In the pursuit of bringing hydrocarbons to market, there are many obstacles, both natural and man-made. Some of these difficulties can be circumvented, but others, like corrosion, are unavoidable. As much as oil and gas production companies would love to dodge this process altogether, it’s a natural part of chemistry and physics, and it’s not going anywhere any time soon. Over the decades, many technologies have been created to resist or prevent corrosion-damage to pipelines. These pipelines are essential to the delivery of hydrocarbons, but are susceptible to corrosion damage from the heat, moisture, and abrasives that are often present in these working conditions. One such technology used in the battle against corrosion is fusion bonded epoxy coatings (FBE).

FBE coatings are supplied by multiple manufacturers. Axalta is a leading provider of protective coatings throughout North America, offering an array of high-tech FBE options. Axalta Nap-Gard® 7-2500 Fusion Bonded Epoxy is one such coating, designed to provide corrosion protection in the demanding oil and gas production environment. In addition, Nap-Gard® 7-2500 is used in transporting wastewater and saltwater, each of which present their own challenges that must be addressed.

Nap-Gard® 7-2500 is designed to provide protection for both internal and external surfaces of pipeline. The protection of both surfaces is important: internal surfaces are exposed to chemically-active hydrocarbons, while outside surfaces can be exposed to high heat, high pressures, and abrasives such as salt. The 7-2500 specification is formulated to withstand high temperatures of 107°C (225°F)—vital heat protection in the unforgiving oil and gas production environment. In addition to providing this protection for oil and gas applications, the product complies with NSF-61 specification, meaning that it’s approved for transporting potable water.

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.

The oil and gas industry of Houston quite literally powers the world. Houston’s geographical location on the Gulf of Mexico makes the city an ideal operational base for oil and gas exploration and production.  From the regional mineral-rich shale in the Permian Basin to the deep-sea reserves off Africa’s coasts, Houston’s domestic and international reach is expansive. A vast array of technologies and equipment contribute to the successful extraction, processing, and transportation of those hydrocarbons that power our lives. In particular, the metal piping and equipment that carry and process these fuels must be protected to ensure operational efficiency and environmental safety, and fusion bonded epoxy coatings are a key contributor to this process.

“3M™ Scotchkote™ Fusion Bonded Epoxy Coating 134” might not mean much to the average individual, but to those who work with protective coatings for the oil and gas industry of Houston, it means much more. Manufactured by 3M, Scotchkote 134 is a thermosetting epoxy coating applied to pipe and equipment through an electrostatic powder coating process. The coating is hardened or “cured” using large ovens to fusion bond the protective coating to the metal substrate.

Such protection is of utmost importance in the oil and gas industry, with the inside of a pipe being regularly exposed to corrosive hydrocarbons or heavily brine conditions. In fact, applied after Scotchkote 345 Liquid Phenolic Primer, Scotchkote 134 FBE offers excellent resistance to C0₂, H₂S, CH₄, and other petroleum distillates at elevated temperatures and pressures. Without proper protection, pipes require more frequent maintenance or replacement, and could even leak or burst—which is clearly a serious environmental and safety hazard.

Powder coating in Houston isn’t just important for the protection of pipelines in the oil and gas industry—it has applications in many other industries. In the economic powerhouse of Houston, powder coating is also used in residential and commercial construction. From the fencing and awnings that protect our homes to the railings, banisters, gates, and light poles that provide accessibility to commercial spaces, powder coating protects a variety of surfaces in Houston’s hot and humid climate.

The advanced electrostatic application process used in powder coating provides an especially resilient and durable surface, but it’s also aesthetically pleasing. Powder coat colors are readily available in a wide variety of on-hand stock, and if stock colors don’t provide an exact match, coat colors can also be specially formulated to match a specific need.

The powder coating in Houston process adheres to strict preparation and quality standards no matter the surface or application. Architectural finishes, like those that would commonly be used in residential or commercial spaces, must follow the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) standards. The AAMA provides offers three specifications for the performance that a coating is expected to achieve:

Industrial powder coating in Texas may not be a flashy subject, but the technology and specialized services associated with it are paramount to providing high level protection to industrial parts and projects.  Businesses looking to safeguard their physical assets invest in powder coating as a form of elongating parts’ operational lifecycles.  Furthermore, it is important to recognize that all coating applicators are not the same.  An experienced and capable powder coating shop should be large enough to handle all elements of the process in-house.  This will not only maximize efficiencies but also result in faster turnarounds.

Texas is home to many different industries, with agriculture, manufacturing, and oil and gas being among the largest and most important to the local economies. In heavy industries, such as oil and gas, the protection of metal surfaces is a critical aspect that requires close attention. Drilling fluid, hydrocarbons, CO₂, CH₄, and other contaminants are harsh on metal surfaces such as the extensive piping that services the upstream and downstream segments. This where industrial powder coating in Texas reveals its importance.

Powder coating as a process is different from other types of protective and anti-corrosive coatings, such as simple paint. Industrial powder coating in Texas involves the use of an electrostatic gun that applies a dry powder to the surface needing protection. The coating is cured under heat to produce a tough finish that exceeds in protecting the metal substrate.  For internal protection, the recent development of the triple-application fusion bonded epoxy (FBE) system provides especially resilient and durable protection for the many miles of piping that transport petroleum products.

Bare metal components on the exterior of a home are going to rust – there are no two ways about it. Exposure to oxygen, humidity, and rain will begin the corrosion process, which will only get worse as time wears on. Sunlight (and its harsh UV rays) also breaks down traditional coatings and allows fluctuating seasonal temperatures to weaken joints and attack critical areas. These environmental elements seem to be constantly conspiring to ruin metal structures on the exterior of a home. Thus, protective coatings are a must for your outdoor gates, fence panels, and banisters. Protective (functional) coatings will also reduce maintenance costs over time and increase the value of your home.

The most basic type of coating—the simple paint job—provides some protection but leaves a lot to be desired. Average consumer-grade paint, when applied by a non-professional, is susceptible to uneven finishes, chipping, and cracking that can quickly jumpstart the corrosion process. Furthermore, a couple coats of paint will not build up enough “mils” to protect these pieces over time. Even a commercial grade paint will lose its gloss level over a year or two due to its lack of clearcoat resins.

Powder coating gates, fence panels, and banisters has increased in popularity over the years due to its higher level of protection and elegant look. Compared to traditional wet paint applications, the benefits of powder coating gates, fence panels, and banisters are exponentially greater.

Whether it’s an antique piece that has been in the family for decades or a recent purchase that has fallen victim to some less-than-ideal climate conditions, outdoor patio furniture refinishing in Houston becomes necessary when an important or cherished furniture piece loses that special shine. Harsh climates with heavy rains, unrelenting heat, and salty Gulf Coast air can significantly lessen the life of a piece of outdoor furniture. High-humidity areas are also hard on a furniture piece’s protective coatings. It’s no surprise then that outdoor patio furniture in Houston can take a beating. Refinishing the protective coating on the piece is a good way to extend its life and to ensure it stays in the family for years.

Outdoor patio furniture refinishing in Houston can certainly be attempted as a DIY project. But if a piece has fond memories and its own history attached, it’s usually a better option to choose a professional refinishing service. The price point of a DIY project might be more attractive, but ask yourself if it’s worth the time, effort, and potential poor quality of handling the job yourself. It would be a shame to lose a family heirloom to poor workmanship.

For several reasons, a professional powder coating shop in Houston is much more equipped to handle this potentially delicate job. First, DIYers simply can’t compete with the attention to surface preparation standards and methods that a professional shop offers. These industry experts have the knowledge and tools to use the appropriate burn-off, abrasive blast, or hand-etching techniques to­ prepare the surface to a cleanliness standard that can’t be approached by a DIYer. The process of abrasive blasting with industrial equipment also produces by-product that is simply not feasible for the DIYer to manage. A professional powder coating shop can ensure that the surface is as clean as possible prior to the application of the new finish. This is important since an unclean surface could lead to irregularities that result in a less effective and less attractive finish.

Powder coating has been around for several decades—specifically since the 1940s. For most of its history, the technology and materials used in the process are widely utilized in industrial applications that require specialized protective coatings. However, multiple fusion-bonded systems are now available to the average consumer who find simple kits for surprisingly cheap prices.  Since powder coatings are more effective at protecting surfaces than simple paint, using it for the purposes of outdoor furniture refinishing (or other hobbyist projects) can be very attractive to the DIY-minded.  However, there are several reasons why professional powder coating services are worth a little extra investment.

Whether you’re looking to powder coat something yourself or send it to a small shop that promises big results, be aware that there are many factors that can and will affect the final quality of the finish. Commercial/industrial powder coaters operate under strict regulations, work with high-end and expensive commercial equipment, and bring decades of experience with them.  A DIY home powder coating kit might claim to offer safe application, but it’s naive to overlook the many protections that professional powder coaters put into place.  Proper ventilation, respiration, and handling/disposal of the powder & media all require careful consideration.

Also, professional coaters follow surface preparation and quality control standards that far exceed the capabilities of amateurs.  The removal of rust, grease, and other contaminants ensure a clean surface for which the powder will adhere to.  Furthermore, deep anchor patterns created by these processes allow for the powder to sink further into the metal to better protect against dings, chips, and abrasions.  As you can guess, these services cannot be offered by anyone other than a professional powder coating facility.

Within the many technological advances that have been brought on by the oil and gas industry, industrial coatings and their related processes are unsung heroes. The transportation of hydrocarbons through pipes is an integral and necessary mean of delivering the energy that fuels our nation, and the importance of protective coatings on and in these pipes cannot be overstated. Fusion bonded epoxy coatings have grown in popularity as an effective protectant against corrosion and other destructive forces since their introduction in the 1960s.  Two popular products that are frequently used in the interior coating of these oilfield pipes are Resicoat® Corvel 1-6051 Green (HKH12QF) fusion bonded epoxy and Resicoat® 596301 primer.  These coatings are also commonly known and referred to as Corvel® ECA-1660 and Corvel® EP-10.

With regards to fusion bonded epoxy coatings, a substrate is protected from destructive forces by the application of special melt-mixed solid polymers that are more advanced and protective than typical paint. The epoxy is a dry powder which is applied electrostatically to a substrate’s surface (such as the internals of steel pipes that will be transporting hydrocarbons). At normal temperatures, the powder remains in dry form.  But once applied to a preheated pipe, the powder “flows” to a liquid form, thereby cross-linking with the metal and the resin primer. This pattern creates a durable and longer-lasting protective barrier compared to other industrial coatings.

CorvelCorvel® ECA-1660, originally manufactured by Rohm and Haas and now currently owned by Akzo Nobel, is one such fusion bonded epoxy coating. This product is a melt-mixed epoxy thermoset coating (meaning that once it’s cured, it remains in that state forever) which is rated for use in elevated temperatures and pressures. Given that higher temperatures and pressures are common in the piping environments of the oil and gas industry, this product sees wide use across multiple disciplines.  Corvel® ECA-1660 is designed to be used in tandem with Corvel® EP-10, a liquid coating primer. The combination of the Corvel® EP-10® EP-10 primer and Corvel® ECA-1660 offers great uniformed adhesion of the epoxy to the surface as well as increased resistance to H₂S, CO₂, CH₄, and other petroleum distillates.  As such, this 2-part system is regularly used to coat drill pipe, production tubing, and associated fittings.

Used across a variety of industrial and commercial applications, steel is one of the most common construction materials used in the world today. As one might expect, its integrity is of the utmost importance when the metal is part of an erected assembly that cannot be “undone.”  Whether the steel is for bridges, light towers, or even the fire suppression systems integrated in every building, corrosion protection is paramount to ensure the longevity, dependability, and integrity of the metal substrate. Although there are multiple types of corrosion protection in the industry, one that sets itself apart is a duplex system of Powder Coating over Hot-Dipped Galvanized Steel. This double system of coatings ensures an impact-resistant, chemical-resistant, and corrosion-resistant formula that looks good as well.

Developed as a method for preventing corrosive agents from reaching the base metal, galvanizing is the process of dipping steel in a bath of molten zinc. Originated in 1742, galvanization has evolved over hundreds of years resulting in better application, adherence, and longevity standards.

Powder Coating over Hot-Dipped Galvanized Steel is the second phase of this resilient duplex system. Unlike its traditional wet-paint counterpart, powder coating takes advantage of its electrochemical bonds to sink deeper into the anchor profiles thereby creating a hardened shell. Hot-dip galvanizing provides the basic cathodic and barrier protection underneath while the powder coating handles the chemical, impact, and corrosive resistance on top.

The industrial coating used to protect the pipes we use every day is not something that most people think about with any frequency. After all, most of us are too busy working and taking care of our loved ones to sit around and have deep thoughts about the pipes that deliver the fuel which powers our vehicles, bring clean water into our homes, and remove dangerous waste and sanitation. However, it’s clear that these are all aspects of modern living that society heavily depends on. Without pipelines moving fluids, many modern conveniences would be impossible, and therefore the protection of these conduits is not to be overlooked. Although many people are aware, few are familiar with the processes and materials used to protect the pipes that make their modern lives possible, such as corrosion resistant industrial coatings.

Among the various types of industrial coatings Houston, corrosion resistant coatings are some of the most common yet crucial. For the ever-important oil and gas industry here in Texas and the rest of the country, treating pipeline to be resistant to corrosion is a fact of life. According to the National Association of Corrosion Engineers, the cost of corrosion in petroleum refining is $3.7 billion in the U.S. annually—that’s a lot of money lost down the pipes due to mostly preventable chemical processes. The chemicals flowing through pipeline, as well as the high flow rate and volume of fluid, contributes to heavy corrosion across the industry. Recent increases in shale gas production have also offered new challenges in protecting pipeline.

There are multiple methods of corrosion prevention used in industrial applications, though its usage varies by the setting, environment, and type of material to be protected. Cathodic protection, commonly used in both onshore and offshore drilling operations, is one method of corrosion prevention which utilizes electromagnetism and chemistry to protect pipe. Corrosion inhibitors are also frequently used in the industry; these chemicals coat the surface of the pipe to form a protective film which then reacts with the corrosion-causing chemicals and interrupt the process. Among industrial coatings Houston, fusion bonded epoxy (FBE) has made significant gains in popularity. FBE is a powder-based coating which uses high temperatures to form interlocking chemical protection that is highly effective in protecting pipe and has seen increasingly widespread adoption as a protection method.

A new oilfield assembly or refinished piece of furniture might look great as a final product, but there’s a lot of work that goes into making sure its surface is prepared before the coating is even applied. If a substrate’s surface is dirty, the coating will not adhere properly and will ultimately fail. To prevent this from occurring, multiple industry-wide surface preparation standards have been developed to clean and properly prepare different types of metal. Given that there are so many different potential cleaning methods and surface materials, these guidelines benefit the industry by standardizing processes and ensuring the highest possible quality for the client.

The most commonly used and accepted standards were put forward by the Society for Protective Coatings (SSPC) and the National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE), both professional organizations operating in the corrosion and coatings industry. These organizations came together to bring the Joint Surface Preparation Standards to the industry. These standards cover a multitude of techniques for preparing surfaces, from simple solvent cleaning (SSPC-SP1) to abrasive blasting using a high-pressure gun that leaves a metal surface “uniformly free of all foreign matter” (SSPC-SP5 / NACE 1).

Note that these surface preparations also create anchor profiles from which the powder adheres to the metal. The more aggressive surface preps will produce a deeper anchor pattern. Typical steel grit blast media will produce anchor profiles between 2-4 mils. Mild solvents and hand-etching will produce less. Recognize that the classification numbers of the surface preparation standards do not necessarily increase with intensity (so read them carefully).

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.

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 term “RAL” appears very frequently in the powder coating industry and is instantly familiar to those who work in the field, but its meaning and origins, beyond the fact that it’s related to powder coat colors, might be more obscure to those who aren’t actively involved in the powder coating industry.

RAL is color matching system used in powder coating to ensure that colors are standardized across different applications, much like the Pantone color system in printing. There’s a good reason it’s simply called RAL, though: it actually refers to the Reichs-Ausschuß für Lieferbedingungen und Gütesicherung, a German industrial commission that invented the standard in 1927, starting with a collection of 40 colors. The standardized colors used in applications of powder coating in Houston got their start almost a century ago, in a different country, which is a testament to the utility of the standard and its enduring presence in industrial applications.

Though there have been several iterations and expansions of the RAL standard, the concept has remained the same. Having a standardized color system, produced with the same tints, hues, and saturations each time, makes it significantly easier to produce powder coat colors that remain consistent regardless of how many times they must be mixed.

Across many industries and applications, there is a common need for finishing processes that can offer effective and efficient protection for metal surfaces. Whether it’s pipeline for the oil and gas industry or traffic signs in urban development, metals are ever-present in our daily lives, and they need to be protected from damage from a variety of sources. Traditional wet paint can be used to coat metal surfaces and afford some protection, but there are more effective coating technologies—powder coating being first and foremost amongst them.

Powder coating in Houston offers several advantages over wet paint application. One of the clearest advantages with powder coating is the thick, hard finish that is produced by a process of electrostatic binding and high-heat curing. The thickness of the coat, and its durability and resistance to factors such as abrasion and rust, is unattainable with traditional wet paint coatings. Plus, wet paint coatings will require maintenance down the road, with further coats necessary to preserve the coat’s protective qualities; powder coating is a more permanent solution, offering a denser and harder finish with fewer coats overall.

Powder coating doesn’t just offer protective benefits, but in several ways it can also offer a more attractive finish. Powder coat colors and textures are offered in a wide variety of choices to the consumer, with the RAL system providing standardized colors throughout the industry. Powder coating in Houston also offers a more even coating since the powder is applied uniformly without the drips or application traces that might be seen with wet paint. Plus, the application and curing process in powder coating is significantly faster than allowing a coating of wet paint to dry, and powder coating is environmentally friendly—the powder contains no solvents and produces a low amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

The powder coating process has steadily gained in popularity since its introduction in the 1960s, with coating distributors and manufacturers popping up along with service shops that perform the actual coating process. It’s clear that powder coating in Houston is an effective process, and a popular one given the presence of heavy industry nearby that can always find a use for the technology. But what exactly happens in the powder coating process?

At its heart, powder coating is a process for applying a finish that protects a wide variety of surfaces from damage, whether chemical, radioactive, or physical. In Houston and surrounding areas like the Woodlands, Katy, and Baytown, powder coating enjoys popularity due to the needs of the ever-present oil and gas industry, but it can also be used to apply a protective coating to something as basic as household appliances.

The material applied to a surface in powder coating consists of a polymer resin base combined with additional materials such as curatives, pigments, and flow modifiers. These ingredients are ground into a uniform powder before being applied to the surface to be coated with the use of a specially-made spray gun, sometimes called a corona gun. These guns use an electrostatic process to actually apply the coating, which differs significantly from other coatings, like the wet coating of a traditional paint. Since the electrostatic process eliminates the need for wet coating, powder coating in the Woodlands, TX can be helpful in protecting everything from large machinery to the miles and miles of piping used in the oil and gas industry.

In any heavy industry, and especially in the oil and gas industry so familiar to residents of Houston, there is a strong demand for coating technology that protects pipelines from both internal and external degrading factors such as corrosion, chemical breakdown, and physical abrasion. Fusion bonded epoxy coatings, also known as FBE coating, have been a popular choice for this application since their introduction in the 1960s.

What is fusion bonded epoxy coating?

FBE coating is a type of powder coating consisting of a resin and a hardener which, when heated at high temperatures, causes the material to melt into liquid form and flow to cover a substrate to be protected. Once the surface is covered, the piece is allowed to cool, which sets the coating into a solid form. The process of curing and then cooling the powder coating is called fusion bonding. Fusion bonded epoxy coating is different from conventional paint coatings in that it takes advantage of a process called cross-linking in which polymer chains are linked together; this results in a stronger and more resistant coating.

Outdoor furniture refinishing services are especially important in an area like Houston. Although we love the outdoor life, we also have to be mindful of the threats that the elements pose to outdoor furniture: sun, rain, and near-constant humidity combine to make Houston, and the Gulf Coast in general, a difficult place to keep up a good set of outdoor furniture. No one wants to go to a barbecue or a simple patio get-together to be greeted with rusty or corroded furniture.

That’s where outdoor furniture refinishing comes in, and specifically powder coating in Houston services. Although there are a few options for refinishing your lawn and patio furniture, powder coating offers one of the most consistent and high-quality finishes compared to other processes like painting.

Professional outdoor furniture refinishing services that utilize powder coating begin with robust, thorough, and effective methods of surface preparation, including removal of previous coatings through burn-off, abrasive blasting, or hand-etching techniques. These processes are more effective in removing contaminants than any DIY process like using wire brushes in preparation for a coat of paint. Having a clean surface free from impurities is one of the most important aspects of getting a long-lasting and high-quality finish; therefore, if the longevity of your furniture is important, it’s worth the investment in professional outdoor furniture refinishing services.

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.