EVERYTHING THERE IS TO KNOW ABOUT POWDER COATING FINISHES IN HOUSTON

What Is Powder Coating?

Simply put, powder coating in Houston is a method of dry coating an industrial product or element to provide protection against rust and corrosion. The powder coating process is superior to the traditional painting process in that it is more environmentally friendly, more durable, and provides a more professional finish. Powder coating can be used on metal, concrete, plastic, and steel and is highly versatile in both application and quality. Unlike traditional paint, powder coatings contain negligible volatile organic compounds (VOCs) typically found in the solvents (the liquid the pigments are suspended in).

What Types Of Powder Coating Are There?

Thermoset and thermoplastic are two types of powder coating. Thermoplastic powder finishes in Houston become soft and melt with the addition of heat. There is no chemical bonding between the metal, plastic, or concrete and the powder. Because of this quality, the powder coating can be recycled and reused. Thermoset powder coatings (such as fusion bonded epoxy) form chemical bonds after it cures, creating a super durable, heat-resistant coating. 

How Durable Is Powder Coating?

Very durable. There is a reason powder coating in Houston is quickly becoming the go-to method for architecture, infrastructure, the oil and gas industry, and even outdoor furniture. Powder coating can protect against corrosion, scratches, extreme temperatures, and more. 

The RAL color matching system, originally developed in Germany in the 1920s, represents a group of standards that allow for consistent reproduction of colors for a variety of applications, including powder coating in Houston. The name “RAL” comes from the German government organization that developed it—the Reichs-Ausschuß für Lieferbedingungen und Gütesicherung—but thankfully we have the acronym RAL, which is a lot easier on the tongue. It’s not necessary to be intimately familiar with the history and technical aspects of RAL colors, but a little knowledge about the system can go a long way in helping you determine the kind of powder coat colors and other coating options that are right for the job you need, whether it’s as simple as outdoor furniture refinishing or as complex as large-scale industrial coating.

RAL is a continuously evolving standard, with over 2,300 colors represented, as well as 213 “classic” colors. This wide range of available colors allows for accurate color matching across the spectrum. Color standards are important in accurate reproduction of colors; prior to the introduction of this standard, color matching was achieved by exchanging samples of colors between customers and manufacturers. If you’ve ever brought a paint sample to a hardware store, you know that this method can be unreliable in achieving the exact same tint due to the difficulty of mixing by eye and general inconsistencies in mixing. Color standards are much more accurate, allowing for exact formulation and reproduction of powder coat colors in any application from patio furniture refinishing to road signage (a common use case for RAL—the traffic signs you see on your way home from work are painted by RAL standard).

Although RAL-standard coating can be purchased by any company offering powder coating in Houston services, larger companies will likely be able to offer better deals and better access to specialty formulations due to closer relationships with manufacturers and larger-volume orders. Whether you need a simple outdoor furniture refinishing job or large-scale coating services for construction or industry, consider working with an experienced and capable powder coating company that has the skills, knowledge, and access of RAL powder coat colors to get your job done right.

Maybe your outdoor furniture has been sitting exposed to the elements for too long. Maybe you just found a great deal on furniture that needs refinishing at a garage sale. Either way, it’s usually fairly obvious when furniture is in need of refinishing, especially outdoor metal furniture. However, before you make the decision on whether or not to refinish, and the method of refinishing, there are some important things to consider.

First: do you actually want to go through with the outdoor furniture refinishing? This question might be especially relevant if the furniture was purchased in its current state, such as from a garage sale or an antique store. Vintage styles are currently popular, so if the piece isn’t too damaged, it might be worth keeping it in its current state for the “charm” factor. However, rust and sharp edges can quickly make a piece of metal furniture unusable, so don’t be shy about getting it refinished.

Once the decision is made to go through with the outdoor furniture refinishing job, additional factors crop up. Is it worth doing the job on your own? DIY refinishing jobs can be rewarding, but also costly in materials, labor, and most importantly, time. If the furniture piece isn’t a labor of love, then getting it professionally refinished is likely the best option.

The warm summer months have arrived—or, if you’re in Houston, you may have already been experiencing summer weather for weeks now. In the days ahead, many of us will spend time outside with family and friends. Whether that time includes a dip in the swimming pool or just conversations on the deck, outdoor patio furniture is used in many outdoor gatherings in Houston. These pieces can provide a convenient place to relax and can also add decorative flavor to an outdoor space.

Of course, outdoor patio furniture is also constantly exposed to the elements, which can damage the finish over time. The climate in Houston can be especially unforgiving—the humidity and sun damage can leave patio furniture in desperate need of attention, whether it’s a family piece handed down through the generations or a newer one purchased at the specialty patio store. Outdoor patio furniture restoration in Houston can alleviate the damaging effects of the weather, and keep furniture looking new and inviting.

Though powder coating in Houston is prominently used in industrial and commercial settings, the processes and techniques also provide for superior coating protection in a job as small as the refinishing of deck chairs. The powder coating process utilizes strict surface preparation standards in which industrial equipment is used to remove rust and dirt from the piece, as well as any previous coatings such as paint. These surface preparation techniques, including abrasive blasting, burn-off, or hand-etching, produce a cleaner surface than any DIY job could ever attain. Anchor profiles are also created through these processes, which provides for better adherence when the powder coating is applied.

Fusion bonded epoxy coatings have been in use since the 1960s. Continuous improvements on the technology have made fusion bonded epoxy (FBE) a popular choice in coating technology across a wide variety of applications. Most commonly, FBE coatings are used to protect pipelines that carry petroleum and natural gas. Fusion bonded epoxy coatings, like all pipeline coatings, have a common purpose: protecting the pipeline material from corrosion, which is accelerated in these types of warm, wet, and abrasive environments.

The process behind the actual application of a fusion bonded epoxy coating may not be universally understood, but it does provide an interesting insight into the coating technology that benefits us every day – protecting the pipelines that deliver our energy resources and clean water.

The application process of a fusion bonded epoxy coating is multi-faceted. Before any coating is applied, the pipeline surface must be “prepared” by abrasive blasting techniques to remove all rust, grease, and other surface contaminants.  Not only will this create a clean surface for which the powder is applied, but also it will also create varying anchor patterns which will interlock the cured powder to the metal.