Sound technical content, curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ
The authoritative public forum
for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Re-galvanizing Worn or Partially Galvanized Steel
Q. I HAVE A FRIEND THAT IS LOOKING INTO RE-DOING HIS FRONT BALCONIES, BUT THE THING IS, IS THAT HE WANTS TO RE GALVANIZE THEM. CAN IT BE DONE? AND IF SO HOW MANY TIMES CAN STEEL BE REGALVANIZED? AND IS IT MORE EXPENSIVE?
THANK YOU,
DAVID MARZELLA- ANJOU, QUEBEC, CANADA
2003
A. It is probably cheaper to buy new rails than to have his redone. Economy of scale is the reason. You can do dozens of new ones for the same labor as one old one, and that is after it is properly prepped. If it is painted, consider painting it with a cold galvanizing compound Cold Galvanizing Compound / Zinc Rich Paint and then paint a finish color over that.
James Watts- Navarre, Florida
2003
A. Hi David,
Yes, the balconies can be re-galvanized. Almost all companies doing hot dip galvanizing can do this kind of job. Expect the price to be high compared to a first time galvanizing.
Poul Søndergaard- Denmark
2003
A. At hardware stores you can get spray paint that will regalvanize.
Simon Dupay- Roseville, Minnesota, USA
2003
A. Spray-on aerosol products while claiming to be "Cold Galv" or "Cold Galvanizing" are certainly not galvanizing. They do contain zinc, and can offer varying degrees of protection - but are not the same (generally not even close) to the protection from a true hot-dip galvanizing process.
Tom Schwerdt- Austin, Texas, USA
November 3, 2010
Q. Good day, I have just extended my gate and it was galvanized but now the extended part is obviously not galvanized. Can I just use cold galvanizing compound instead of taking it for hot dip?
Siyasanga Tyalisi- East london, Eastern Cape, South Africa
November 27, 2020
A. Hi Siyasanga. It won't look the same and it won't protect the same, but it is obviously necessary to do something to protect bare steel, and that zinc-rich paint is useful.
Luck & Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
November 2020
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