Our aluminum fences have a durable powder coat — but what does that mean for you? Here are the benefits of having a powder coat on your fence!
Home repair is a maintenance industry with market security. There will always be homeowners, even if they are renting out their homes, and there will still be the constant need to update and repair those homes. Compared to things like roofing, plumbing, or other expensive repairs, fence maintenance is a relatively low cost. It can be time-consuming, though, because fences require the occasional repairing and repainting. One way you can save money and time is by investing in
aluminum fencing instead of wood, and making sure your fence has a powder coat on it.
Powder Coat Fences
What is a powder coat? A powder coat is a method of applying a special protective color finish to metals on aluminum fences and gates. Electro-statically charged powder is applied to the metals first. Then the metal is placed into an oven where those powder particles melt into a smooth finish that bonds with the metal. In this way, it is not truly a “paint” job.
One of the overlooked benefits of powder coating vs. paint is that, with powder coating, there is no wet paint evaporating into the air around it. This makes an eco-friendlier process for coloring your fence. The powder coating process forms a chemical bond with the aluminum, making it a much safer and smoother form of paint than work applied by spray or by brush – and it is a lot less work.
Not only is it less work to get colored initially, but it also has a protective coat that keeps your fence from rusting. Your
powder coating can be easily cleaned with mild soap and water, and with occasional care, it will last for years.
Attractive Look
Fence professionals usually consider powder coated aluminum fencing to be decorative in nature and categorize it accordingly. They are not the strongest kind of fence you can get and will bend if hit with enough force. However, their appearance can be deceiving to those who are not aware that they are aluminum fences. Most of these fences appear like wrought iron fences, although they can come in a wide range of colors and styles. They work well for pools, backyards, apartments, and office buildings.
Powder coat coloring on your aluminum fence helps make it look professional. A steel fence with spray paint or hand painted job will look cheaper. That “cheaper” look erodes the psychological deterrent factor that fences create.
Cheap equates with easily climbed or knocked over (whether this is actually true or not) and classy or professional looking often equates psychologically with more of a headache than it is worth trying to get through.
Powder coat coloring can be a psychological deterrent that keeps your property safe, even if the fence is aluminum rather than iron or steel.
The Cost of Fence Coloring
Wooden fences must be stained, sealed, or painted to keep them looking attractive and to prevent rotting and normal weather damage. When you compare the costs of wood fences vs. aluminum fences, initially they are similar. While powder coating may cost more than spray or hand painting, it leads to significant savings over time.
How? Unless you are a professional painter, your paint job may leave small marred areas in the fence. The paint may run and dry thick in some areas or thin in others leaving discolored patches when they dry. These are minor inconsistencies and inconveniences to using paint on your fence.
The more significant cost comes from maintenance incurred after the initial application of paint. Within a short time in the sun, the paint will begin to fade. Due to exposure to the elements, it will also peel and chip away. Within just a couple years, perhaps sooner, you will need to purchase and reapply a coat of paint. Doing this every year or two adds up to a significant cost over time.
Compare that to a powder coat coloring where the color melts and bonds to the metal. There is no peeling or chipping, and it seals and protects the aluminum from corrosion that it might face out in the elements.
It melts together smoothly without showing brush strokes or drip marks. It looks more consistent, and it lasts far longer than any paint would. This cuts out years of cost and repair work you must spend to maintain your fence.
Unless you have a unique need for a wooden fence, you are better off with an aluminum fence with a powder coat coloring treatment. It will look better and save you money in the long run.
If you are interested in the look of wooden fencing with the maintenance of aluminum fences, you should look at the possibility of using vinyl fences as an alternative. While being a bit more expensive, they indeed offer the best of both worlds.
