PROJECTS
Protecting art treasures
Paintings and sculptures that adorn art galleries are precious items
that should be carefully protected and local chemicals supplier –
a.b.e. – has ensured that its waterproofing product did just that.
L
ocated in the inner city of
Johannesburg, a local art gallery
sought a watertight roof, so a.b.e.
Construction Chemicals specified a VIP
elastomeric coating with reflective cooling
qualities to waterproof two of the
gallery’s roofs.
Commissioned in 2017, Noel Abendroth,
a.b.e.’s VIP high performance coatings
solutions manager, says VIP QuickSeal
Reflect-Silver was applied to about 380m 2
of the gallery’s roofs by Custom Linings.
“There had been several unsuccessful
attempts at sealing the roofs of the
building, so Custom Linings had to remove
all the failed layers right down to the
concrete base, before re-screeding the
surface and applying the product.”
Properties of the waterproofing product
help to lower the temperature in the
gallery, which contains valuable art works.
According to Abendroth, the product can be
built to any thickness in a single
application, it helps lower internal
temperatures and doesn’t require a top
coat or maintenance. These were some of
the reasons that it was chosen for the
project but in order to install the
waterproofing, the old system they had to
removed first.
“Original substrate was re-screeded to
fall, once it was cured reflective silver
waterproofing was applied to
specification,” explains Elrene Smuts, group
communications manager at a.b.e.
Apart from the rain delaying drying time
of the screed, the project was completed
without a glitch. “The client was open to
suggestions and advice,” shares Smuts
adding that the client is happy with the
project and has specified future projects
with the same system.
For more than two decades, the art
gallery in question has offered a dynamic
exhibition programme as well as concerts
and recitals with visitors – local and
international alike – hailing it as a fine
art venue.