Powder coating is an alternative to liquid coating, which was a huge environmental problem. Today, various aluminium items have powder coating in the architectural, construction, and interior world. While the coating has a durable paint finish, painting over it may be necessary to refresh the colour or change the look of your home, or even get rid of scratches on the aluminium frame.
Why Should I Paint On Powder-Coated Aluminium?
Powder coating is a dry powder that is electrostatically applied to a metal surface, such as aluminium. The base metal is coated with powder and heated in an oven to melt the coating onto the aluminium, which is often seen as an advantage aluminium windows have over uPVC windows.
The intense heat provided by the oven changes the powder into a smooth layer of coating that sticks to the windows. The dry powder elements are boosted through a chemical process while it is cured. Powder-coated surfaces are strong and last for quite some time.
You can definitely paint on a powder-coated window, which saves you time and money in the long run. Instead of taking your windows to get another powder coat, which may take longer, you can quickly apply paint. There is also no inconvenience of moving very large items.
Painting over existing powder coating is much cheaper than getting a new coating. Over time, powder-coated aluminium can begin to bubble, crack or flake off. So, painting over the powder coating will protect the windows and improve the metal surface appearance.
How To Paint Over Powder-Coated Aluminium Windows
It is easy to paint over powder coating. You can follow these steps to paint a powder-coated surface with liquid paint successfully.
Step 1: Clean your aluminium surface
Any grease or dirt on the powder-coated metal surface will prevent the paint from clinging, so all the debris and other contaminants must be removed. You can wash the window using a soft brush or use the hose if the window is very dirty. If you are using degreasing detergent, you must ensure it is rinsed off with warm water (not hot) and left to completely dry before continuing.
Step 2: Take out the corrosion
The powder coating on your windows may have corroded, so you must strip the rust before painting. If your coating is chalky, you must remove the white rust with a nylon pad. For red rust, you can use a power sander to make the surface smooth. Wipe the surface with tack cloths to clean any remaining dust.
Step 3: Abrade the surface
When you paint over powder coating, you must make sure that the coat of paint sticks to the aluminium. You have to sand the windows to remove the gloss from the powder coating, providing a nice surface to apply the paint. If you have old paint on your windows, you can read our blog on how to remove paint from aluminium window frames.
Anodised aluminium needs more abrading than normal ones. If some parts of the powder coating are still there, feather the edges so the surface is smooth. Clean any resulting residue.
Step 4: Mask your surfaces
Mask any surfaces that must be protected from the primer or liquid paint. You can use plastic sheeting, tape, and masking paper to protect the finished surfaces from being overpainted.
Step 5: Apply the primer
Once your windows are clean and dry, you can apply the primer and leave it to cure. You should do this as soon as possible, so the window does not get dirty or oxidise again. There are various primers for different types of alloys, so a special primer for aluminium must be used.
Apply a small amount of the primer to the surface to check if it sticks. If it smudges or can be wiped off, you must repeat step three.
Step 6: Spray your desired top coat
There is a wide range of topcoats available to suit your needs. You can choose your desired colour and gloss levels suitable for painting over powder coating. Selecting the correct product so it sticks to the surface is essential.
You must hold the can between 10cm and 25cm away from the windows. Use various thin coats for each application rather than putting a thick coat on the window frame. The coat will peel off quickly and become untidy. If you’re applying liquid paint, this is especially important.
When you’re finished painting the window frames, your clean-up should be minimal. If you did not use a primer, you must choose the top layer to stick to the primer or to the aluminium. After painting, you can read our tips on maintaining and choosing aluminium doors and windows.
How Long Will My Aluminium Doors And Windows Last With Proper Maintenance?
It is hard to tell how long your windows will last; however, their life can be prolonged with regular cleaning and maintenance. Whether you’re calling a professional or doing it yourself, you must have a routine for cleaning and maintenance to ensure you get the best out of your aluminium.
At UK Aluminium Bifold Doors, we provide the finest aluminium door and window solutions. We combine quality and impressive design with the durability of our products, which makes them perfect for your building. You can also choose your design, configurations, and colours. Visit our homepage to learn more.
FAQs
What kind of paint do you use on powder coating?
We recommend epoxy, thermosetting acrylic, polyester, or polyurethane enamels. Air-drying enamels such as aerosol spray can paint can also work well, but they may not provide the same quality.
How long does powder coating last on aluminum?
Powder coating can last for 20 years; however, exposure to UV light and other elements can break it down more rapidly.
Can you touch up the paint on the powder coating?
You can touch it up with liquid paint. Do not touch up with powder, as it will leave a visible line between the coated area and the area you touched up.
