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  for Metal Finishing since 1989
  

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Performance of powder coating on outdoor aluminium furniture

I purchased a suite of powder coated aluminium outdoor furniture several years ago. The coating has faded significantly and is peeling off in large sheets.

Is the above performance within the norm for the powder coating system or am I entitled to expect a better result? I suspect that it is too late to expect rework under warranty.

If I have the work redone locally, what are the essential requirements to specify so that I can have a more favourable outcome?

Jack Larkin
- Brisbane, Australia
1999

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A coating should last the life of the equipment. I would not hesitate to contact the manufacturer for a replacement. This is not to say that you will be treated fairly, but people should expect a coating to last more than a few years, and vendors should be held accountable.

If you could get the brand name of the paint, you could contact that company and complain. The larger the company, the better the chance that warranty replacement is available. Besides, the larger paint company might be genuinely interested in protecting the good name of their coatings, since they want to sell more of them.

The problem could have been one of quality control, or an improper specification for the coating. Either way, the consumer should make some noise. It improves the breed.

  
Tom Pullizzi
Falls Township, Pennsylvania
1999

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I made the mistake of buying a couple of steel folding lounges form Walmart for my backyard deck (on a saltwater lagoon). They were cheap, $40 or so, and I got what I deserved as a metal finishing consultant: they were rusting in under a week.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
1999