Drywall Repairs and Dustless Sanding
Drywall Damage Is Inevitable
If you own a home or business in Calgary, chances are that you will eventually need to repair damage to your walls before decorating or painting.
We Are Very Experienced Repairing Drywall
The quality of the paint job is directly related to the quality of the drywall repairs. We have had years of experience perfecting a system that produces great looking finishes.
Repairing drywall can get messy sanding if done the conventional way. When using a pole sander or hand sander you create a cloud of dust that resembles a sandstorm. The resulting fine dust particles get suspended in the air and can engulf the entire space. . If there are no walls to contain it the dust will eventually land on just about everything after it settles.
We use a system that produces dust free sanding. We were one of the first painting companies in Calgary that use dust free sanding tools. In fact, we have used our current Festool system for over 14 years. The Festool dust extractor has a HEPA filter for better containment.
Chemicals In Drywall Compound
Drywall dust contains crystalline silica and mica, which have been named hazardous materials by OSHA. These chemicals are present in the dust and can cause eye, throat and lung irritation. Professional painters in Calgary should be made aware of the dangers of overexposure to drywall dust and to use safe work practices. The safest method is certainly the use of dustless sanding tools as described in this article.
The Safety data sheet for Lefarge, a large manufacturer of joint compound lists these ingredients:
http://www.lafarge-na.com/MSDS_North_America_English_-_Joint_Compound_Ready_Mixed.pdf
Ingredients:
Calcium Carbonate,talc,, Mica Crystalline Silica, Perlite, Cellulose, Polyvinyl Acetate, Attapulgite, Starch, Triazine
Warning: Toxic By Inhalation-Contains Crystalline Silica. Use gloves, respiratory protection & eye protection when sanding.
Crystalline Silica : Repeated and prolonged exposure to crystalline silica contained in drywall dust can result in lung silicosis (lung disease) or lung cancer.
Attapulgite: Is considered to be Carcinogenic to animals in animal testing.
This is information from The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH):
" When silica is present, workers may also face an increased risk of silicosis and lung cancer".
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/99-113/default.html
Typical Sanding Method by Most Calgary Painting Contractors
About 25 years ago when I started in the painting trade I was handed a pole sander and was asked to sand all the walls in the house prior to painting. This process is part of the so-called prep work. The crew chief handed me a cheap paper dust mask and a pole sander and then demonstrated the proper way to sand a wall. These pole sanders have a head that is rectangular in shape and the sandpaper sheets are fastened in place by tightening a couple of clamps. The sandpaper comes in packs of 25 or 50 pre-cut sheets. 120 grit sandpaper is the standard for 'all purpose' Drywall Compound or "Mud".
The problem with these pole-sanders is that they often flip over and scratch or damage the surface of the wall. Today there is a manufacturer called Full Circle that has solved this problem by making a pole sander head that does not flip over. It is a large 9" circular sanding head that is evenly balanced and carries a much larger footprint than the type I used many years ago. They actually still sell this type today. This is a messy, unhealthy job and I was determined to find a better way. Dustless Sanding was indeed the answer.
Porter Cable 7800 Drywall Sander
The Porter Cable 7800 Drywall Sander has an approximately 9" circular Pad and is attached to a Static-dissipating 1-1/4" vacuum hose. This 13 foot vacuum hose will attach to any Festool Dust extractor and no adaptor is required. It has variable speed capabilities of 1,400-2,000 RPM. The dial ranges from 1-5 settings. It weighs in at 8.5 lbs and I have not considered it to be too heavy or bulky to operate in any way.
The sanding head is articulating which allows the user greater maneuverability and control. The head doesn't gouge the surface because it has little bristles on it. This "skirt" contains the dust so that it is sucked up into the vacuum and not released into the environment. The Porter Cable 7800 Drywall Sander retails for approximately $700 in Canada.
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