Contractor links peeling of Lincoln Memorial pool coating to repair errors
The contractor repairing the reflecting pool near the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, US, told the administration of President Donald Trump that problems with the repair plan and workers’ errors caused the new blue coating to peel. This was reported by Anadolu Agency, citing The New York Times.
These findings contradict repeated statements by Trump, who linked the damage to the landmark to the actions of vandals. Federal prosecutors had previously charged several people with alleged vandalism, but later asked for the cases to be dismissed over questions about possible poor-quality installation of the coating.
Incompatible materials
According to the NYT, Atlantic Industrial Coatings acknowledged in reports to the government that its workers applied insufficient primer in some areas because of human error. At the same time, the company believes that the main problem was the repair plan.
The technology involved applying two chemical compounds in layers, but the materials proved incompatible. The upper compound heated up more than the lower layer could withstand, causing the coating to blister and separate from the concrete surface. The company called this result unexpected because these products are rarely used together in this way.
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The repairs were carried out on an accelerated schedule to complete them by July 4, the 250th anniversary of the United States. The government awarded Atlantic Industrial Coatings a $14.7 million contract without competition, while the repair approach was, according to the NYT, partly developed by the general manager of one of Trump’s golf clubs.
Repairs and vandalism cases
The pool was drained to address the consequences of the failed installation. After cleaning with high-pressure water in August, workers removed material that remained attached to the concrete using blades, hammers and crowbars. While applying the new coating, blisters again appeared between the layers. The company stopped applying the hotter compound over the other material, which reduced the problem but did not eliminate it completely.
Atlantic Industrial Coatings also suggested that workers’ sweat in protective suits during Washington’s summer heat may have affected the result: droplets could have gotten beneath fresh layers of coating. The company said vandals were responsible for cuts in the sealant along the edge of the pool, but did not link this damage to the extensive peeling of the coating on the bottom.
The US Department of Justice charged former Olympic canoeist David Hearn and three other people in a case involving alleged vandalism. The US attorney in Washington said that the Department of the Interior had provided misleading information about the role of vandalism and the failed installation. In a post on August 9, Trump acknowledged that there was no video or evidence of vandalism and that contractor errors had also contributed to the damage. The pool is currently closed, and the contractor said it would redo the work under warranty.
