Method 2 disinfection.
Dedicated project management navigated fabrication repairs and ever-changing environmental conditions by moving primer application efforts to early morning hours to extend required cure schedules while balancing surface preparation efforts to late night hours to optimize production.
Through our proven process, ability to flex and scale and relentless effort, Coblaco mobilized customized equipment and highly trained and experienced technicians completing the intended scope of work on time and under budget.
Performed UHP surface preparation to remove a pre-existing elastomeric coating system, then media blast and apply high performance interior and exterior protective coatings.
The pre-existing tank lining was reported to be 30-40 mils, but once the tank was drained and available for inspection, we revealed the lining to be between 90-200 mils!
Dedicated project management and highly trained technicians collaborated to formulate a plan to address the unexpected change in scope, along with ever-changing environmental conditions and a fixed deadline for completion.
Through our proven process, ability to flex and scale and relentless effort, Coblaco mobilized customized equipment and a team of highly trained technicians. The original and extended scope of work was expertly coordinated and executed delivering a cured, disinfected and ready for service tank before the originally agreed upon delivery date.
Performed high performance protective coatings on complex structures including pellet reactors and process piping throughout the newly constructed facility. Architectural coatings included more than 17,000 square feet of interior CMU, more than 700 gallons of exterior moisture vapor barrier and more than 30,000 square feet of concrete floor sealer.
Through our proven process, dedicated project management and the relentless effort of more than thirty Coblaco technicians, the project was expertly managed and executed over the course of twenty months alongside multiple trades and finishing ahead of schedule.
Coblaco worked together with SPR to establish and perform multiple task orders throughout the 53 acre South Platte Renew Wastewater Treatment Facility.
Provided corrosion management planning assistance, in addition to surface preparation and the application of high performance protective coatings in varying service environments. Through our depth and diversity of industry expertise and a commitment to excellence in all we do, Coblaco continues to build a partnership with SPR by providing guidance, planning and prioritizing for rehabilitation efforts and new projects.
This collaborative approach establishes clear expectations, balances work loads with planned process shut-downs and predictable resource planning. The benefits of the partnership result in our highly trained technicians and dedicated project management planning and executing the intended scopes of work efficiently and on time.
Coblaco performed specialized surface preparation and applied high-performance protective coatings throughout the 10 MGD municipal drinking water treatment plant including trench and containment linings, concrete walls, slabs and CMU, coating and identifying piping ranging from 1" to 48" diameter.
Extensive containment and engineering controls were implemented to prevent unwanted waste from migrating to surrounding areas where multiple trades were performing work. Coblaco mobilized customized equipment and highly trained teams of technicians who provided the expertise needed to manage varying workspaces safely and efficiently.
Through our depth and diversity of industry expertise, a commitment to excellence in all we do, and dedicated project management Coblaco completed the intended scope of work, plus an additional phase that was added as the project was wrapping up. All scopes of work were finalized and ready for service before the scheduled date of completion.
Kinder Morgan had to bring its processing facility to KM PSM standards, by addressing a jet-fire scenario of the propane and butane vessels. In a perfect jet-fire scenario, an LPG vessel can have a Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion (BLEVE) in less than ten minutes! To meet API 752 siting requirements, and give both plant and neighboring personnel safe egress, it was necessary for a BLEVE scenario to be delayed for one hour or longer.