Powder coating is perhaps one of the most common forms of paint application. It was likely used to paint your stairs, your fences, even your patio furniture. However, despite its popularity, many people don’t actually know what powder coating is or how it works. That’s why we’ve put together this quick guide to tell you everything you need to know about powder coating and its applications.
What is powder coating?
Powder coating is a type of paint application that is different from your average paint. While traditional paint is liquid and typically applied using a spray gun, powder coating is made up of a dry powder that is sprayed onto a surface (typically metal) using an electrostatic gun. Once the coating has been applied, the object is placed into a batch oven with a temperature of at least 385 degrees Fahrenheit. From there, the high heat allows the coating to set, bond, and cure.
What is it made out of?
While it can vary depending on the manufacturer, most powder coat paint is made up of the same ingredients. They include:
- Resin (typically epoxy or polyester)
- Curing Agent
- Additives and Post Additives
- Tint Pigments
- Extenders
What can be powder coated?
Powder coating is mainly used for metal materials (think staircases, railings, fences, or even some outdoor furniture). However, it can be used for practically anything that can fit into the oven and be heated up to 385 degrees Fahrenheit. This includes not only staircases, but also many kitchen appliances and other daily objects.
The benefits of powder coating
So why, exactly, should you powder coat something over just using traditional paint? We can think of many reasons:
Durability
Powder coating is thicker and more consistent than traditional paint. As a result, it’s also more durable, meaning that you won’t have to worry about it chipping, corroding, or rusting later on in the future.
Customizable
With traditional paint, you have a wide variety of colors to choose from. The same is true of powder coating. There are plenty of stock and process colors available on the market, ensuring that you can customize your item exactly how you want it.
Environmentally friendly
Some may worry that powder coating is bad for the environment, but in fact, it’s quite the opposite. Any powder left over can be collected and reused, reducing waste. Additionally, since powder coating is done in a sealed environment, you don’t have to worry about any potential air pollution.
Picking a color
Just as with any other type of paint, if you’re going to have something powder coated, you’ll have to choose the color first. Thankfully, this process isn’t much different than it is with traditional paint. Once you know the general color you’re aiming for (neutrals, pastels, etc.), you can order swatches or test panels of the different colors that you’re debating between. Once you have those in hand, place them on the item that you’re planning on powder coating (if you don’t have the item yet, you can place them in the area of your home or yard that the item will be placed). Check in on your samples or swatches throughout the day to see how each color looks with different light.
Maintenance
As we said before, powder coating is extremely durable. Nevertheless, it still requires some maintenance. Since the item you powder coated is likely outside, we recommend giving it a quick cleaning every few weeks or so to prevent any dirt or pollutants from settling on the finish and causing it to degrade. Since harsh chemicals can harm your paint job, you should only use water and mild detergent soap to clean it.
At Acadia Stairs, we can powder coat any of our staircase designs as well as other metal works that can fit into our batch oven. To learn more about our powder coating services, give us a call at 845-765-8600 or contact us online today.
