Exterior Coatings in Vancouver
Allweathercoating applies advanced exterior wall coatings and elastomeric painting to seal building facades against wind-driven coastal moisture.
Common Problems Solved
- Standard exterior paint cracks under thermal movement, letting rain seep into stucco.
- Fading, peeling paint makes high-value commercial properties look neglected.
- Concrete carbonation: moisture ingress neutralizes concrete pH, exposing rebar to rust.
Benefits for Property Managers
- High elasticity: stretches up to 300% to bridge hairline concrete cracks.
- Breathable barrier: prevents exterior water ingress while letting internal vapor escape.
- Urethane/Silicone blends shield against UV fading and Vancouver salt air.
- 10+ year product warranties available.
Our Execution Process
Facade Prep
Pressure wash the exterior to remove chalking paint, dirt, and salts.
Repair Crack
Seal hairline cracks with elastomeric patch compounds.
Prime Layer
Apply high-adhesion primers to stabilize the facade surface.
Coatings Application
Spray or roll high-build elastomeric coatings to form a thick, stretchy waterproof envelope.
High-Performance Exterior Building Coatings & Facade Painting
A building’s facade is subjected to constant weather-related stress. In Vancouver’s wet coastal climate, standard building paints quickly fail, cracking under thermal expansion and peeling due to trapped moisture. To protect commercial masonry, concrete, and stucco facades, properties require specialized high-build elastomeric coatings. These systems form a thick, breathable waterproof envelope that shields the building from wind-driven rain, resists UV degradation, and adapts to structural movement.
Elastomeric Coating Chemistry & Breathability
Unlike traditional acrylic paints that dry to a rigid thin film, elastomeric coatings are formulated with advanced acrylic resins that cure to a thick, rubber-like membrane.
- Elongation & Crack-Bridging: Elastomeric coatings can stretch up to 300% of their original size. This high elasticity allows the coating to flex as the building expands in summer heat and contracts in winter cold, bridging hairline stucco cracks (up to 1/16th of an inch) without splitting.
- Breathability (Permeability): A critical property of building coatings is breathability. Our coatings have a high "perm rating," which means they prevent liquid rainwater from entering the concrete from the outside while allowing internal moisture vapor to escape. This prevents trapped water from bubbling, blistering, and peeling the coating.
- Carbonation Protection: By blocking water and carbon dioxide, elastomeric coatings protect concrete columns from carbonation, which lowers the pH of concrete and causes the internal steel reinforcing to corrode.
Surface Preparation & Application Protocols
The success of an exterior coating relies entirely on substrate preparation. Our certified applicators follow a strict technical protocol:
- High-Pressure Washing: Facades are washed at 3,000+ PSI to remove chalking paint, dirt, biological growth (algae/moss), and airborne salts.
- Substrate Neutralization: New concrete or stucco must be tested for pH level; high alkalinity is neutralized to prevent paint burning.
- Primer Coat: We apply alkali-resistant primers to stabilize porous masonry and ensure maximum adhesion.
- Dual-Coat Application: Elastomeric coatings are applied in a two-coat system using professional airless sprayers and heavy rollers, achieving a dry film thickness (DFT) of 10-15 mils (compared to 1-2 mils for standard paint).
Weather Window & Quality Verification
We monitor weather conditions closely during application. Elastomeric coatings require a dry substrate (moisture content below 12%) and temperatures above 5°C. We conduct coverage audits, checking wet film thickness with gauges to ensure the coating meets the manufacturer's exact specifications, securing a 10-year written waterproofing warranty for our clients.
Safety & Access Considerations
Performing exterior coatings in vancouver requires meticulous planning under WorkSafeBC regulations. Our operations are governed by qualified SPRAT/IRATA technicians who conduct risk assessments, verify structural roof anchors, and set up secondary backup systems. We coordinate ground barricades to isolate work areas, keeping residents, shoppers, and pedestrians safe on the ground.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between standard exterior paint and elastomeric coating?
Elastomeric coatings are up to 10 times thicker than paint. They remain highly flexible, bridging cracks that appear when the building shifts or expands in heat/cold, keeping the envelope watertight.
How long do elastomeric coatings last in Vancouver?
When applied correctly over a clean substrate, elastomeric coatings typically provide 10 to 15 years of waterproof protection.
Is elastomeric coating breathable?
Yes. It features high permeability (perm rating), which stops liquid rain water from entering from the outside while allowing interior moisture vapor to escape.
Why does paint peel off building facades?
Paint peels when water gets behind the paint film through stucco cracks and expands, or when paint is applied over dirty, damp, or chalky substrates.
Do you offer color matching for strata paint coatings?
Yes, we work with leading paint manufacturers to provide exact digital color matching and can supply color samples for strata approval.
What is the dry film thickness (DFT) of an elastomeric coating?
A standard application results in a dry film thickness of 10 to 16 mils, compared to just 1 to 2 mils for regular decorative house paint.
Can you apply coatings during the winter in Vancouver?
No. To ensure proper bonding and curing, coatings must be applied to dry concrete (moisture below 12%) at temperatures above 5°C and falling.
How do you check concrete moisture before coating?
We use digital concrete moisture meters to audit the substrate and perform plastic-sheet testing (ASTM D4263) to verify that no moisture vapor is rising.
Do you provide a warranty for facade coatings?
Yes, we provide a 10-year written manufacturer-backed waterproofing warranty on our commercial elastomeric coating projects.
Do you clean the building facade before painting?
Yes. Every project begins with a 3,000+ PSI pressure wash to remove dirt, mold, grease, salt crust, and any loose, chalking paint.
Protect Your Strata or Commercial Building Today
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