How to Protect 20,000 sq ft of Concrete
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Preserving a Historic Texas Landmark
Built in 1925, Olmos Dam remains the City of San Antonio's first line of defense against flood waters. Standing 60 feet high and stretching 2,000 feet in length, the structure is a critical piece of infrastructure that requires long-term protection from both environmental exposure and vandalism.
Due to frequent rains, high humidity, and the age of the concrete, the dam walls had become susceptible to mold, mildew, grime buildup, and graffiti vandalism. The City of San Antonio worked with the PPG Architectural team to identify a preservation strategy that would protect the structure while maintaining its natural appearance.
Maintaining Essential Infrastructure
A primary project objective was to preserve the appearance of the concrete without creating a glossy surface that could yellow, peel, or crack over time.
To achieve this goal, PPG recommended 4G Surface Guard Walls, a penetrating treatment designed for porous mineral surfaces. Rather than forming a surface film, the product penetrates the substrate to create hydrophobic and oleophobic properties that help resist water, grime, and graffiti while supporting long-term preservation.
In this case, to enhance the results and make it easy to remove graffiti using hot water alone, the city has chosen to use World's Best Graffiti Coating as the final finish.
The coating is a paraffin wax emulsion that forms a protective layer while remaining flexible and breathable. Its natural matte appearance made it suitable for a highly visible infrastructure project where maintaining the look of the concrete was an important consideration.
Together, the two products provide a preservation system designed to protect the structure while simplifying future maintenance.
Testing and Application
During the project, the team evaluated the hydrophobic performance of 4G Surface Guard Walls and tested the anti-graffiti capabilities of World's Best Graffiti Coating before completing the application.
Application is quick and easy and the quick coverage rates and forgiving matte finish give them an economic advantage over other sealers, especially for infrastructure projects like this where the coating is to be applied up to a height without any visible difference where it stops.
