Everything You Need to Know About Powder Coating Metal Gates

1. Everything You Need to Know About Powder Coating Metal Gates Los Gatos Iron Works Inc.

2. There’s no doubt about it: when you want to add a touch of charm to your property without compromising security, metal gates are a good choice. They’re stylish, they’re sturdy, and in many cases, such gates out-perform wooden and aluminum ones—especially when it comes to durability. You may already have an idea about what custom design to choose and which gate installation company to hire, but have you already picked a finish? There are two kinds of finish most often used for metal gates; paint and powder. Each one has its pros and cons, but more often than not, companies will suggest that you powder coat your wrought-iron gate. What does powder coating do for metal gates, and what can you expect?

3. What Is Powder Coating? Powder coating is one method of applying a finish to metal gates that is both protective and decorative, whether the gate will be in an industrial or residential setting. It involves spraying wrought-iron gates with a very fine plastic powder that’s a mix of finely ground pigment and resins. This powder becomes charged with static electricity when it’s sprayed, and the metal attracts it. The parts sprayed with the powder are baked in a special oven, usually at very high temperatures. This melts the powder and creates a beautiful, sleek, and uniform finish. You can achieve a similar look with paint coated metal gates, where the iron is sprayed with paint (it’s as simple as that) but you’d be sacrificing certain benefits of powder coating.

4. The Benefits of Powder Coating As mentioned earlier, both powder and paint coating can leave metal gates with similar finishes, and truth be told, benefits go beyond aesthetics. Here are the more important ones. Longer-lasting. Powder coating your gate is the best choice if you want the finish to last long. Unlike paint, this kind of coating is weather-resistant; there are no blistering thanks to the heat and rain. In fact, with proper maintenance, experts say that powder coating can last for at least 20 years. It also makes your gate resistant to corrosion, meaning your gate will last longer, too. Of course, there are outside factors that could affect just how long the powder coating will last, such as the actual location of the property the gate will be on and how much applied pollution there’ll be. Nevertheless, powder coating has been seen to hold up relatively better than paint coating.

5. Environmentally friendly. The plastic and pigments used for powder coating don’t contain any pollutants, let alone volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. That’s why such a coating is non-toxic, safe enough to be used even in the food service industry. Paint, on the other hand, often contains heavy metals as well as VOCs, which means paint can be toxic to the environment and to your health. Even if these materials don’t get into the air, paint by-products can seep into the ground and the water supply—resulting in hazardous effects.

6. Less costly. This ties into the first two benefits, really. Because powder coating doesn’t involve as much material as paint coating does, and lasts longer with the right maintenance, this kind of finish is less expensive in the long run. Given all that, you can see why powder coating is usually a top choice of finish for many, including those who manufacture and install metal gates. So if you haven’t decided on the finish for your wrought-iron gate yet, or if you need to have finish re-applied, why not try powder coating? You’re sure to be pleased with the results!

7. Need help with installing or maintaining iron gates? Get in touch with Los Gatos Iron Works and let us know how we can help. With our years of experience in the industry, you’re sure to be pleased with the results! https://losgatosironworks.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-powder- coating-metal-gates/