Is It Worth It? Looking at the cost of powder coating compared to regular paint
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When you need to restore metal, you can either use wet paint or powder coating. A can of spray paint looks like the best deal for your money at first glance. But if you look at the long-term value, the cost of powder coating is often a better financial choice.
We want our customers at Rusty Lions to know not only how much they pay today, but also how much they save tomorrow. This is a detailed look at why powder coating is the best way to finish metal at a low cost.
The Comparison of Upfront Costs
To be honest, powder coating costs more up front than painting. If you painted a wrought iron fence yourself, you might have to buy $100 worth of primer and paint. Professional powder coating for that same fence, on the other hand, could cost $8 to $10 per square foot.
But this comparison is wrong because it doesn't take into account how long things last.
• Wet Paint: usually lasts 1 to 3 years outside before it cracks, fades, or peels, and you have to strip it and paint it again.
• Powder Coating: it bonds a polymer skin to the metal using heat. It can handle chemicals, moisture, UV rays, and impact. A professional powder coat can last for a long time, like 15 to 20 years.
When you spread the cost out over the item's lifetime, powder coating costs a lot less per year than painting.
Cutting down on waste and making things more efficient
Efficiency is one thing that helps keep the cost of industrial powder coating low. Wet paint doesn't "transfer" very well; a lot of it goes into the air as overspray, and the solvents evaporate, leaving less of the protective material on your part.
In powder coating, the powder is attracted to the metal by an electric field. In industrial settings, overspray can often be collected and used again. Also, powder coating is a "one-coat" process. It doesn't need several coats of paint and primer that take a long time to dry in between. This efficiency cuts down on the number of hours worked, which helps keep the price low for the customer.
Why hiring a pro is better than doing it yourself
Some people try DIY kits to avoid the cost of professional powder coating. As we explain on our website, this is not often a good deal.
• Equipment: A good gun and oven setup costs at least $600.
• Energy: Electric ovens use a lot of electricity.
• Safety: You need proper ventilation and respirators to work with the fine dust.
You probably spent more on the tools and materials than it would cost to have Rusty Lions coat a set of rims ($50–$60 each) or a motorcycle frame ($350+). Also, professional shops have the chemical pretreatment tanks and sandblasting cabinets that are needed to make sure the coating sticks.
Making Your Assets More Valuable
Last but not least, think about how much you can sell it for. "Freshly powder coated" is a selling point for both cars and homes.
• For cars: Powder-coated calipers and rims show that the owner took care of the car, which makes it worth more when it sells.
• For homes, railings and gates that have been refinished and are free of rust instantly make the outside look better.
The Decision
The initial cost of powder coating may be higher than that of a rattle can, but it is the best choice for any metal item you plan to keep for more than a year because it lasts longer, looks better, and doesn't need to be maintained.