Re-Painting for Existing

External Masonry Walls

a publication of

PAM Practice Notes

May 2011
Serial No.: 1-2011

© Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia

 GUIDE FOR RE-PAINTING OF EXISTING EXTERNAL MASONRY WALLS LEGEND AND ABBREVIATION
COMMON FAULTS DIAGNOSIS AND DESCRIPTION OF FAULTS (INEXHAUSTIVE) SURFACE PREPARATION REPAINTING SYSTEMS DIAGNOSIS DG1 Visual inspection (within 3 m height)
AND DEFECTS TO (MAY VARY ACCORDING TO SITE METHODOLOGY, DG2 High level visual inspection with safe access
EXISTING EXTERNAL DESCRIPTION OF FAULT AND DEFECTS POSSIBLE CAUSES CONDITIONS) TOOLS AND DG3 Tapper rod for hollowness and cracks
INSTRUMENTS DG4 Protimeter (%WME)
MASONRY WALL DG5 Water jet cleaning ( < 1.5 Bar)
DG6 High pressure water jet cleaning ( > 1.5 Bar)
CRACKS TO EXTERNAL WALLS DG7 PH paper
DG8 Thermographic camera
HAIRLINE Fine surface cracks, crazed lines, egg Incorrect plastering mix, excessive SP1 or SP5 depending on severity, RP1, RP2, RP3.
HIGH LEVEL ACCESS AC1 Ladder
shell pattern may or may not be hollow or thickness resulting in shrinkage during hollow or delaminated condition - (SITE CONDITION AC2 Skylifts
delaminated. Diagnosis with DG1 & DG3 curing. Vibrations. WILL DETERMINE AC3 Scaffoldings
THE APPROPRIATE AC4 Scan climbers
CONCRETE SPALLING Insufficient cover to RC. Increased frequency Incorrect concrete cover during SP1 or SP2, SP9 RP1, RP2, RP3. EQUIPMENT) AC5 Gondola
particularly in wet areas. Diagnosis with DG1, concrete casting or post-casting AC6 Elevated platforms
DG2, DG3, DG4, D6, DG8 hacking. AC7 Building maintenance unit (bmu)
AC8 Other specialists access equipment
PLASTERING <2MM Surface cracks diagonal or crazed lines may or Incorrect plastering mix, excessive SP1 or SP5 depending on severity, RP1, RP2, RP3. SURFACE SP1 Wash surface with high pressure water jet
WIDTH may not be hollow or delaminated. Diagnosis thickness resulting in shrinkage hollow or delaminated condition PREPARATIONS Cleaning ( < 1.5 Bar)
with DG1, DG2, DG3, DG5 during curing. Incomplete brickwork SP2 Wash surface with high pressure water
workmanship. jet cleaning ( >1.5 Bar) to remove existing
paint coatings, peeling paint and loose
plaster.
PLASTERING >2MM Surface cracks diagonal or crazed lines may or Incomplete brickwork workmanship. SP1 or SP2, SP7, SP8, SP9 depending RP1, RP2, RP3. SP3 Soak surface with low toxicity bacteria,
WIDTH may not be hollow or delaminated. Diagnosis Settlement of structure. Differential on severity, hollow or delaminated algae, fungi pre-treatment mixture, rinse
with DG1, DG2, DG3, DG5 settlement, movement. condition thoroughly with clean water.
SP4 Repair waterproofing and mitigate migration
SHRINKAGE BETWEEN Surface cracks horizontal or vertical lines may Incomplete brickwork workmanship. SP1 or SP2, SP6, SP8, SP9 depending RP1, RP2, RP3. of all types of water & dampness from
WALL & RC or may not be hollow or delaminated. Diagnosis Shrinkage between RC and masonry on severity and location source (leaking bathroom slabs, balcony,
rc flat roof, broken rwdp, gutters, eaves,
with DG1, DG2, DG3, DG5 wall.
spout pipes etc.
SP5 Cut out loose, hollow and delaminated
HOLLOWNESS TO WALL PLASTERING wall plastering; re-plaster with premixed
PLASTERING (over Hollowness to plastering may be seen with or Incomplete plastering workmanship. SP1 or SP2, SP5, SP8 depending on RP1, RP2, RP3. (RP4 if non-shrink grouting wall plaster to
manufacturer’s specification
masonry or concrete without visible cracks. Diagnosis with DG1, DG2, Shrinkage between RC and masonry severity and location applicable) SP6 Diamond wheel cut out 50-100 mm wide wall
surfaces) DG3, DG8. wall. Settlement, moisture, shrinkage plastering (>2mm crack width) between RC
or vibrations. and masonry wall, install high-ribbed
mesh over cracks, re-plaster with premixed
DAMPNESS TO EXTERNAL WALLS non-shrink grouting wall plaster to manuf
specification
LEAKS FROM WET Lateral or falling damp, leaks, moisture leading Incomplete or damaged waterproofing, SP1 or SP2, SP3, SP4 depending on RP1, RP2, RP3. Only after SP7 Diamond wheel cut out large wall cracks
AREAS to stains, algae, fungi, delamination, hollowness, lack of DPC, burst fittings, severity and location leaks are mitigated. (>2mm crack width) pressure grout cracks
peeling, efflorescence. Diagnosis with DG4, DG8 damaged roofing, concrete integrity to specialists specifications; re-plaster with
premixed non-shrink grouting wall plaster
(honeycombing, cracks, cold joints).
to manufacturer’s specification
SP8 Wall repairs to specialist’s methodology
PONDING AT LEDGES & Ponding leading to stains, algae, fungi, Insufficient gradient or falls, lack of SP1 or SP2, SP3, SP4 and General RP1, RP2, RP3. Only after applicable for serious faults found in
SILLS delamination, hollowness, peeling, efflorescence. regular maintenance. Contractor to provide sufficent ponding is mitigated. external wall plastering
Diagnosis with DG1, DG2, DG4, DG8 gradient for ledges & sills. General SP9 Concrete repairs to specialist’s
maintenance. methodology applicable for spalling and
faults found in concrete
MILDEW ALGAE FUNGI Lateral or falling damp, leaks, ponding, moisture Incomplete or damaged waterproofing, SP1 or SP2, SP3, SP4 RP1, RP2, RP3. Only after RE-PAINTING RP1 Alkaline resistant primer coat
leading to stains, algae, fungi. Diagnosis with lack of DPC, burst fittings, leaks, ponding or other SYSTEMS RP2 Patch coat ‘bridging’ membrane to affected
DG1, DG2, DG4, DG8 damaged roofing, concrete integrity causes are mitigated. areas
(honeycombing, cracks, cold joints), RP3 2 coats of complementary premium grade
continuously high humidity and acrylic external wall coating system
RP4 1 coat of textured spray tile to match
temperature, limited ventilation, cracks.
existing wall surface where applicable only
PAINT FAILURE TO EXTERNAL WALLS LIMITATIONS AND 1 Guide applicable for external masonry wall
EXCLUSIONS using conventional method of construction.
EFFLORESCENSE Crusty white salt deposit seen as whitish fluffy Leeching of dissolved salts from SP1, SP5, SP6, SP7 or SP8 RP1, RP2, RP3. only after Not applicable for internal wall surfaces
stains, which causes damage to colour pigment. mortar, bricks, concrete and plastering cracks and other causes 2 Severe conditions related to structural
Diagnosis with DG1, DG2, DG4, DG7 through cracks and hollowness in wall are mitigated. deficiencies resulting in paint failure refer to
plastering. Adulteration of primer coat. sp9 prior to other architectural remedy
3 Subject to specific manufacturer’s
CHAULKING Loose powdery white deposits on wall surfaces. Adulteration of primer and top SP1 or SP2 depending on severity RP1, RP2, RP3. specification, surface preparation,
Diagnosis with DG1, DG2, DG4, DG7 layer coating systems with calcium performance and product warranties
carbonate powder or other 4 Faults and defects may exist in isolation or
substances. in combination, therefore a comprehensive
condition assessment is recommended
PEELING Loss of adhesion between coats or between Application not to manufacturer’s SP1 or SP2 depending on severity, RP1, RP2, RP3. 5 Performance warranties are usually subject
primer and masonry wall. Diagnosis with DG1 specifications, seepage of SP4 if required to acceptable surface preparation for re-
DG2, DG5 water, cracks, incorrect surface painting works
preparation, application over wet 6 For additional fault diagnosis information
surfaces(>14%WME). and details, refer to architect centre or www.
architectcentre.com.my
CRACKS TO MASONRY WALL

EFFLORESCENCE

MILDEW ALGAE FUNGI DAMPNESS

PEELING

HIGH DIRT RETENTION CONCRETE SPALLING

EQUIPMENT USED FOR FAULT DIAGNOSIS

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