Proper Care of Powdered Surfaces Is Essential
Powder coatings that are applied to metal products exposed to the weather will inevitably degrade over time. Even protective powder-coated surfaces, which is a dry, free-flowing powder applied electrostatically and then cured under heat to form a hard, durable and attractive finish. These surfaces, like any other, require proper maintenance. A number of conditions, including those found in nature, will contribute to shortening the life of this type of protective finish.
- Sun
- Rain
- Wind
- Pollution
- Cold weather
- Saltwater
- Electrical current
- Dissimilar metals
Given that there are so many elements that can affect protective powder coating, it’s not surprising that it will break down over time.
The right type of care and maintenance is essential to combat the detrimental effects of the elements when finished parts are exposed to the sun, wind, rain, etc. No protective powder coating is entirely maintenance-free — over time, it will lose some (or all) of its decorative and protective properties due to the effects of weather and other influences.
Table of Contents:
How to Clean Powder Coated Surfaces
Tips for Caring for Powder Coated Fences and Gates
How to Care for Powder Coated Surfaces: Bollards
How to Keep Powder Coated Steel From Rusting?
How to Take Care of Powder Coated Surfaces Defaced by Graffiti
Powder Coating Is a ‘Green’ Choice
Contact a Powder Coating Expert »
Consider what would happen if someone went out into the sun without applying a sunblock product to their skin. During the part of the day when the ultraviolet rays are at their most intense, it’s possible to see the effects of sun exposure on unprotected skin in an hour or less.
If you own a vehicle and you don’t take steps to protect your car or truck’s paint, you will notice the effects of the elements on it, too. Over time, the finish will show effects such as corrosion, chalking and erosion.
Proper care and maintenance is crucial if you want to extend the service life of any metal surface. The more value you attach to it, the more important it is to invest in regular maintenance efforts.
How to Clean Powder Coated Surfaces
With the right type of maintenance, you can increase the service life of the finish of powder coated surfaces. The care and maintenance tips listed below can help to keep the repair and maintenance costs down for some items, as well.
Avoid Harsh Chemical Cleaners
Powder coatings can be damaged by harsh solvents. A number of commercial cleaning products can cause damage to these types of finishes. Once the finish has become damaged, it is much more vulnerable to fading, staining and failure of the finish itself. When harsh chemical cleaners are used on powder coated surfaces, the life expectancy of the finish can reasonably be halved.
The service life of an organic finish cannot accurately be predicted due to the number of variables that can affect its ability to beautify and protect the surface where they have been applied. A professional finishing company would never even attempt to give a firm answer about any of the following:
- How long a particular finish will last
- The rate at which the coating will start to lose either its protective or decorative value
- The rate at which values are lost
These are impossible to predict with any degree of certainty. Anyone who tells you they can give you a definitive answer is likely overreaching.
Proper Cleaning and Maintenance to Extend Effective Service Life
While it may not be possible to map out the exact length of service life you can expect to get from fabricated products, you can extend their effective service life with the right cleaning and maintenance. It could double or even triple the coating’s effective service life.
For applications that will have a high visibility factor, such as ones being used in buildings, a prudent approach involves maintaining detailed maintenance records that include the dates of all cleanings, including the products and materials used. These records will be important in tracking the type of cleaners used to keep the surface of the material looking its best.
Pressure Cleaning
Pressure washing is likely the most efficient method of cleaning coated surfaces to remove dirt and grime. It can be used to clean bus shelters, refresh commercial powder-coated patio furniture and other outdoor surfaces. The pressure washer should be used on a low-pressure setting with filtered water. Don’t use unfiltered tap water or groundwater.
If you use unfiltered groundwater for cleaning, it can leave stains on the metal surface. If the water contains fluoride, sulfur, iron oxide or chlorine, they can stain outdoor products. One way to tell before starting to clean powder coated surfaces is to examine the areas where the wind blows water from sprinkler systems. Stains and discoloration on other objects are a sign you will likely have to deal with the same on the powder coated surfaces if you use the same water. Use filtered water only for this purpose.
Low pressure should be used for pressure-cleaning powder coated metal surfaces. If the pressure is strong enough to cause the metal surface to shift its position, it may also be strong enough to damage the finish.
Use a Mild Soap and Water
All powder coated products should be cleaned with either a soft cloth or a brush, using a solution of mild soap and warm water. The best type of soap to use for this purpose is one that has emulsifiers that can break down the most common types of stains.
Exposed surfaces of powder coated products that are deemed the most critical should be cleaned regularly (on either a weekly or a bi-weekly schedule). These can be wiped down and rinsed with filtered water.
A Word About Commercial Cleaning Solutions
Commercial cleaning solutions have their place. Solvents and petroleum-based cleaning products are very effective at removing dirt and grease from surfaces. They are not the right choice for powder coated surfaces, however. These types of cleaners will remove dirt, but they also remove layers of the finish from the surface of the object they are cleaning. Over time, the finish can become compromised.
The coating can become stiff and hard with repeated applications of these types of cleaners, and it will no longer be as effective at protecting the underlying surface. In some instances, the coating may begin to crack and fade. While it’s inevitable that coated surfaces that are exposed to the weather will undergo physical aging, exposure to harsh chemical products will only accelerate this process.
Protect the Exposed Surfaces With Wax
Finished surfaces that will be handled or may come into contact with other objects will benefit from being treated with wax. Examples of these types of surfaces include the following:
- Fences
- Guardrails
- Handrails
- Outdoor furniture
- Outdoor lighting fixtures
- Stairways
Apply a light coating of high-grade non-abrasive car wax. Use a brand that contains a UV blocker or UV inhibitors. Do not use compound-type waxes for this purpose. This type of wax contains abrasives that can harm the powder coating.
Be sure to wipe off any globs of wax that remain on the surface. If any wax remains on the coated surface, it could bake into place when exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet light. This can cause permanent staining.
Tips for Caring for Powder Coated Fences and Gates
Powder coating is a very durable finish, but you can’t get away with treating it as though it doesn’t need any maintenance at all. Certain weather conditions can have a negative effect on the coating over time, for example.
When dirt and grime build up in the joints and crevices of fences and gates, it can create a place where bacteria gather and insects find a home. Both circumstances only serve to speed up the breakdown of the coating.
In coastal areas, saltwater can damage fences and gates situated close to the ocean. If they are not thoroughly cleaned at least once a year to remove the buildup, salt will remain attached to the coating and dull its appearance, leaving it looking chalky. To extend the life of your fence and gate, you’ll need to make sure you clean it properly.
- Start by wiping the surface gently with a wet sponge to remove any loose dirt and debris. You can also use a soft brush for this purpose. A wire brush would be too harsh since it would also remove the finish. Your goal is to remove most of the surface dirt and dust at this point.
- To remove salt and any other deposits from the surface of the fence and gate, use a soft brush and a mild household detergent.
- Choose a detergent that is free from both solvents and petroleum-based chemicals when cleaning your powder-coated fence. One way to tell whether the detergent you are considering is safe for a powder-coated surface is whether the product is safe for your hands. If you need to protect your skin by wearing gloves when using the product, it’s probably not safe for the surface of the gate, either.
- Rinse the detergent off the fence or the gate using lukewarm water. At this point, you can allow it to either dry naturally or use a clean, dry cloth to dry it off if you would like to get a cleaner look.
Pressure Washing a Fence or Gate
You can use a pressure washer to clean a fence or a gate. This method is less time-consuming than cleaning by hand — however, it does tend to leave more residue behind. If you are trying to clean a fence or a gate in a coastal area, it may be challenging to remove all the salt using a pressure washer.
Hard water can present the same problem, due to the minerals it contains. They build up and harden on the surface of the fence or gate and are difficult to remove, even with the pressure of the water. Detergent softens the water to make cleaning a much easier process.
How to Care for Powder Coated Surfaces: Bollards
Bollards are obstructions used to create barriers around buildings or a particular area. Natural materials, such as wood or stone, may be used for this purpose, but in most instances, short metal posts are used for bollards. They can be made from aluminum, iron, steel, stainless steel or cement.
These barriers can range in height from approximately 36”-52”, depending on where they are placed. Bollards may be used indoors or outdoors to control pedestrian and vehicle traffic. They may also be positioned in front of a store or business as a security measure to discourage “smash and grab” thieves. Bollards can also be found in parking garages, near marinas and ports and at airports to protect vehicles from straying into certain areas or colliding with specific objects.
High-Impact Resistance and Low-Impact Resistance
Bollards are designed to either provide high-impact resistance (to resist being struck by a vehicle) or low-impact resistance. High-impact bollards are chosen for applications where security is the main function required, while low-impact bollards are used when their purpose is mainly for decorative value.
Bollards may be placed in locations such as public parks for aesthetic purposes, such as decorating walkways. They may also be used as hitching posts for bicycle racks at any public building. A high-impact style may not be needed in these instances.
How Powder Coating Paint Is Added to a Bollard
A powder coating is a popular finish choice for bollards, since it provides a high level of protection from nicks and scratches, which may be caused by vehicles and pedestrians alike. The powder coating also protects the bollard from damage from the elements, as well as the effects of diluted road de-icing salts.
Is Powder Coating Waterproof?
Polyester powder coating (PPC) has grown in popularity among manufacturers because of its durability over time. Its main benefit is the powder’s powerful waterproof properties. Polyester is a synthetic fiber in the durable resin family of materials. The threads form when acid and alcohol experience a chemical reaction.
The strong molecules in polyester also help them remain free from moisture since they are nonabsorbent of water. The powder coating is also useful because it has a low absorbency level for stains, so the finish keeps its appearance over time.
PPC is also more effective than wet paint. Manufacturers apply wet paint in liquid form, and it often contains up to 90% solvents. When the paint touches the metal surface, the solvents begin to evaporate. This process creates pores on the painted surface and evaporation leaves the metal vulnerable to rust. The pores now allow moisture to penetrate the paint and eventually corrode the metal beneath.
When the finish supplier mixes the long-chain molecules of polyester with pigment powder, it creates a heavy-duty powder coating. PPC’s layer of polyester film is like a watertight shield, protecting the metal against moisture. That’s why even one layer can be effective for preventing water penetration. Most finishing services use electrostatic to apply the film and then perform a curing process under extreme heat or ultraviolet light.
How Long Does Powder Coating Last?
There’s no set length of time that the powder coating will last because of the endless possibilities for the environment around the powder. There are a few ways to lengthen the life of the powder based on the type of powder and its application.
One of the most vital steps is pretreating your substrate. Thoroughly preparing the surface before the powder’s application helps to ensure optimal results. Doing so can help the powder coating last and increase the overall life span of your product.
The type of powder coating finish also impacts its useful life over time. There are two main types of powder with different applications— epoxy and polyester.
Epoxy is generally an indoor coating with extreme durability and chemical and corrosion resistance. Placing a product with epoxy coating outdoors can cause it to fade and deteriorate in just a few months. Despite its resistance to corrosion and chemicals, exposure to the weather and the sun’s rays shortens the useful life of epoxy powder coating. When applied properly and in the right setting, this material has the potential to last for years.
Polyester has a balance of strengths for indoor and underground applications. It can resist chemicals and corrosion in a way similar to epoxy coating. It’s also capable of withstanding the elements and the UV rays of the sun over long periods. Manufacturers consider polyester powder coating a heavy-duty option for maximum durability.
You can also use hybrid versions of these powders that help you with different applications and varying lengths of time you need the powder to last.
