{"id":2071075,"date":"2023-04-28T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-04-28T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/csengineermag.com\/?p=2071075"},"modified":"2023-04-27T13:36:56","modified_gmt":"2023-04-27T18:36:56","slug":"western-specialty-contractors-completes-improvements-to-stetson-universitys-melching-field-stadium-in-deland-florida","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/csengineermag.com\/western-specialty-contractors-completes-improvements-to-stetson-universitys-melching-field-stadium-in-deland-florida\/","title":{"rendered":"Western Specialty Contractors Completes Improvements to Stetson University\u2019s Melching Field Stadium in DeLand, Florida"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Often referred to as one of the most picturesque and fan-friendly college baseball stadiums in the nation, Western Specialty Contractors \u2013 Orlando Branch recently completed improvements to Stetson University\u2019s Melching Field stadium in DeLand, Florida.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/csengineermag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Melching-Before-2-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2071082\" width=\"402\" height=\"535\" srcset=\"https:\/\/csengineermag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Melching-Before-2-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/csengineermag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Melching-Before-2-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/csengineermag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Melching-Before-2-696x928.jpg 696w, https:\/\/csengineermag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Melching-Before-2-315x420.jpg 315w, https:\/\/csengineermag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Melching-Before-2.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 402px) 100vw, 402px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Before<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Home to the Stetson Hatters, Melching Field opened in 1999 and&nbsp;features a full-service concessions area and bench seating for 2,500 spectators with grass berms for approximately 500 additional fans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The red brick and stucco stadium demonstrated signs of weathering,&nbsp;as well as wear-and-tear upon the initial evaluation. As a result, Western Specialty Contractors was contracted to perform the following improvements:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Remove previously existing traffic coating<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Prepare the delaminated concrete for a new traffic coating<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Perform stair tread and riser resurfacing prior to coating application<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Install expansion joints<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Apply a new Sikalastic pedestrian coating system<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Western\u2019s concrete experts faced several challenges on the project, which included removal of the existing urethane coating system. Western used\u00a0hydro-demolition methods to safely and effectively remove the old system without causing extensive damage to the stadium\u2019s concrete, particularly on its vertical surfaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cStair riser resurfacing was\u00a0necessary on a variety of different locations, which provided a new challenge for the foreman to properly\u00a0demonstrate how to properly prepare the concrete surface and apply a feather-grade skim coat on all of the affected areas with efficiency,\u201d said Anthony Santiago, Western Project Manager.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The moisture in the concrete during the project\u2019s rainy season also posed a challenge. With the concrete\u2019s moisture readings&nbsp;averaging&nbsp;5%, determining when the best time to&nbsp;apply&nbsp;the coating&nbsp;to the concrete surface was a constant battle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Originally resurfacing all vertical surfaces utilizing a two-component epoxy product under the drastic climate shifts caused outgassing of the material&nbsp;which left bubbles in the finish. Western\u2019s experts determined that utilizing a unique feather-grade, single-component material would maintain the most consistent finish for the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"2071081\" src=\"https:\/\/csengineermag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Melching-After-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2071081\" srcset=\"https:\/\/csengineermag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Melching-After-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/csengineermag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Melching-After-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/csengineermag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Melching-After-696x928.jpg 696w, https:\/\/csengineermag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Melching-After-315x420.jpg 315w, https:\/\/csengineermag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Melching-After.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"2071079\" src=\"https:\/\/csengineermag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Melching-After-2-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2071079\" srcset=\"https:\/\/csengineermag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Melching-After-2-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/csengineermag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Melching-After-2-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/csengineermag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Melching-After-2-696x928.jpg 696w, https:\/\/csengineermag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Melching-After-2-315x420.jpg 315w, https:\/\/csengineermag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Melching-After-2.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n<figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption\">After<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSikadur\u00ae-31 is the epoxy product that was initially anticipated to utilize as a concrete finish prior to the urethane coating. Although the product showed promise on resurfacing vertical stair risers, it was not the most effective in a turn-key project,\u201d&nbsp;said Santiago.&nbsp;\u201cThe solution was to apply SikaQuick\u00ae&nbsp;Smooth Finish bag mix which proved more efficient in installation and turnaround as it virtually provided the same attributes as the epoxy for the intended use. The product transmitted a smooth, consistent look into the urethane coating at vertical sections of the stadium.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Western\u2019s innovative solution reduced the overall project cost and allowed the team to complete the project on schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/u12097671.ct.sendgrid.net\/ls\/click?upn=9rudYHeevExQpJ5A1h-2BA7WTrhfNw05AIadptDrAkC-2FtU3ykSitz-2FTux3K4UUqm7tTko4-2Ba9-2B9pBuv7ZmvOsqgH9CWojXQRvn-2B5CMkYqCDtQ-3Df4ip_SsPlNdisGSoUd76odd1hxnIHKuwo9NScVTe6wsbWokPeh7u5YlgbM-2B7esf7R1aiN99meF34DDu8U-2BCYCCDTTxSMLv-2Ffzcq5gK-2BmiNoRe2osJzzwJo2nMISxJeka7B8bGcfwxGj2feEy27DfkxWtVnaERboCZ05g9ciUbmadTPeBjzqM-2Bw-2FDnF84TIGBEhgeGGMWK1JacUHe7Qi67dC4D-2FCGPcWrHQRUzFNXgkNo-2FJa7WF-2BcmaZGzHPX5yvSUekjkrCIGa1MgerQ1og9H7J9qPGM-2Fm3Wmb03pkDVOJIXZJ8hyvBsNSFnEndr2XWUpKIyqg1ckf0O-2B8NcxiKUyOwNq5ddDOyjJoZDGvagRE3vRFvV4ibhexSxj9emAAc0LO9sFY1ZAeqxLK3nrDuaH2-2BXKDBGE9ozPMom50JoYxcWmJUMCkUPIh0rku4Y-2F0DLQAZbpM0GqYa07WBeXiJPLJ-2FnXCXshGr4E-2FiGw031VVWqHJiZY1M2iWxHUkj6VbI3Qn3i8VheFIJKNCSaHlyRAw5ue35FjdQwfAydXvWpBm9X2jU9VikD4s1T5-2FDY-2Bm5g3KqD-2Bq3Vkmmdzov1jGRiKUHIP2g-3D-3D\" target=\"_blank\"><u>Click here<\/u><\/a>\u00a0to learn more about Western\u2019s stadium\u00a0restoration services.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Often referred to as one of the most picturesque and fan-friendly college baseball stadiums in the nation, Western Specialty Contractors \u2013 Orlando Branch recently completed improvements to Stetson University\u2019s Melching Field stadium in DeLand, Florida. Home to the Stetson Hatters, Melching Field opened in 1999 and&nbsp;features a full-service concessions area and bench seating for 2,500 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4972,"featured_media":2071083,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","footnotes":""},"categories":[5763,1853],"tags":[46122,46120,46121,3801],"acf":[],"views":21,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/csengineermag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Melching-Before.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/csengineermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2071075"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/csengineermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/csengineermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/csengineermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4972"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/csengineermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2071075"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/csengineermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2071075\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/csengineermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2071083"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/csengineermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2071075"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/csengineermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2071075"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/csengineermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2071075"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}