July 21, 2017

MCM Painters was contracted for a complete redecoration of Silcot in Vredehoek in January 2017.

Silcot is a really well-constructed and beautifully designed art-deco building. Unfortunately, the building’s maintenance has been neglected a bit as there has been no redecoration for 15 years. The lack of maintenance as well as the age of the building gave rise to most of the project involving structural and conditioning repair work with the expert help of our partner in remedial building work, IPMT.

Project details

Upon inspecting the building, we discovered major water ingress due to delaminated plaster plus a number of severe cracks – the result of not maintaining the building over time with no protection against the elements. Over time, the paint system failed and water seeped into the structure of the building.

Firstly, we repaired cracks in the plaster and attended to the delamination. This was done by chopping off the peeled off pieces, assessing repairs needed behind the layers of plaster, applying new layers of plaster after repairs was done and repainting the entire area.

The window and door frames were also in need of repair and attention. All wooden frames were sanded down and sealed with polyurethane which is essentially a plastic in the form of a liquid before it dries. This protects the frames from the elements including water ingress.

Our team also cleaned out and sealed the gutters.

The paint system involved the use of Sika rep to fill small cracks and to allow for a bit of elasticity. This was followed by a full prime and two coats of Premium Satin by Prominent Paints – a top quality low VOC sheen emulsion paint specifically for exterior surfaces.

All horizontal surfaces were treated with a waterproofing compound as well as two coats the same exterior paint.

Structural repairs

We chopped out spalling wood and treated the steel structure with a waterproofing product from Sika to stop oxidation. Spalling is when steel rusts because water entered the substrate. The water ingress rusts the steel and results in expansion due to the effect of the rust which takes up more space and cracks the cement. This results in the ‘burst wall’ effect you see on the outside.

This process involved chopping off the cement to get deeper inside the structure of the building. Next, we cleaned the area out to assess the extent of the damage. Finally, we repaired the damaged area by coating the inside with an elastic product that adheres to the cement and that will allow for some movement of the structure.

Movement and flexibility

Situated on the slope of Table Mountain, the boundary wall does not have the same support as the main building and is more vulnerable to earth movements than the main building. We added joints to give it more flexibility and repaired the damage resulting from organic movement over the years.

The fact that this building survived so long with overdue maintenance of around 5-7 years is testament to how well it was initially constructed. Modern buildings would not have survived that long without the required maintenance after 10 years.

MCM is really proud of this project and would like to thank Sandak-Lewin Property Trust and the body corporate for entrusting us with this project.

About MCM Painters
MCM Painters is a professional company that specialises in painting, waterproofing and structural repair work in Cape Town and surrounding areas. As a local market leader with 15 years of experience in the business, we take great pride in our work and provide the highest quality workmanship at a competitive price. We guarantee our work, including manufacturer guarantees, for five years.
Contact Ross Peacock on 082 827 1817 or ross@mcmpainters.co.za for further information or to get a free assessment done. MCM Painters – We realise your renovation vision.