CARB-California Air Resources Board, releases new VOC Model Rule for Coatings

Saw this come across from the Paint Square's Journal of Protective Coatings newsletter, so we pass it on to help educate and keep you informed...

how will this effect deck coatings? Not sure, we'll see and report on this later.

The California Air Resources Board published its revised Suggested Control Measure (SCM), or model rule, for architectural and industrial (AIM) coatings on February 13, 2008. The SCM classifies AIM coatings into four categories: “Flat,” “Nonflat,” “Nonflat-High Gloss,” and “Specialty.” The specialty category includes industrial maintenance coatings, faux finishing coatings, fire-resistive coatings, and more than 30 others. The SCM was approved in late 2007.

A replacement to CARB’s 2000 SCM, the revised document sets VOC levels for flat coatings, nonflat, and nonflat high-gloss coatings at 50,100, and 150 g/L, respectively. However, for the specialty category, the agency has set most VOC limits above those of the other categories. For example, CARB set a VOC level of 250 g/L for industrial maintenance coatings, 340 g/L for zinc-rich primers, 350 g/L for faux finishing coatings, and 350 g/L for fire-resistive coatings.

The SCM is not a regulation. CARB develops SCMs to give California’s 35 air quality control districts guidance to set their own regulations. Any of the air quality control districts can adopt or modify the SCM as needed to reduce smog. A CARB SCM goes into effect as a regulation only in districts that adopt or adapt it.

To read the entire rule and accompanying information, go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/coatings/arch/docs.htm.

My Meeting With Mer-Kote

I had a nice meeting yesterday with the new management of Mer-Ko, the division of Parex/LaHabra that manufacturer's and sells deck coatings. You probably have seen my emails back and forth with Susan Foster, their business manager.

Well Susan was kind enough to extend an invitation to come in and sit down with her and Buck Buchanan, VP of Sales and Technical Director.

So off I went yesterday, meeting with them at their offices in Torrance.
We had a great discussion on decking and waterproofing, I got some of the history of the purchase of Mer-Kote and subsequent management consolidation, the business goals of Parex for Mer-Ko and vision for the company..

Mer-Kote got some good information from me on the industry, the past history of Mer-Kote from my viewpoint and what I do and all.

All in all, a productive meeting that leaves me feeeling better about Mer-Kote's future and it's goals and aspirations. The old guard is gone (Dave Krubinski) and the new guard has it's work cut out for themselves, but I see it all for the better.

Mer-Ko has new ideas, goals and a business model that will make them a stronger company. While I still don't like the Weatherdeck and Shurdeck system compared to it's competitors, improvements to the products are coming, as well as some new lines.

Stand by for improvements and new focus from Mer-Ko!

An answer back from Mer-Ko and my reply to them...

I got a reply back from Mer-Kote the other day from my inquiry on warranties...here's their reply, and following that is a copy of my reply...whew!

I suggest, if you are an owner of Mer-Kote products with an onerous warranty, that you write to them and call, letting them know you are unhappy with being stuck with your applicator and that you want freedom of choice.

See our poll and vote! Let your voice be heard...



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From: Susan.Foster@ParexLahabra.com [mailto:Susan.Foster@ParexLahabra.com]
Sent: Friday, February 08, 2008 1:29 PM
To: Bill@Waterproofdeckcoatingadvice.com
Subject: Mer-Ko Warranties

Good Afternoon Mr. Leys -

Your email submitted to MerKrete via their web site was forwarded to me today for response. In the future, please forward all inquiries relating to Mer-Ko systems to infomer-ko@parexlahabra.com as noted on our web site. This will ensure a timely response.

With regard to your questions about Mer-Ko's warranty program, warranties presently being issued have no impact on previously issued warranties. The terms of the new warranties are as noted in the documents posted on the web site.

I hope this clarifies the issue for you. Please let me know if you have any additional questions.

Susan
02/08/2008

Susan Foster
Business Manager, Mer-Ko
ParexLahabra, Inc.
4125 E La Palma Ave., Suite 250
Anaheim, CA 92807
Office: 714-778-2266



Hi Susan,

Thanks for your reply.
So if I understand correctly, a customer whose warranty states that the original applicator must reseal the deck every 3 years is absolutely obligated to have to use that applicator in the future for reseal work, even if they have a legitimate bid that is lower from another authorized Mer-kote dealer and despite the lifting of this restriction on new warranties?
Isn’t that a restriction that might be a Moss-Magnuson issue that restricts a consumers right to a competitive market? The major complaint I get from clients that have Mer-Kote products is that they feel their applicator is taking a big advantage over them with that clause hanging over their heads and hitting them with big bills for normal clean and reseal work.
Thanks,
Bill Leys




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Great Article on Balcony Repair

I subscribe to several professional HOA magazines; one being the Florida Community Association Journal ( a deal at $18.00 for a subscription).
This months (February 08) issues has a great article by Ashley Kizzire on Balcony Repair-specifically concrete balconies, which are almost always found on the many high rise structures in Florida.

Salt water, salty air, wind whipped water, they all attack unprotected concrete, infiltrating into the structure, attacking the rebar within, causing it to rust, expand and cause spalling of the concrete, often causing thousands of dollars of damage to each balcony, add them all up and many buildings have half a million or more in repair costs.

Same message I've been preaching is in Ashley's story-regular inspections, regular maintenance, don't put carpeting down (even on concrete balconies!)will help save your decks...

Read the article by subscribing to Florida Community Association Journal, click on the link and they'll start you up with a subscription too. See what others are doing around the country, expand your horizons!

I'm hoping that Ashley or FLCAJ will share this article with us in the future for posting at our website...

Our Article "SB-800 and Its Effects on Decks and Their Warranties and Maintenance" is Nominated for Award

CAI's Greater Los Angeles Chapter published our article earlier this year in FOCUS, the CHapter's bi-monthly magazine.

We're pleased to say that it was nominated for "Best Article" and we will be one of the nominee's considered for this recognition at GLAC's Moulin Rouge night on Saturday February 3rd, 2003 at the Sportsmen's Lodge in Studio City.

Thanks to those who voted us in as a nominee!

Education makes us all winners in the HOA world; vital information that improves us in our chosen field and most importantly, our clients.

Good luck to everyone who was nominated for recognition.

Production Home Building at a Stand Still in Santa Maria

In driving around the Santa Maria/San Luis Obispo area, it seems all the production home builders around here such as Centex, DR Horton, Towbes Group, Inland Pacific Builders, Capital Pacific Homes et al are all at a complete standstill. Projects that were to be started are either stopped, or not being built at all.

What does this mean to all the subs? Out of work, slow downs, scambling to find other revenue sources...

Our industry, like the others, will be effected. The strong will survive, the weak will fade away as the work trickles away.

What's it like in your area? Let us know what your doing for work these days...