Western Specialty Contractors complete improvements to Stetson University’s Melching Field Stadium

 

Western Specialty Contractors recently completed improvements to Stetson University’s Melching Field stadium in DeLand, Fla.

The red brick and stucco stadium demonstrated signs of weathering, as well as wear-and-tear upon the initial evaluation. As a result, Western Specialty Contractors performed the following improvements:

• Removal of the previous existing traffic coating
• Preparation of the delaminated concrete for a new traffic coating
• Stair treading and riser resurfacing prior to coating application
• Installation of expansion joints
• Application of a new Sikalastic pedestrian coating system

Western’s concrete experts removed the existing urethane coating system. The company used hydro-demolition methods to remove the old system without causing extensive damage to the stadium’s concrete, particularly on its vertical surfaces.

“Stair riser resurfacing was necessary on a variety of different locations, which provided a new challenge for the foreman to properly demonstrate how to properly prepare the concrete surface and apply a feather-grade skim coat on all of the affected areas with efficiency,” Anthony Santiago, project manager for Western Specialty Contractors, said.

According to the company, the moisture in the concrete during the project’s rainy season also posed a challenge. With the concrete’s moisture readings averaging 5 percent, determining when the best time to apply the coating to the concrete surface was a constant battle.

Originally resurfacing all vertical surfaces utilizing a two-component epoxy product under the drastic climate shifts caused outgassing of the material, which left bubbles in the finish. Western’s experts determined that utilizing a unique feather-grade, single-component material would maintain the most consistent finish for the project.

“Sikadur-31 is the epoxy product that was initially anticipated to utilize as a concrete finish prior to the urethane coating,” said Santiago. “Although the product showed promise on resurfacing vertical stair risers, it was not the most effective in a turn-key project. The solution was to apply SikaQuick Smooth Finish bag mix, which proved more efficient in installation and turnaround as it virtually provided the same attributes as the epoxy for the intended use. The product transmitted a smooth, consistent look into the urethane coating at vertical sections of the stadium.”