Surface Preparation & Its Importance When Painting Your Industrial Facility (1)

When it comes to industrial painting applications, the simple truth is that the paint you apply is only as good as the surface that it is applied. Even if you spend the extra money on a premium quality paint product, you will get poor results if the paint is laid over an unprepared surface. Bad surface preparation is the number one reason that paint applications fail. Here’s why:

Adhesion

Proper surface preparation goes a long way toward ensuring that the paint will lay evenly over the target surface and that it will form a strong bond. It is never safe to assume that a surface is “clean enough“. Even a newly stamped piece of metal will have trace amounts of dust, debris, oil, and fingerprints on the surface. The process of surface preparation ensures that all parts of the surface are equally clean and ready for paint adhesion to occur.

Protecting the Metal

The purpose of industrial painting in the first place is to protect the underlying surface against the elements. Unfortunately, if the surface is not properly prepared, you could be trapping harmful chemicals between the paint and the metal, which can lead to hidden corrosion and other damage. In addition, oil on the surface of the metal will often leave room for moisture to get beneath the paint which will cause the paint to flake away over time. When this happens, the metal itself becomes exposed and is no longer safe from the weather.

ROI

Another factor you should keep in mind is that a little time spent on surface preparation today will save you a ton of money in the long run. The better the surface is prepared, the longer the paint will last, and the less remediation will be required in the future. It is important to remember that fixing bad paint after it has been applied is not as simple as just applying a fresh coat. Oftentimes, the cost of undoing the bad paint and cleaning the whole surface again is significantly higher than doing the job right the first time.

Not only does this save you money, but it also reduces the amount of waste produced in the process of keeping your industrial plant in operable condition. When it comes to reducing your environmental footprint, proper surface preparation can really pay off. It is also important to remember that fixing bad paint after it has been applied is not as simple as just applying a fresh coat. Oftentimes, the cost of undoing the bad paint and cleaning the whole surface again is significantly higher than doing the job right the first time.

The Finish

Aside from all of the dangers associated with poor surface preparation causing damage to your facility, there is also an aesthetic element to consider. A poorly prepared surface will leave you with a paint finish that tends to be bubbled, cracked or orange peeled. If the surface beneath is not primed correctly, it could cause streaking and other odd color variations to appear when the paint dries. If you are spending the money to paint your facility, you certainly want the finished product to look as glossy and new as possible.

These are all the reasons that surface preparation should be of the highest priority when you are getting ready to have your facility painted. Too often we see customers that want to save time or money by leaving out the preparation process. While prepping the surface does take time and patience, it is well worth the effort and will give you the best possible results with your finished coatings. For more information, contact Performance Painting today and schedule your consultation with our experts.

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