Masonry Coating for Dog Run

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Author Message Ellis C. Whitby, AIA, PE, CSI, LEED® AP Senior Member Username: ecwhitby Post Number: 30 Registered: 03-2003 Posted on Wednesday, April 04, 2007 - 11:31 am:    We are working on a project which includes a small dog run, one side of which is a CMU wall. Obviously we are concerned with urine damaging the block. The remainder of the project is using split faced block and our designers prefer to use split face block on the dog run as well (the flat face of the cmu would be on the “dog” side of the wall, with the split face oriented to the “public” side of the wall). My initial, knee jerk response was to use an epoxy paint over a thick bodied block filler. Any recommendations on a product? The project is near San Antonio, Texas. Ralph Liebing, RA, CSI Senior Member Username: rliebing Post Number: 578 Registered: 02-2003 Posted on Wednesday, April 04, 2007 - 12:31 pm:    I've always gotten good advice and product selection from Sherwin-Williams reps-- good product line, too. Can provide name if you wish Tracy Van Niel Senior Member Username: tracy_van_niel Post Number: 213 Registered: 04-2002 Posted on Wednesday, April 04, 2007 - 12:51 pm:    Another company I would recommend would be Tnemec. John Bunzick, CCS, CCCA Senior Member Username: bunzick Post Number: 693 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Wednesday, April 04, 2007 - 01:13 pm:    If the block is exposed to the weather on both sides, consider that moisture getting into the block on the uncoated side could cause the coating to bubble. Also, if you do coat, you may want to strike the joints flush in the coated area to make it easier to clean. David J. Wyatt Senior Member Username: david_j_wyatt_csi_ccs_ccca Post Number: 49 Registered: 07-2005 Posted on Wednesday, April 04, 2007 - 01:16 pm:    I have specified coatings and sealers for kennels, animal shelters, and zoos. You must be cautious to avoid specifying coatings that can flake off, or scratched off, and become ingested by dogs kenneled for long periods of time. They become bored, anxious, and lonely in confinement and develop vices that can make them sick. (In the equine business we refer to such destructive habits as "stable vices" - as in vices that develop in stables.) If you rely on MSDS sheets for information on toxicity, you may not be going far enough in your research. What may be safe or only mildly hazardous to humans may be very toxic to your clients' animals. I suggest involving a reliable veterinarian for helping you make determinations like this. For concrete floors and cmu walls, I have had good results with penetrating sealers that normally come out of the concrete industry. Jerry Churray, CSI, CDT, of L&M Construction Chemicals has given me much good advice in this regard and I have had no problems with my projects. I suggest discussing the work results you are trying to achieve with an L&M rep or one representing a similarly-qualified company. An excellent alternative to coating cmu walls is glazed ceramic tile: long lifecycle, excellent work results, moderate construction cost, no toxicity issues. However, this may not be an option for your existing conditions and budget. If you keep the animals' best interests foremost in your decision-making, your client-base will grow rapidly. Good luck! Don Harris CSI, CCS, CCCA, AIA Senior Member Username: don_harris Post Number: 124 Registered: 03-2003 Posted on Wednesday, April 04, 2007 - 03:31 pm:    We used the following at a Zoo a few years back. The Zoo people, vets included, approved it for use with animals. Valspar: Glazetite Wall System Type II Ellis C. Whitby, AIA, PE, CSI, LEED® AP Senior Member Username: ecwhitby Post Number: 31 Registered: 03-2003 Posted on Thursday, April 05, 2007 - 08:44 am:    Thanks for the recommendations.