Understanding the Process of Industrial Painting

Industrial painting is a specialized type of painting used to protect buildings, factories, industrial equipment, and heavy machinery. Industrial painting is more than simply applying color to a surface. The extremely durable paints protect the buildings and equipment from both the elements and from any industrial processes happening nearby. This is achieved by using industrial-strength paints, varnishes, equipment, and painting techniques to ensure the longevity of the facility.

What is Industrial Painting?

Industrial painting is the process of applying extremely durable paints to buildings and warehouses where corrosive elements or harsh chemicals are present. Painting industrial buildings calls for specially-formulated paints and varnishes that will last when exposed to extreme heat, persistent moisture, or abrasive chemicals.

What’s the Difference Between Industrial Painting and Commercial Painting?

The key difference between industrial painting and commercial painting is that industrial painting uses special paints that can withstand corrosive conditions and protect the material underneath. Commercial painting is used for buildings like offices, schools, and apartments. Industrial painting is used on factories, warehouses, and industrial buildings. 

Commercial painting is performed strictly to decorate a building. Industrial painting applies color, but the specialized paints also protect the building from the elements and harsh conditions like extreme heat or persistent moisture.

Surface Preparation

The first step of a painting project is surface preparation. Surface preparation is the cleaning and preparing of a surface so nothing gets in the way of the paint adhering to a surface. Cleaning is the first step of surface preparation, where any dust or debris is removed from the surface. In some cases special detergents may be used to wash the surface. Existing paint that may be cracked or peeling must also be removed to ensure a clean surface that’s ready to be painted. 

Industrial Painting Methods

There are several different industrial painting methods that can be used for different situations. Each painting method has its own advantages and disadvantages and they’re not all suited for every type of industrial painting project. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of industrial painting options and how they work.

Roller Painting Method

Roller painting is just applying paint with a roller instead of a paintbrush or sprayer. The width of the paint roller makes it easy to quickly and efficiently paint large surfaces. They’re superior to paintbrushes because rollers are bigger and can hold more paint. Rollers are inferior to paint sprayers because paint sprayers can apply paint much faster.

Powder Coating Method

Powder coating is a painting method where dry powder is applied to an electrostatically–charged surface. The electrostatic charge causes the powder to cling to the object and it’s then placed in an oven to bake. After the powder has baked and cured, the end result is a finish that’s thicker and tougher than conventional paint. The downsides are that powder coating requires an electrostatic booth and oven to complete the entire process.

Solvent-Based Coating Method

Water evaporates from paint, causing it to dry. But in hot and humid conditions, it can be difficult for the moisture from regular paint to evaporate. Solvent-based coatings rely on a chemical reaction to cure, which means that it can dry even in wet and humid conditions. The downside of solvent-based coatings is that they emit strong odors and potentially harmful chemicals.

Textured Coating Method

Most paints are intended to have a flat, smooth finish. Textured coating does the opposite, and contains particles or additives to create a textured finish. You’ve likely seen textured paint on bedroom walls and ceilings. The benefit of textured coating is that it can hide scratches, dings, and other wear and tear. The downside of textured paint coatings is that it can be difficult to both apply and remove from the wall.

Industrial Spraying Method

Paint spraying helps get industrial painting projects finished quickly. There are a few different types of paint spraying, each with their benefits and drawbacks.

Air Spray Method

An air sprayer uses compressed air to atomize paint into a fine mist as it’s sprayed onto a surface. Air sprayers are popular because they are easy to use and paint quickly. The downsides of using an air sprayer are that due to overspray the site needs extensive preparation to prevent paint from getting everywhere, and that the sprayer needs to be thoroughly cleaned after each use.

Electrostatic Air Spraying Method

Electrostatic air spraying uses positively-charged paint that is attracted to and clings to the negatively-charged objects being sprayed. As the paint exits the sprayer it becomes positively charged, and is magnetized toward the grounded object being painted. This prevents overspray as the paint droplets are automatically attracted to the object. The biggest downside of electrostatic air spraying is that the equipment is expensive.

HVLP Spraying Method

HVLP (High Volume Low Pressure) is a paint spraying method that uses an air compressor to atomize the paint into a mist of very fine paint droplets. HVLP is commonly used for painting cars, or any project that requires a very fine finish. The biggest advantage of high volume, low pressure painting is that it results in minimal overspray. The main disadvantage of HVLP is that it sprays very slowly.

Airless Paint Spraying Method

Airless paint spraying uses a high pressure pump that forces the paint into the sprayer through a hose, and out of the sprayer’s nozzle. When the paint exits the nozzle it breaks up into tiny droplets creating a fine mist. One advantage of an airless paint sprayer is that it allows you to paint large areas quickly. Downsides of airless paint spraying is the cost of the sprayer itself, and the high amount of overspray.

Ensuring Safety and Quality

At Alpine Painting and Restoration, quality and safety are always top of mind. Cutting corners when it comes to safety is never worth it, which is why we exercise the highest safety standards to ensure neither our employees nor yours are ever in harm’s way. The most important value after safety is quality. We ensure that our projects are of the highest quality so the customer is always satisfied.

Safety Measures

Safety on the job site is critical. Our teams follow strict guidelines to avoid any accidents or injuries. They’re trained to properly handle any hazardous materials or byproducts that may be present. Personal protective equipment is always enforced which includes protective goggles, respirators, and protective clothing to avoid exposure to any harmful materials.

Environmental Considerations

Some paints contain harsh chemicals that are harmful to both painters and the environment. Our painting contractors wear personal protective equipment when on the job site to protect themselves, and use proper disposal protocols for harmful materials to protect the environment. Proper ventilation is also essential when handling these types of caustic paints.

Some industrial paint formulas include solvents, which means they’re designated as volatile organic compounds. VOCs are harmful to the environment and they must be disposed of properly. Our teams are trained to use proper waste management and disposal of harmful materials.

Quality Control

Industrial paint jobs are designed to last for years, but that means any mistakes left behind will last for years as well. That’s why quality control is so important. We double and triple-check our work, because our company’s reputation is built on providing amazing results. Having a high level of quality control means defects like streaks, unpainted spots, discoloration, or uneven coatings are addressed and resolved quickly.

At Alpine Painting and Restoration we take quality control seriously in order to get the job done right the first time.

Choosing the Right Industrial Painting Contractor

The first step to completing your industrial painting project is to hire the right painting contractors. Alpine Painting and Restoration has been serving Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the Tri-state area for over three decades. There’s a reason we’ve been in this business for so long, and it’s a combination of hard work, skilled painters, and an unwavering dedication to customer satisfaction.

Contact Alpine Painting and Restoration

If you’re looking for an experienced industrial painting company in the Philadelphia area, contact the trusted team at Alpine Painting and Restoration today. We’ll respond with a free cost estimate and discuss the unique aspects of your project and how we can get it done.

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