Descriptions
ALL SECURITY GATES SUPPLIED WITH LOCK-BLOCK, LOCK, HINGES, AND RIVETS
CARE and ADVICE
*Positioning: anything exposed to the elements is bound to deteriorate at an accelerated
rate due to the effects of Mother Nature. Therefore, it is generally advised that you consider
an internal installation before an external one.
*Treatment: please insure that the gate does not get scratched nor chipped. Removal of the
powder coating means that the steel will be exposed which diminishes the gate’s lifespan.
*Lubricate: wherever there is friction, a lubricant is needed to reduce wear and tear. So,
care will be need regularly (at least monthly) in the bottom track, top rail, locks and other
moving parts.
*Cleaning: the cleaner, the better. We cannot stress enough the importance of cleaning
your barrier often. This should be done with a soft cloth/brush, warm water and a mild
soap. A good wax once in a while will also do well for your barrier. Stay away from
petroleum-based and other harsh chemicals as these have adverse effects on the powder
coated finish of your security feature.
These are but just the minimum requirements and so the better you treat your barrier the
more efficient it will be for an extended period of time. Powder Coating Care &
Maintenance info, please see the document on our website: www.uddoors.co.za
Care & Maintenance of Powder Coated Gates
Powder Coating Provides Decorative and Protective Value to Metal
Products. It is no surprise that organic finishing (powder coating) of metal
products that are exposed to the weathering conditions such as sun, rain, wind,
pollution, freezing cold, salt water and a host of other conditions will degrade
over time. The elements of nature combined with other contributing factors such
as stray electrical current, dissimilar metals, and physical contact with abrasive
materials may cause ware, damage, or erosion and corrosion of the coating and
underlying metal substrate and will therefore shorten the decorative and
protective value of the finish. In fact, it would be surprising if coatings did not
degrade over time to some degree when exposed to the direct effect of Mother
Nature in any climate or region.
Okay so we know about the detrimental effects of water, sun, and all types of
pollution when finished parts are exposed to nature no matter how many
protective layers are applied. So, what can we do to prolong the life of the finish
in the field? Proper “care and maintenance” of course! The answer may seem
obvious to most but surprisingly enough there are claims of warranty on
products that are sold every day that proclaim that the finish requires absolutely
no maintenance whatsoever. To those finishing professionals and organic
chemistry experts this unrealistic expectation sounds preposterous. Indeed, it is
absurd to think that any organic coating could be 100% maintenance free and
not lose some or all of the original decorative and protective properties over
time when exposed to the effects of weather. It is likely that you have
experience at some point in your life the detrimental effects of ultra violet light
(sun) exposure on your unprotected skin (sunburn). Typically, it only takes a few
minutes to an hour for us to realize that the sun is harmful to our skin. It is
equally likely that you have seen what the sun can do to the paint on your car or
truck if the finish is not regularly cared for and the vehicle is left unprotected for
extended periods of time (chalking, erosion, corrosion). To that end, it should be
evident that proper care and maintenance is essential to prolong the service life
of any surface that we value.
Water & Sun Exposure
In the outdoor environment water and ultraviolet light exposure is the two
factors that are most detrimental to any coated surface. The amount exposure to
ultra violet rays from the sun is somewhat predictable at a given location. Water
exposure on the other hand may be less predictable. The frequency of
condensation from fog, humidity, and rain are natural sources of water exposure
but some coated items may be exposed to excessive water exposure from
manmade sources. Irrigation sprinklers may expose coated fences, gates, or
handrail systems to water several times per day. Lawn and poolside furniture
may also be exposed to more frequent water exposure including chlorine
chemicals or salt water. The effort to maintain the protective and decorative
value of a finish is proportionate to the exposure of these and other conditions
including contact with harsh solvents or cleaning chemicals and abrasives.
Care and Maintenance of Powder Coated Surfaces
There is a great diversity of opinions about how powder coated finished
products should be cleaned and maintained. With proper maintenance, one can
substantially prolong the service life of the finish on their powder coated
products. Using these care and maintenance tips can also reduce repair and
replacement costs for some items.
Taking care of the powder coated finish
Powder coating in not impervious to harsh solvents and many
commercial cleaning solutions will damage these finishes. This damage
accelerates staining, fading and ultimate failure of the powder coated finish.
Cleaning with such chemicals can cut the life expectancy of the finish in half. The
service life of any organic finish is impossible to predict due to the many
variables that influence the coatings ability to decorate and protect. Therefore,
no finishing professional would ever attempt to definitively quantify how long a
finish will last or at what rate the coating will begin to lose its decorative or
protective value, or at what rate the values are lost. We do know however, that
proper cleaning and maintenance may more than double or triple the coatings
effective service life. Fabricated products that require the greatest decorative
and protective value will require some sort of proactive maintenance and
care. For high visibility projects such as architectural building applications it is
wise to document and maintain records of the maintenance including the exact
cleaning procedure, materials and frequency. These records may become useful
in the event the finish fails to perform as expected.
Clean with mild soap and warm water
Products that have been powder coated should be cleaned with a soft
brush or cloth, using mild soap and very warm water. Soaps that have emulsifiers
that break down common stains and are scum free are the best to use. The
exposed surfaces of powder coated products that are most critical should be
cleaned weekly or bi-weekly for products such as automotive roof racks, trailer
or motorcycle fenders and such. Simply wipe down the top surfaces and rinse
with filtered water (not hard water). (Reference AAMA 610)
Commercial Cleaning Solutions
It is a common misconception that solvents, and other
petroleum-based chemicals, are good cleaners for powder coated
surfaces. Not true. These chemicals can be very detrimental to
the organic polymer-based finish. They may clean well for a time,
but they clean by removing micro layers of the finish. After a
while, it becomes impossible to clean the surface using this
method. Additionally, the coating surface may become stiff and
hard, and lose its barrier protective value. Compounding this
problem, the coating may begin to crack and prematurely lose
gloss and fade the colour. Physical aging of organic coated
surfaces that are constantly exposed to weathering conditions is
an inescapable process that is accelerated by the use of harsh
chemicals.
Wax the Exposed Surface
Just as your car benefits from semi-annual applications of
wax, so will the finished surfaces of products such as outdoor
furniture, security gates, outdoor lighting fixtures, stairways,
handrails, guardrails, and fences. Lightly wax the coated surfaces
with a high grade, non-abrasive car wax that contain U.V blocker
and/or U.V inhibitors. Do not use compound waxes that contain
abrasives and be sure to wipe off any residual wax. Wax that may
remain on the coated surface could bake on in the ultraviolet
light from the heat of the sun and cause permanent staining.
Conclusion
From the moment the powder coating material is cured to the
surface of the metal product the coating is exposed to conditions
that may be detrimental to the decorative and protective
attributes of the finish. Handling, packaging, transportation,
assembly, and installation are all consideration worthy of special
attention by project planners and everyone in the supply chain.
Be mindful of the fact that there are many contributing factors
that can and will affect the service life of any organic finish.
