Paint & Coating Inspection Services
Independent Paint Inspection, Coating Surveys & Consultancy
MWI Paint Inspection provides professional paint inspection, coating inspection and coating condition survey services throughout the UK and Ireland.
Our experienced inspection team includes ICorr and NACE Level 2 paint inspectors, ICorr Level 3 paint inspectors, ICorr Level 2 fireproofing inspectors and galvanizing inspectors, enabling us to support a wide range of industrial, commercial, infrastructure and specialist coating projects.
From initial coating advice and specification development to third-party inspection, condition surveys, coating analysis and final inspection, we provide an independent service focused on protecting your assets and achieving the required performance from your protective coating systems.
Paint Inspection
Paint and coating inspection is at the core of our business.
Paint inspection involves assessing the preparation, application and finished condition of protective coating systems on a wide variety of substrates.
Small deviations during surface preparation or coating application can potentially have significant consequences for the performance and service life of the finished coating system.
Our qualified paint inspectors can provide independent inspection throughout the coating process, including:
- Substrate condition assessment
- Surface preparation inspection
- Environmental condition monitoring
- Coating application inspection
- Wet Film Thickness (WFT) measurement
- Dry Film Thickness (DFT) measurement
- Visual coating inspection
- Coating defect identification
- Adhesion testing where required
- Specification compliance
- Final coating inspection
- Inspection reporting
Our objective is to identify potential issues at the appropriate stage, helping contractors and asset owners maintain coating quality and reduce the risk of premature failure.
Qualified ICorr & NACE Paint Inspectors
The knowledge and experience of the inspector are critical when assessing protective coating systems.
MWI’s inspection capabilities include ICorr and NACE Level 2 paint inspectors, ICorr Level 3 paint inspectors, ICorr Level 2 fireproofing inspectors and galvanizing inspectors.
Our inspectors combine professional training with practical experience in surface preparation and coating application.
This allows us to understand both the technical requirements of a coating specification and the practical challenges faced during application.
Coating Condition Surveys
Understanding the actual condition of an existing coating system is essential when planning maintenance.
Our coating condition surveys provide asset owners with a professional assessment of their protective coatings, helping identify deterioration, corrosion and areas requiring attention.
Working from your drawings and agreed survey requirements, our inspection team can systematically assess and photograph key areas of the asset, identifying areas of concern and recording relevant corrosion values.
The objective is to provide reliable information about the condition of the coating rather than simply its age.
What Does a Coating Condition Survey Include?
The exact survey is tailored to the asset and client’s requirements, but can include assessment of:
- Existing coating condition
- Coating breakdown
- Corrosion
- Rusting
- Blistering
- Cracking
- Flaking and peeling
- Mechanical damage
- Coating thickness
- Areas requiring repair
- Percentage or extent of deterioration
- Maintenance priorities
- Recommendations for remedial work
Our inspectors assess the identified components of the structure systematically to provide consistency throughout the survey.
Digital Coating Condition Survey Reports
Following the survey, we can provide a comprehensive digital report detailing the findings.
Reports can include photographs, recorded defects, coating condition information and recommendations to assist with future maintenance planning.
Rather than replacing coatings simply because they have reached a certain age, a condition-based approach allows maintenance decisions to be based on the actual state of the protective coating.
This information can help clients establish maintenance programmes, prioritise remedial work and allocate future budgets more effectively.
Independent Third-Party Paint Inspection
MWI provides independent third-party coating inspection during maintenance, refurbishment and new coating projects.
Third-party inspection provides an objective assessment of coating work and can give asset owners, project managers and other stakeholders additional confidence that the agreed coating requirements are being followed.
During maintenance works, we can create bespoke inspection documentation appropriate to the requirements of the project.
Reporting can include:
- Time and date-stamped photographs
- Inspection methodology
- Daily inspection reports
- Surface preparation records
- Environmental readings
- Coating application records
- Dry Film Thickness measurements
- Relevant coating specifications
- Identified defects and observations
- Final inspection documentation
Where included within the agreed inspection scope, MWI can also provide final sign-off and acceptance certificates.
Dry Film Thickness (DFT) Inspection
Correct coating thickness is an important factor in the performance of many protective coating systems.
A coating that is significantly below the specified thickness may not provide the intended protection, while excessive coating thickness can also create problems with certain systems.
Our inspectors can take Dry Film Thickness (DFT) measurements and compare the results against the applicable project, coating or manufacturer’s specification.
DFT inspection provides measurable information that can be incorporated into daily inspection reports and final project documentation.
Coating Advice & Specifications
Choosing the correct protective coating system is fundamental to long-term performance.
MWI provides independent coating consultancy, advice and specification support for a wide range of environments.
Existing coating specifications can become outdated as coating technologies, regulations, products and application methods develop.
Our coating consultants can review project requirements and help clients consider appropriate solutions, ranging from surface-tolerant protective coatings to specialist high-temperature coating systems.
Independent Coating Consultancy
One of the important advantages of working with MWI is our independence.
We are not tied to a particular paint or coating manufacturer, allowing our coating advice to focus on the requirements of the asset, substrate, operating environment and client.
Factors considered when developing or reviewing a coating specification can include:
- Substrate type
- Existing coating condition
- Surface preparation requirements
- Atmospheric exposure
- Immersion conditions
- Chemical exposure
- Operating temperatures
- Corrosion environment
- Expected service life
- Application constraints
- Future maintenance requirements
Our aim is to help clients establish a practical and appropriate protective coating solution for their particular environment.
Paint & Coating Inspector Training
Technical qualifications are important, but practical coating experience is equally valuable.
Our paint inspection team has hands-on experience in surface preparation and coating application, providing practical understanding of the processes they are inspecting.
Our inspectors are City & Guilds and ICorr trained, with ongoing Continuing Professional Development (CPD) helping our team remain informed about current industry developments, research, coating technologies and inspection procedures.
This combination of technical training and practical experience allows our inspectors to communicate effectively with applicators, contractors, engineers and asset owners.
Coating Analysis & Failure Investigation
When a protective coating fails or begins deteriorating unexpectedly, determining the cause is important before remedial work begins.
Simply applying another coating without understanding the underlying problem can result in the same failure occurring again.
Our ICorr inspectors can carry out onsite coating analysis where appropriate, helping reduce lead times when investigating coating condition and potential defects.
Where more detailed investigation is required, laboratory coating analysis is also available.
Analysis can help provide valuable information when investigating coating failures, identifying existing coatings or determining an appropriate approach to remedial work.
Why Do Protective Coatings Fail?
Premature coating failure can have numerous causes.
Two common problems are an inappropriate coating system being specified for the environment or poor workmanship during preparation and application.
Other contributing factors can include:
- Inadequate surface preparation
- Surface contamination
- Incorrect coating selection
- Poor application
- Incorrect coating thickness
- Unsuitable environmental conditions
- Failure to observe overcoating intervals
- Incompatible coating layers
- Mechanical damage
- Poor maintenance
Independent inspection can help identify these problems before they have a significant impact on coating performance.
Planned Coating Maintenance
Waiting until a protective coating has completely failed can significantly increase the scale and cost of remedial work.
A professional coating condition survey provides information that can be used to establish a planned maintenance programme.
Our reports detail the current condition of the existing coating and provide recommendations that can help clients determine:
- Which areas require immediate attention
- Which areas can remain in service
- Where preventative maintenance may be appropriate
- Priorities for future coating work
- Potential future maintenance requirements
- Budget requirements for planned works
This condition-based approach can help organisations move from reactive maintenance towards more structured asset protection.
Coating Inspection Across Multiple Industries
MWI provides paint and coating inspection expertise across a broad range of sectors.
Oil & Gas
Protective coating inspection and condition surveys for demanding oil and gas environments, including topside and subsea assets.
Subsea
Specialist coating inspection for subsea equipment, including valves, risers and associated components.
Renewable Energy
GWO-trained coating inspectors supporting land-based and offshore renewable energy assets.
Marine
Marine coating inspections and ship coating condition surveys to identify coating deterioration and corrosion.
Transport & Infrastructure
Coating inspection for road, rail, bridges and associated infrastructure, including projects operating within restricted closure and possession periods.
Industrial & Commercial
Paint inspection, condition surveys and coating consultancy for industrial and commercial assets requiring high-performance protective coating systems.
Construction
Paint and coating inspection across steel, concrete, floors, roofs, plaster, wood and other construction substrates.
Fire Protective Coatings
Specialist fireproofing and intumescent coating inspection, including assessment of specified coating thickness.
Why Choose MWI Paint Inspection?
Qualified Inspectors
Our capabilities include ICorr and NACE Level 2, ICorr Level 3, fireproofing and galvanizing inspection expertise.
Independent Advice
As an independent coating inspection company, our recommendations can focus on your asset and technical requirements.
Practical Experience
Our inspectors combine professional inspection qualifications with hands-on knowledge of surface preparation and coating application.
Detailed Reporting
We provide clear inspection documentation that can include photographs, measurements, observations and recommendations.
Condition-Based Maintenance
Our coating condition surveys help clients make maintenance decisions based on actual coating condition rather than age alone.
Comprehensive Service
From specification and inspection to surveys, analysis and maintenance planning, MWI can provide support throughout the coating lifecycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Professional Paint Inspection Services
From a single coating inspection to comprehensive condition surveys and long-term coating maintenance planning, MWI Paint Inspection provides independent technical expertise throughout the protective coating lifecycle.
Our qualified inspectors can assist with inspection, surveys, specifications, third-party quality assurance, training and coating analysis.
Contact MWI Paint Inspection to discuss your paint inspection, coating condition survey or coating consultancy requirements.