5 Reasons Why We Love Powder Coating on Our Steel Lighting

One of the more common questions we get at Steel Lighting Co. is:

“Why do you guys love powder coating so much?”

Yeah, we think it’s pretty funny too. It’s a pretty straightforward answer: the reason we get so excited about powder coating is down simply to the sheer number of benefits it provides for our lights!

We pride ourselves on providing the absolute best to make sturdy steel barn-style lighting for every occasion. Naturally, when we say every occasion, we mean every occasion. That means making something tough enough to withstand just about everything that can reasonably be thrown at it.

From winter storms to blistering summers, our farmhouse-style steel lights are meant to hold together through it all and be ready to light up your space regardless of the conditions. It’s an aspect of our own business that we take pride in and something that can make a difference when the going gets tough. 

Powder coating provides just that extra layer of toughness, and it works great indoors as well, where a surprisingly large number of things can happen to a light fixture as well. 

In this blog entry, we’re going to break down the finer details of why we love powder coating our lights so much. We also want to cover the benefits powder coating gives you as a consumer and the various ways powder coating our own farmhouse-style lights can be a real boon to the lifespan and style of any light fixture or piece of hardware. 

Keep Those Costs Down

The reality of powder coating, and arguably the most important aspect from a business perspective, is that powder coating can be one of the most cost-effective ways to ensure a quality product. 

Thanks to the manufacturing process, which involves an electromagnetic charge being used to fix the powder to the steel, there is little to no waste created when using powder coating. When done correctly by a professional, the powder coating process is super efficient and does not require multiple coats to create a solid application. 

Eliminating extra steps in the application process and waste of the raw materials means that powder coating costs are pretty low when you consider the amount required compared to regular paint. 

The Spice of Life

From the perspective of those on the outside looking in, the world of steel can be a pretty boring one. Of course, that whole notion falls apart once you start introducing the magic of powder coating to the process. Because powder coating is so efficient, both in terms of costs and time, a lot of time can instead be spent fixing and obsessing over the finished product’s finer details. 

This allows a whole world of colors and finishes to be considered during the manufacturing process, allowing for a huge amount of customization to happen at just about every building level. It doesn’t even stop there either. Some manufacturers also incorporate different textures and additives, like glitter, to easily create a unique product without bringing in additional equipment. 

That carries over to the consumer (you), who gets to have a whole selection of different colors and styles at their fingertips without having to pay some exorbitant price in the process. 

Steel Lighting Built to Last

We’d be remiss if we didn’t talk about durability. Simply put, powder coating is the bomb when it comes to taking the endurance of a fixture to another level. When compared to other painting methods, powder coating stands head and shoulders above the competition. 

Why? Well, it comes down to the way that powder coating bonds to the surface it’s on. Unlike traditional paint, powder coating doesn’t just sit on top of the steel. Rather, it gels together with the surface during the curing process. 

This means that, even when a surface has been powder coated, it can be bent and flexed as the steel and the powder coat move together. This reduces the appearance of cracks and imperfections in the coating and makes sure that, even with just one coat, the underlying metal is protected from corrosion and scratching.  We do, however, recommend our marine coating option for those that may live in a coastal city or have their lights exposed to high levels of moisture. This coating will cost you a little extra, but it will absolutely be worth it in the long run to ensure durability! If you’re interested in having the marine coating applied to your light(s), send us a message and we’ll get it taken care of for you.

Maintenance, What Maintenance?

While we’re talking about endurance, let’s talk about maintenance. Again, powder coating is super tough, that goes without saying, which means that maintenance on a powder-coated surface is pretty easy as well. In fact, it’s pretty much the easiest thing ever. 

There’s no special solvent or cleaner required when cleaning a powder-coated piece of equipment, just using some regular soapy water and a little bit of elbow grease. 

As previously mentioned, issues with corrosion and scratching become much less of an issue when using powder coating, so complications like rust and damage are far less likely compared to the modern-day paint option. 

In fact, with just a wipe down every once in a while with a clean cloth, a powder-coated piece of equipment or fixture can easily last much longer without suffering any issues with degradation. 

Thinking About the Environment

Finally, as a little sweetener to the deal, powder coating comes out as an awesome choice for those businesses that are environmentally aware. Powder-coating is free of solvents and other chemicals associated with traditional painting methods. Also, it’s well known for being a much simpler material to dispose of and being considerably safer. 

While painters are still known to wear protective gear to prevent skin contact with the material, powder-coated paint is much less chemical reliant. So, it is considerably safer for the painter to use regularly, unlike more traditional painting materials, which cause health issues when used long term. 

At Steel Lighting Co., we have an awesome selection of colors for powder coating that will suit any style or purpose, whether for business or the home. If you need help making the right choice, then contact our friendly team at Steel Lighting Co., our friendly team of experts would be more than happy to give some advice and recommendations on what kind of steel barn light can best suit your needs.