Colour co-ordination is critical, so too must the long term colour-retention and performance characteristics of the colour chosen for any joinery products. This is especially important in harsh environments such as New Zealand .

Powder Coating Process

Powder coated joinery offers a pre-finished product in long-lasting electrostatic-applied powder-coating.

The Powdercoatings used in New Zealand are amongst the most durable coatings in the world. This durability is essential to comply with standards governing the extreme climatic conditions in the country. NZ has very high U.V. radiation conditions meaning that products designed and developed in NZ set a great benchmark for other countries.

Colors

The Powdercoating colours on color charts of various manufacturers are typically designed for exterior environments. However, some colours perform better than others in retaining their original colour.

A good guideline to follow is:

Light, Pastel Colours: have the best U.V. performance of any colour system be it powder or paint.

Darker Colours: absorb more heat, hence they age more readily when subject to long-term ultra violet rays. A regular cleaning programme increases the longevity of these finishes.

Bright Colours: such as reds, yellows and oranges are produced using synthetic organic pigments. These colours tend not to retain their bright original colour as well as the pastel or dark colours.

In addition, the choice of bright colours for use on exterior aluminium windows and doors limits the color options for the cladding in future remodeling and renovation. A higher U.V. performance powder which incorporates ceramic pigment will ensure longer-term durability.

Type of Powder Used

There are many different types of Powder used. You must be careful to choose the correct one for the application.

The chemistry of the main powder coating products manufactured for use on Architectural Aluminium falls into three categories.

Extra Durable Powder Coatings

Most coating of windows and doors for the housing market in both Australia and New Zealand use Extra Durable Polyesters types of Powder.

The advantages are that the chemistry generally allows trouble free joinery fabrication, meaning a very large colour range, with competitive pricing. Warranties are typically 10 year colour plus longer-term film integrity, although some manufacturers only offer limited warranties - so check this carefully.

High Durability Powder Coatings

These Powders are mostly used prestigious homes, high rise, commercial and industrial buildings, or residential homes in harsh environments.

They offer very good long term performance, and very good protection in aggressive environments. However, these products are less flexible requiring extra care at time of joinery fabrication and are more limited in color range. Many colors are only available on order, which can mean delays in delivery times. Warranties are typically 15 year colour due to longer film integrity.

Super durable Powder Coatings

Super Durable Powders are Fluoropolymer based powder coatings suitable for use on high rise buildings and very harsh environment and houses where regular cleaning is difficult due to either house design or terrain.

Super durable powder coatings offer excellent long term performance with outstanding resistance to Ultra Violet degradation and superior protection in aggressive environments.

The disadvantages are that they are less flexible, requiring extra care at time of joinery fabrication, and more limited in color range and are only made to order. There are less approved applicators for this type of process, so check credentials carefully to ensure that all products meet local powder coating standards for both application and assembly of the joinery.

Warranties are typically 15-20 years for colour, gloss and film integrity.

Benefits of Powder Coating

One of the major benefits of Powder Coating is that it is ideally suited for remodeling and renovations. Existing windows can be refurbished to match new joinery.

Refurbishment

All surfaces eventually degrade on prolonged exposure to the elements. This results in change of colour, loss of gloss and some chalking. There are several restoration techniques possible; depending on the particular circumstances and the life expectancy of the refurbishment.

The type of refurbishment also may vary between domestic and commercial applications.

For Domestic Refurbishment - simply polish with a high quality automotive cream polish in accordance with the polish manufacturer's instructions. Avoid polishes which also contain cutting compounds, unless the surface is extremely weathered.

For Badly Scratched Surfaces - use a dab stick or aerosol can with colour matched paint. These are available from the company that supplied your aluminium windows and doors and can be matched to your original order or your new joinery.

Durability

Powdercoating is one of the most durable colour coatings available and, with very little effort on maintenance, it will provide many years of excellent service.

Pricing

The price of Powder Coating is determined by:

Thickness of the coating - depends on the corrosion protection required. In non aggressive environments 12 micron maybe adequate, however as the environment becomes more aggressive a thicker coat of 20 or 25 microns is required. Cheap options using thinner films may result a finish that show erosion, pitting and staining within a few years.
Colour of the Powder Coating - The coloring process varies on the powder used, both limiting the choice and impacting the cost. Extra processing time and the addition of chemicals for colouring.

Maintenance and Care

With any powdercoat surface it is critical that a regular cleaning programme is adhered to. Regular cleaning is required, the frequency depending on accessibility and the severity of the environment:

If you are not close to the sea or to industrial or suphuric atmospheres where grime deposition and pollution of the atmosphere are minimal - cleaning may only be required every six months to remove deposits and restore the appearance. Use clean water with a mild detergent. Any tough stains can be removed with a mild-moderate household liquid abrasive. This action may remove a small amount of the anodic layer, which leaves behind a renewed anodised finish. DO NOT use of harsh abrasives - this will damage the film.

Washing down your windows about every three months should be sufficient.

Finish by thoroughly rinsing the entire area with large quantities of clean water. Pay particular attention to flushing debris and residues from crevices, joints and drain holes.

Do Not Use:

Emery paper, sand paper, steel wool or other highly abrasive materials.
Acid or alkaline cleaners
Emulsion cleaners, proprietary chemical agents and solvents - these may also attack the anodised coating or surrounding window components
Common solvents such as petrol, Acetates, Dulon Thinners, and Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) are very damaging to powdercoat finishes.

If paint is splashed on the joinery, act quickly and remove with a wet cloth. We recommend using water-based paints to enable easy clean up. Using solvents on your joinery can cause damange so ALWAYS immediately rinse off the area cleaned using clean water.