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Specifying a finish for Steel Balcony Railing (Outdoors)

I'm fabricating an outdoor steel (cold rolled) balcony railing for use that is 3-5 miles from the ocean in souther California. How should I finish it? I'm planning on powder coat -- should I first galvanize it? Would I be making a mistake if I don't first use corrosive protection.

Steven Gruman
Homeowner - Los Angeles, California, USA
2005

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That close to the coast, you need the best finish available. I would not recommend powder coating because conventional liquid paints will provide better corrosion protection. (I'm going to get a lot of gaff over this statement!)

I would go with a two-component epoxy primer followed by a two-component Urethane top coat, applied by a professional.
This type of system is used on ships and oil platforms. You can generally match the colors you want.

Daryl Spindler, CEF
decorative nickel-chrome plating - Greenbrier, Tennessee
2005