The finish of a balustrade is as important as the metal itself. It protects against rust, wear and weather and affects the appearance of the finished product.
Hot-Dip Galvanising for Outdoors
The most common finish used for Handmade Metal Balustrades is Hot-Dip Galvanising, where the steel is submersed in molten zinc to form a tough and long lasting layer of protection on the surface of the metal. The galvanising process lasts for many decades and is especially suited to metalwork being used outdoors. The finish also performs well in coastal environments.
Powder Coating for Colour and Durability
A powder coated finish produces a smooth surface, offering a large colour range and the benefit of being highly resistant to chipping and scratching. It is suitable for use both indoors and outdoors.
Paint for Flexibility
Paint finishes are by far the most versatile metal finish as they can be easily touched up when required. However, outside locations will need re-painting every few years, depending on exposure to weather, and even more frequently in very wet locations. Indoors, paint is ideal for low traffic areas and where the finish is to remain in a controlled environment.
Wax or Oil for Wrought Iron
Wax or oil finishes are typically used to enhance the aesthetic appeal of wrought iron. They are often used on interior handrails and other decorative metalwork pieces. Such finishes need to be re-applied on an annual basis, although this can be increased to every 6-12 months if the metal is exposed to damp conditions.
Think About Where It Lives
For Metal Balustrades, see https://donkeywellforge.co.uk/what-we-make/metal-handrails-balustrades/. Although most finishes are suitable for use in internal locations, the exposed nature of many metal balustrade installations means that some finishes are more suitable than others.
Getting the finish right from the start will save you considerable time and expense further down the line.