Case Study - Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco

"The golden color of the renovated dome will continue to delight residents and visitors for years to come."

Problem: Replace GacoFlex coating dating to the 1960s and 1980s.

Solution: Gaco Western custom specification.

Gaco Western's association with San Francisco's Palace of Fine Arts goes back over forty years. Since 1964, only GacoFlex coatings have been used to waterproof and maintain the appearance of the Palace's rotunda dome: Neoprene-Hypalon in 1964, GacoFlex acrylic in the 1980s, and most recently UA-60 urethane in 2004.

Originally built for the 1915 Panama Pacific Exposition, the Palace of Fine Arts was not intended to last more than a few years. Construction materials included a mixture of plaster and burlap, called "staff." By the time restoration work began in 1964, the structure was crumbling and closed to the public.

During the renovation, the structure was stripped down to its steel framework and rebuilt using concrete castings of the original. The rotunda dome was waterproofed using GacoFlex Neoprene-Hypalon, a state of the art coating system in the 1960s. Gaco Western Representative Robin Hobart oversaw the application of the GacoFlex Materials.

In the 1980s, the dome needed to be coated again to restore its appearance. GacoFlex water-based acrylic A-5400 was applied, protecting the existing solvent-sensitive Neoprene-Hypalon system.

After many years of weathering the elements, the rotunda dome was ready for a more involved restoration in 2004. More than a simple recoat, this project involved removal of all the original Gaco materials down to the concrete.

The City of San Francisco awarded the job to Gaco Western, continuing the 40-year collaboration begun in 1964. Robin Hobart's son, Gaco Western Representative Warner Hobart, brought a wealth of experience and expertise to the project.

Gaco Western approved applicator Best Roofing and Waterproofing began work in June of 2004.

First, the original Gaco materials were removed by a process of scarifying and grinding. The Best Roofing crew repaired cracks and caulked and patched the dome where needed. Drains and rain leaders were also replaced at this time.

Next, the dome was sealed using GacoFlex U-5677 urethane sealer. When the sealer had cured, GacoFlex E-5320 epoxy primer was applied by roller over the sealer coat. Two coats of GacoFlex UB-64 urethane base coat were then applied over the primer, also by roller.

Finally, GacoFlex UA-60 was applied by roller over the entire dome surface. Developed specifically for this application, the golden-yellow topcoat was designed to complement the overall aesthetic of the rotunda. Work was completed in December of 2004. The superb weatherability of UA-60 means the beautiful golden color of the renovated dome will continue to delight the city's inhabitants and visitors for years to come.

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