How is TMI Coatings different from its competitors?
TMI is a diversity, Woman-Owned Small Business. Our corporate office is located in Saint Paul, MN, but we have several other locations throughout the country including Saint Louis, Missouri; Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas; and Houston, Texas. We also travel to our customer locations throughout the Central US.
What is TMI Coatings?
We are painting and restoration contractors. We coat steel to reduce corrosion, and we do concrete restoration and coating.
Why choose TMI Coatings?
We have the knowledge and experience to complete complex industrial painting and restoration projects. We have been in business for over 36 years and have completed thousands of jobs throughout the United States. We have created successful procedures and coating systems to ensure work is done safely and in a quality manner.
Do you use your own crews?
TMI Coatings employs and trains its own field workers. Our field workers are skilled craftsmen with experience doing commercial and industrial painting. They travel to our customer locations throughout the country to perform spalling concrete restoration and steel coatings.
Who are some of your customers?
ADM, Cargill, Toro, Honeywell, 3M, Bimbo Bakeries, the Federal Government, and municipalities.
What is industrial painting?
Industrial painting is performing complex, hard-to-reach (or access) painting in facilities or plants, such as refineries, food plants, manufacturing facilities, agricultural companies, municipalities, and more. Industrial painting often requires specialized rigging to access areas such as confined spaces and special coatings to withstand harsh environments.
How do you prepare steel for coating?
The preparation of steel will vary depending on the environment and coating system specified. It will likely include degreasing, water blasting, and/or sandblasting. In areas where either is impractical, CO2 blasting may be an alternative. For adhesion to the steel, the manufacturer’s recommended surface preparation must be followed.
What degree of sandblasting is required for constant immersion service?
A minimum SSPC-SP10 Near White Metal Blast. For best results, an SSPC-SP 5 White Metal Blast. The degree of sandblasting will vary based on the specified coating and service environment. For example, for potable water, an SSPC-SP 5 White Metal Blast is required.
Why do you line the interior of tanks?
Every company has a different reason to line a tank. Most reasons we hear from our customers include reducing product build-up, corrosion protection, cleanability, FDA requirements, reducing anti-microbial growth, etc. TMI Coatings has lined thousands of tanks over 36 years of business.
Do you spray or brush and roll paint?
TMI Coatings applies paint by both spray and brush and roll. We prefer to brush and roll in outdoor environments to eliminate overspray risk; however, some coatings are required to be sprayed. When spraying paint is required, it’s done within containment to collect paint spray drift.
Why is it important to repair cracks on concrete silos?
When cracks are present on the exteriors of concrete silos, moisture can migrate through the crack. As moisture seeps into the concrete, it causes corrosion of the rebar. Over time, the rebar corrodes and expands, causing the concrete to disbond from the structure. The spalling concrete may fall to the ground; this is a safety concern. Also, moisture infiltration affects the structural integrity of the silos.
Why waterproof concrete silo walls?
Prolong the life of concrete silos by applying a waterproof coating to the exterior. The protective coating reduces the ability for moisture to penetrate the walls of the silos; this eliminates corrosion from occurring. When corrosion occurs in the concrete it results in cracks or spalling concrete. A protective coating offers a waterproof seal and an aesthetically pleasing finish.
Why line a containment dike?
Lining a containment dike is important to protect the groundwater from contamination of the product stored in the tank. Chemicals penetrating the ground can cause long-term health concerns. Coatings protect the concrete and ground in the event of a tank spill or rupture. Coatings reduce cracking and eroding concrete. Containment areas should be inspected regularly to repairs cracks and inferior areas to ensure the dike lining is intact.
How do you prepare a concrete floor before coating?
The most effective way to prepare a concrete floor is first to degrease the area, then mechanically abrade the concrete with handheld diamond grinders or a walk-behind shot blast unit.
How do I ensure I have the correct surface profile on my concrete floor?
To ensure you have the correct anchor pattern, consult the application guide for the specific coating you are applying. Most coating systems require between a CSP 2-6. As an example, a 3/16” cementitious urethane floor system requires a CSP 3-4. Click on the link to see a visual representation of the standards https://www.graco.com/us/en/contractor/solutions/articles/concrete-surface-prep-part-3-grades-of-roughness.html
How long do you need to complete a floor coating project?
The duration of the project will vary, some require only a day whereas others may take weeks. It varies primarily on the amount of square footage, how many obstructions to work around, and what coating system is chosen. We work with the customer to determine the best solution for their needs.
What is the best color to coat my concrete floor?
There are many choices, however standard gray is readily available and most often installed.
How can I prevent my floors from staining?
Any floor coating may stain with prolonged exposure to aggressive chemicals. When choosing a floor system, keep the chemicals and concentrations in mind; good housekeeping practices and limiting the exposure will reduce staining.
Do you do residential work?
No, we are commercial and industrial contractors. We go to our customer locations throughout the country to do our construction services. We sandblast and paint steel, line tanks, do concrete floor coating and restoration, and other similar construction activities.