Complicated access plan for a hillside townhouse complex
Victoria Mews
San Francisco
The multi-phase scope of work consisted of recoating all of the wood siding and trim and installing new traffic coating on the many balcony decks. However, perched on a hillside in San Francisco’s Potrero Hill area, the stacked units presented an access puzzle for the production team.
The unique architecture and layout meant we had to use many small swing stages and trick ladder setups to access the work.
Protecting these plants and trees was a top priority for the HOA, so another layer of complexity were the measures needed to protect the lush, mature landscaping in the center courtyard.
What We Did
Created complex access plans to set the project up for success
Protected the lush, mature landscaping in the center courtyard
Coated over 175,000 square feet of wood siding and trim over multiple phases
Coated nearly balconies with the WestCoat MACcoat system
Project Details
Access plans were the name of the game here, as was protection of the landscaping. Oftentimes, those two goals were in direct conflict. There would be a location where we would had to have a foot ladder, but there was a mature banzai or palm tree that we had to work around. Fortunately, our capable foreman in each phase figured out a way to produce the work with no accidents. Once the swing stage or ladder was set up, the work was the "easy" part. All surfaces were thoroughly washed, and sealants were inspected for failure and replaced as needed.
Ladder, swingstage, and fall protection are some of the most important parts of our safety training. Most accidents on paint jobs are ladder accidents, so our safety department pays extra close attention to proper ladder usage: secure footing, tying off the top, and maneuvering around a compact and sloped worksite. In many cases, we had to use a 60’ tall ladder to access upper balconies, which requires three workers to move and secure it in place.
Once access is set up, workers need to bring buckets of materials up the ladders to perform the various work scopes. While it is very complicated for the team to safely perform, access plans like this help manage the cost of the project and minimize the impact on the residents. Once the walls were washed and the trim caulked, we applied two coats of premium-grade acrylic coating to the exterior.
The balcony decks were also included in the scope. The HOA’s regular care and maintenance of the decks paid off; all that was needed was the installation of the WestCoat MACcoat maintenance coating. Investing in the maintenance of the wood siding and the balcony decks ensures that these elements remain watertight, preventing water intrusion and costly dry rot repairs, not to mention structural issues for wood balcony decks.
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