Locker Room at the North Shore Aquatic Center

At the start of the project, the facility was a cold, unheated, and damp existing locker room environment. The walls were visibly dirty and had accumulated buildup consistent with a high-moisture locker room and shower setting.

Additionally, the surfaces presented significant adhesion challenges:

• The existing coating was no longer VOC compliant and could not be reused due to county regulations.
• The block walls were dirty and contaminated.
• Unknown contaminants were discovered on the upper portions of the walls.
• Previous caulking used in some areas was not paintable.
• When new paint was initially applied, it failed to adhere and began running off the block walls.

Due to these conditions, the project required extensive cleaning, degreasing, sanding, and the application of a specialty bonding primer to stabilize the surface before proper coating application could begin. Once properly prepared, primed, and cured, the surfaces accepted the finish coat successfully, resulting in a smooth, uniform, and durable finish appropriate for a high-moisture locker room environment.

The transformation was significant — the space went from a cold, damp, and failing surface environment to a clean, bright, professionally finished locker room with a smooth, durable coating designed to withstand high humidity and heavy use.

Preparation Time:

Project Tasks:

• Extensive surface preparation
• Power washing the block walls to remove dirt and contaminants
• Cleaning and degreasing contaminated walls
• Sanding areas with adhesion failure
• Addressing non-paintable caulking
• Bringing in radiant heat to help combat the cold, damp conditions and allow proper curing
• Application of Sherwin-Williams Extreme Bonding Primer
• Allowing proper cure time (24–48 hours) before top coating
• Application of Sherwin-Williams Multi-Surface Acrylic (SW 7006 Extra White in Glossy sheen)
• Painting walls, ceilings, and crown molding
• Detailed prep work around lockers and tile