Repair of a discrete selective surface of an article

A method for restoring a protective coating including a metallic environmental resistant coating of a metallic environmental resistant coating total thickness within a metallic environmental resistant coating design thickness range on a metal substrate of an article which has experienced service operation, the metallic environmental resistant coating of the protective coating having at least one discrete local surface on which is an undesirable amount of degradation product which includes at least one degradation product selected from the group consisting of oxidation completely through the metallic environmental coating into the substrate, a defect of rumpling of at least the metallic environmental resistant coating, and a defect of voiding of at least the metallic environmental resistant coating resulting from exposure to service operation;

• comprising the steps of:
• conditioning the degradation product at least at the discrete surface area to expose an underlying portion while retaining at least a portion of the metallic environmental resistant coating on surface areas adjacent the discrete surface area;
• and then,
• applying a replacement metallic environmental resistant material selected from the group consisting of aluminides and alloys including aluminum to at least the discrete surface area to fill the entire discrete surface area with said material to a thickness of the metallic environmental resistant coating substantially within the metallic environmental resistant coating design thickness range.