CABRILLO Historic Structures Report

REPAIR PROCEDURES (continued)

Paint

Description

Paint is used to protect substrate material as well as to add color for aesthetic or otherwise functional reasons. Many structures at Cabrillo use paint as a means of camouflage. The painted surfaces at Cabrillo are briefly discussed in the Concrete, Metal, and Wood sections.

• Painted concrete. Examples: Searchlight Station 18, Electrical Connection Box, Base End Station Calef & Wilkeson, Base End Station Battery McGrath, Battery Command Station Humphreys, Generator Station for Searchlight Nos. 18 & 19

• Painted metal. Examples: All structures.

• Painted wood. Examples: Army Radio Station, Searchlight Shelter Nos. 15 & 19, Generator Station for Searchlight No. 18 & 19, Base-End Station Calef & Wilkeson, Base-End Station Woodward & Grant.

• Historic paint colors. Examples: Surfaces painted in drab gray and green blended the structures with their surroundings. Most structures had paint of a specific color.

Conditions

Paint Deterioration

In addition to being unstable, deteriorated paint can accelerate the deterioration of the substrate.

Lead-based Paint Health Hazards

Lead-based paint that has flaked or been detached from a structure is a health hazard if inhaled or ingested, especially for small children. Lead-based paint was used widely in interiors and exteriors up until 1978, when it was partly banned by the federal government. Many of the metal surfaces at Cabrillo were given a primer of lead-based paint by the NPS in 1980.

Recommendations

Research original documents to determine what elements were painted and the type of paint used. A general maintenance plan should be created to include inspection of painted surfaces. The life span of paint can be anywhere from five to ten years, depending upon the type of paint, the application method, and the environment where the structure is located.

1. Survey structures to locate painted surfaces and condition of those surfaces. Locate and protect areas having significant graffiti.

2. Hire a hazardous material consultant to locate and test areas incorporating lead paint.

3. Conduct paint analysis to determine original paint materials and color schemes.

Paint Deterioration

1. Maintain painted surfaces to protect substrates. Refer to specific material sections for repair recommendations.

Lead-based Paint

1. Follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. These guidelines will prevent extensive loss or modification of architectural features and finishes on historic properties. Lead-based paint that is not causing a hazard is permitted to remain at a site, therefore retaining important features.

2. Undertake a risk assessment of interior and exterior surfaces to determine the hazards from lead and lead-based paint.

3. Evaluate the options for lead hazard control in the context of historic preservation standards. Encapsulation is often an acceptable option for sound lead paint surfaces. The mitigation plan should be reviewed by a preservation architect.

4. Follow all worker safety standards, OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926, Lead Exposure in Construction; Interim Final Rule. Worker safety can include the following issues: respirator use, monitoring blood and dust levels, and protective equipment. Lead abatement work should always be performed by trained abatement technicians.

5. Compliance. Comply with all federal, state and local laws regarding lead-based paint abatement, environmental controls and worker safety. Dispose of all hazardous waste according to applicable laws. Some removal methods can generate lead-contaminated dust, which can be dangerous to workers and residents.

Historic Colors

1. Have a conservator or paint specialist conduct a paint color analysis for all structures to determine original color schemes and paint types. Match colors to the Munsell Color Notation System or other color standard.

2. Maintain buildings and building elements by painting with recommended paint color.

3. Prior to any building repairs, make sure the historic colors are fully documented before any removal is conducted. If paint stripping is to occur, if possible leave an in situ area of historic paint layers intact as documentation for future researchers.

Recommended Tests:

1. Paint Analysis
2. Lead tests

Paint References:

Batcheldor, Penelope Hartshorne. Paint Color Research and Restoration. Technical Leaflet 15. Nashville: American Association for State and Local History (undated).

Park, Sharon C., and Douglas C. Hicks. Preservation Brief No. 37: Appropriate Methods for Reducing Lead-Paint Hazards in Historic Housing. Washington D.C., U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Cultural Resources, Preservation Division, 1995.

"Coping with Contamination: A Primer for Preservationists". Information Booklet No. 70. Washington D.C.: National Trust for Historic Preservation, 1993.

OSHA Lead in Construction Standard (29 CFR 1926.62), Occupational Safety and Health Administration, May 4, 1993 (Federal Register).

Park, Sharon C. "Lead-Based Paint in Historic Buildings," CRM Bulletin. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Vol. 13, No. 1, 1990.

Park, Sharon C. "What to do about Lead-Based Paint," CRM Bulletin. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Vol. 17, No. 4, 1994.