Checking out the job site

Abundant rust on steel

More rust on steel support

Beautiful end result — see work-in-process photos below

Manhattan Steel Structure Painting

Steel support systems are found everywhere in the world with several of them under Manhattan’s many water towers. At 8 pounds per gallon, water is heavy, and steel provides the strength and durability needed as the foundation. Interestingly, steel is the most recycled material in the world, with some 80 million tons per year recycled. It is not much affected by snow loads, high wind, pests or seismic activity, but it does rust with time and weather. This can seriously compromise the strength of steel – it’s most valuable quality. Thus, maintenance is imperative to guard the integrity of the support structure and avoid any catastrophe with the water tank it is holding.

The New School [newschool.edu] contacted us to repair just such a steel structure, and we met this challenge head on. The work would be done some 11 stories high with a glass roof below the job site! Once we constructed the tarp containment so debris would not invade anywhere but directly below, we brought in industrial life harnesses, gear, equipment, tools and supplies. Like cautious acrobats, our workers floated among the steel girders grinding off all the rust particles. Once clean and inspected, all the steel was coated with primer and two layers of industrial finish products. We always love being part of a solution that contributes to the safety and well-being of New York City’s residents, schools, streets and structures.

Protecting nearby environment

Working inside tarp tent

Isolating site debris

Grinding rust away, safely harnessed

Industrial strength priming

Painting Exterior Metal Structures at Pier 17 at South Seaport

The South Seaport is a historic and legendary area that was damaged by Hurricane Sandy but has since returned to its former glory. Pier 17 is back to being a hot spot with a gorgeous rooftop deck complete with views of the Brooklyn Bridge and a large stage for concerts. The two metal structures that provide shade and a mingling area were already getting severe sun damage. Paintworks & Decorating was brought in to repaint the structures back to white with a UV resistant industrial coating. The work had to be done efficiently and effectively as the coating product has a very short timeframe to be applied. With our foreman's expertise the project was carried out without any hiccups. All handrails and exposed metal had to painted up to a certain height. We even painted the back of the exit signs to make everything look uniform.  As local NYC steel painters it was quite the honor to paint on the rooftop of this Manhattan landmark. We look forward to painting more steel structures in the future.