The Great Gate Company Tel. 01761 232018
sales@thegreatgatecompany.co.uk
Finishing Options
We offer a choice of finishing options. The following info will help you to decide which finish is right for you.
Primed
A primed finish is an item that has been primed with a rust inhibiting primer such as red oxide or grey oxide. If the item is not painted it will weather and rust slightly over time. This can give an attractive rustic look. If you do not want a rustic look, the primer will need painting with a metal paint. Primed finish is the least expensive finishing option.
Painted Finish
If you choose a painted finish, we will paint the items for you with a good quality direct to metal paint such as hammerite. There will be a choice of colours and you will not need to paint the items before use. Modern paint finishes do give some protection against rust but the items are not guaranteed rust proof. You can repaint the items as required with any good quality metal paint. These are widely available from DIY Stores.
Galvanised Only Finish
Without protection, all metal will rust if it comes into contact with water (rain). Water corrodes the metal leaving a rust deposit. This will start to happen as soon as the metal gets wet. Primed finishes and painted finishes provide some protection against rust but they do not guarantee a rust proof finish.
The only way to completely stop gates and railings from rusting is to have them galvanised in a special galvanising plant. This is a hot zinc dip which coats the metal completely and provides an air tight and durable seal. This is silvery in colour which fades over time. Galvanised only items are initially bright silver in colour and in time this fades to a dull grey. Galvanised items can be painted after they have weathered, usually after 6 months. Alternatively, we can paint or powdercoat them for you in the factory by introducing a fast track weathering process to allow the paint to adhere to the steel. If it is important to you not to have any rust and you do not particularly like painting, galvanising only or galvanising and painting or powdercoating is recommended.
Galvanising is priced on weight, so heavy section gates and arches are more expensive to galvanise than lightweight gates. The extra cost is more than justified by the assurance that your items will not rust.
Powdercoating
Powdercoating produces a high quality finish that is smoother than a traditional paint finish. Powdercoating is paint in powder form, which is applied in a hot oven and attaches itself electrostatically to the product. There is a wide choice of colours in powdercoating and it produces a visually very attractive result. Powdercoating is not guaranteed rust proof and in time, depending upon the environmental conditions, it will need repainting. It is a popular choice of finish.
Galvanising and Powdercoating/Painting
These two finishes together provide a rust proof, high quality, low maintenance finish that looks stunning.
Still not sure? Call Sue to discuss your requirements. Tel. 01761 232018 or email sales@thegreatgatecompany.co.uk
