Maintenance Repainting Specification Manual
What is a specification manual? It is a reference that helps you choose the appropriate system in a given situation. It goes over every type of solution for every type of problem. Like a dictionary or an encyclopaedia, these manuals don't make for great bedtime stories, but if you are looking for a solution to your painting problem, you'll find it here!
Who wants a specification manual? Specification manuals are designed for people who write project specifications and for those who need a technical reference. Basically, if you are searching for the best paint coating, you will find it in a specification manual.
How are these manuals designed? The way specification manuals are laid out make it easy to find the best solution for a given problem. Different situations are cross-referenced with different solutions. The organization of specification manuals derives directly from field experience and practice.
Who writes these manuals? Specification manuals are written by leading experts in the field who have a lot of experience. By writing a specification manual, they pool their knowledge into one useable reference that you can use. More specifically, in the case of the MPI manuals, they are the product of a unique team composed of association staff, volunteer directors, industry technical people, coating technologists and industry volunteers from several countries who now form an International Advisory Board.
Who uses these manuals? People who need to know the best solution to each problem. Every situation is different and the more situations you encounter, the more you will use your specification manual.
Why two manuals? Are they different? he two MPI manuals do not cover the same situations. The first one - Architectural Painting Specification Manual, covers new construction and the application of coatings to newly finished surfaces. The second, Maintenance Repainting Manual, focuses on repaints, the emphasis being on determining surface degradation and necessary preparation before painting.
What kind of information is contained in these manuals? Each manual has over 300 pages. Divided into 24 color coded sections by tabs, the information you want is easy to find. They come in an environmentally friendly 'enviro' binder that is built to last.
With the Architectural Painting Specification Manual you will learn about:
- Coating system options based on substrate with the pros and cons for each coating, and information on normal usage
- Appropriate surface preparation for different surfaces
- Miscellaneous information like dew points, wood types, paint spread rates, concrete block standards, gloss/sheen levels, wall coverings and more
- Guide specifications for painting, wall covering and abrasive blasting
- Quality Products Listing of coatings approved by MPI
- Master Painter's Glossary of painting terms
- Full guide specifications
- Substrate assessments, and system choice through Surface Degradation determination
- Identifiers - Defects and Failures, the most extensive review of coating failures available (using full color pictures)
- Transitions between systems, "tie" coats and compatible systems
- Surface preparation standards
- Coating system options - pros and cons of each system and choices of quality paints
- Full guide specifications
How much do these manuals cost? Each manual is $150.00. Order 10 or more and get a discount!
Why aren't these manuals free? The Master Painters and Decorators Association (MPDA) who owns the rights to the MPI manuals is a non-profit organization. It has spent over $250,000.00 to research and produce these references. There is no other way to make up these expenses but to charge for each manual. Considering the effort put into these manuals and the time and money-saving information you will get out of them, $150.00 is very little.
What do you get with each manual?Each manual contains, of course, all the appropriate specification material in a useable and environmentally friendly binder. Both manuals are shipped with the most recent copy of the Approved Products List. Additionally, the Maintenance Repainting Manual will come with the Identifiers - Defects and Failures booklet and the Architectural Painting Specification Manual comes with the Master Painter's Glossary.
Once you have registered your manual with us, you can then get:
- Free updates for two years
- Electronic Technical Advisory Service (ETAS) by email ($15 extra for fax or mail)
- Technical help by email, fax or phone (during office hours Pacific Time)
What is the Approved Products List? It is a catalog of coatings that meet our exacting standards. Our listing requirements match or surpass all North American, Australian and New Zealand's government requirements.
What's in the Identifiers - Defects and Failures booklet? Recognize unwanted results in this full color 27 page catalog of coating failures. Learn the causes of each failure, any corrective measures available and the steps you can take to stop failures from happening again.
What can I use the Master Painter's Glossary for? Find out the terminology used for coating properties, conditions, preparations, techniques and decorations. Each one of the 1600 terms is clearly defined and organized alphabetically on 85 pages. This glossary is an essential tool for the professional and an excellent learning guide for new painters.
How often are they updated? Every time a major change comes about in the industry, a revision is sent out. You will also receive updated Approved Products Lists every year and erratas as soon as we discover errors. All this is in addition to the free monthly Electronic Technical Advisory Service you can receive by simply signing up here.
What is the Electronic Technical Advisory Service (ETAS)? It is a monthly posting of 'Caution Notes'. Presented in a short and informative way, they present situations and insights in the world of painting that are sure to make you think.
Why should I buy one? No one else has one! Actually, most people do have one. Some might not have the most up to date copy or might not want to admit how often they really use it. But the fact remains that using these manuals will help you make better decisions and will save you time and money.
What will I get out of these manuals? Great time savers, these manuals will help you make the right decisions about coatings, quickly. Their efficient layout and intuitive decision making process will take you through specifications quickly and easy. Also, the amount of knowledge and expertise built in to these manuals will maximize the return on your painting dollar. You will be able to do it right the first time.
How can I get one? Simply give us a call and order one! You can use an order form found on the home page or on our store page. Once we receive your payment, the manual will be shipped out immediately.
What about new coatings and techniques that aren't covered in the manuals? The manual is updated regularly and includes the newest techniques and products. There is, nevertheless, a risk involved in being too current. The MPI manuals will not include new systems or products unless they have proven themselves in the field. There are simply too many variables involved in painting for lab tests to be sufficient grounds for inclusion in the manual. It usually takes a year or two for new paints with radical formulations to be accepted (we want to make sure we only recommend what will work).
Aren't the specs a little overkill? Not really. should anything go wrong, by following these guide specs, you are relatively protected. They also make the job a lot easier for contractors to follow.
Why should I follow these guidelines anyway? Years of work and decades of experience have poured into these manuals. You don't have to follow them, but they do make a lot of sense, don't you think? Use them and you will notice significantly less failures in your systems - if any.
Is there anyone who can teach me how to use this material? If you need help understanding the why's and the how's, we do offer seminars and in-depth courses. Don't hesitate to call our offices for more information.
Tel: 1 (888) 674-8937 Fax: 1 (888) 211-8708 email: info@paintinfo.com
Do you have guide specs on disk? Yes we do! Simply download them from our Guide Specifications page - they're FREE!
I'm repainting my house... For your house you might not need a manual. Should you have any questions, browse our website. It has all sorts of information from past experiences to handy tips and tricks of the trade.