Exposed pipes can be a major problem for any restaurant in Florida’s “oppressive” humidity and heat. For starters, aggressive sunlight, moisture and rainwater constantly attacking coating systems can accelerate the normal wear and tear.
As if it isn’t bad enough, moisture can also creep behind coatings, causing them to peel off. Without a protective layer, your Tampa restaurant pipes will soon begin to rust. But there is a relatively easy and quick way to deal with all these: applying a fresh coat of paint on a regular basis will allow you to keep your pipes in good condition.
Painting pipes is usually a pretty straightforward process. However, there are a few “secrets” that can help you paint Tampa restaurant pipes right the first time.
A Quality Paint Job Starts with Proper Preparation
If you wonder how you can prepare metal pipes to get a professional looking, long-lasting paint job, make sure you follow the tips below.
- Remove rust and loose paint. Using a hard wire brush, remove all the rust, dirt and loose paint from your pipes. It’s extremely important not to skip any spots, as painting on poorly prepared surfaces with traces of rust, dust, dirt or paint chips can prevent the coating system from bonding well to the substrate. This can affect both the appearance and durability of your paint job. If the existing paint film doesn’t show any signs of deterioration, you can use it as a base coat. All you have to do is sand the old paint film lightly with fine-grit sandpaper. This will break down its glossiness, ensuring good adhesion of the new paint film.
- Wash your pipes. When removing rust, dirt and old paint, unseen residues can be left behind. Though dust, dirt and grime are easy to cover with paint, they can prevent the new coating system from adhering firmly to the substrate. Washing your pipes with water and soap, and rinsing them well will help ensure perfectly clean surfaces.
- Prime the surface. No matter how well you prepare your pipes, adhesion-related paint failures can still occur. To ensure that the paint film sticks properly to the surface beneath, the unfinished metal needs to be primed. In addition to preventing adhesion issues, the primer facilitates the application of a more uniform and smooth coat of paint, which will look better and last longer, while helping you better address moisture problems that are so prevalent in Tampa, FL. When priming is skipped, it can lead to inconsistent appearance due to variations in the film thickness and coating failure. For the best results, allow the primer to dry completely before you paint Tampa restaurant pipes in your chosen color.
- Apply the top coat as soon as possible. Once the primer has dried, you can apply the top coat. If you wait too long between priming and painting, dust and dirt may start to collect on your pipes, and you may have to start all over again. Be careful when choosing the primer and paint, as they need to be compatible with each other and correspond to the intended use.
If you’re looking for the best way to paint Tampa restaurant pipes, it’s important to consider professional painting guidelines. For expert advice or for a well planned, executed and maintained paint job, you can always count on Performance Painting Contractors.
