- Types of Architectural Coating Equipment and Their Applications
- Architectural Coating Equipment Optimization: Tips and Techniques
- Architectural Coating Innovation: Industry-Leading Products to Consider
- Rely on Bolair for High-Performance, Optimized Equipment
Look around you - nearly every building or structure has likely benefited from an architectural coating at some point in its lifespan. Commonly used in the construction and renovation industry, architectural coatings are crucial for the durability, visual appeal, and functionality of exterior and interior surfaces.
Every coating technician understands that the reliability of their surface finishing machines and spray guns is crucial for a smooth, error-free finish. By optimizing your architectural equipment with the following tips, you're guaranteed to achieve the results you're looking for.
Types of Architectural Coating Equipment and Their Applications
There are a range of different coating equipment types, each of which is ideal for different materials and applications. The three main options include:
- Liquid Coating Machines: Liquid coating equipment is most commonly used with single-component materials like paint for interior and exterior finishes. It can also be used with plural-component materials like epoxy for concrete coatings.
- Powder Coating Machines: Powder coating is often utilized for a building's accessory components like railings, window frames, soffits, and facades. It can be used for functional reasons like weather resistance or for decorative reasons.
- Fine Finish Machines: Fine finishes are found in several architectural applications like priming, deck staining, and trim work. They're designed to efficiently handle thinner materials.
Besides the materials used, architectural spray equipment also differs in its mode of operation. Airless spray machines are typically electric and pneumatic or air powered. Hydraulic sprayers are also common and rely on a gasoline or diesel-powered motor to atomize the spray materials.
Architectural Coating Equipment Optimization: Tips and Techniques
When properly cared for and used correctly, higher-end coating equipment will provide the desired finish quality. However, achieving this isn't as easy as just turning on the machine and getting to work. There are a number of actions that a coating technician will want to take to ensure that their equipment is fully optimized.
Select the Right Equipment for the Job
Selecting the right coating machine is undoubtedly the most effective way to optimize any architectural coating. Every contractor should carefully consider what materials they intend on using, the amount of surface area they'll need to cover, and what the spray medium surface will be.
Perform Regular Equipment Maintenance
Maintenance is a crucial step in the architectural coating process that many equipment owners ignore. However, neglecting this step negatively impacts the lifespan of the machine and the quality of its finish. Follow the maintenance checklist chart below to ensure that your equipment continues to operate at maximum capacity. Note: Always follow your manufacturer's maintenance guidelines.
Architectural Coating Maintenance Checklist
Maintenance Procedure | Actions to Take |
Visual Inspections | Visual inspections should be completed every time the equipment is used. Check for compressor line leaks, oil leaks, obvious damage, or any other signs of problems. |
Cleaning and Flushing | Cleaning and flushing drastically improve equipment longevity. Surface cleaning and flushing should be done daily after use. |
Component Testing & Troubleshooting | Periodically test the components of your machine like the spray gun, hoses, control units, hoppers/material reservoirs, and the compressor to ensure they're operating correctly. |
Complete System Breakdown | Take apart every removable main component of the system, thoroughly clean each, and put them back together. The more frequently a machine is used, the more often this should be done. |
Parts Replacement | Keep an eye out for any strange noises, leaks, cracks, or malfunctions, and replace parts as needed. |
Proper Calibration and Setup
Industrial powder coaters and other sprayers require careful calibration to achieve uniform coatings and to reduce waste. For powder coating machines, you'll want to make sure that you're setting your voltage and amperage levels to the appropriate value based on the spray strength you need. Be sure to consult the powder coating material specifications for settings.
For liquid coating machines, ensure that the correct ratio is being utilized based on your material's specifications. You should also make sure that you're using the right spray tip to match your desired spray pattern.
Application Techniques
Training is essential to use architectural coating equipment to its highest capacity and there are some specific techniques that should be followed to achieve high-performance finishes.
Ensure you're doing adequate surface preparation before spraying, such as priming a surface for painting or pretreating it for powder coating. Always use the spray gun in a perpendicular orientation to the surface. Additionally, you should always move the spray gun in a continuous pattern and ensure that you're moving before depressing the trigger and after releasing it to avoid drips.
Resolving Common Issues
Many times, quality issues with a final coat are due to preventable causes. For example, uneven coatings are typically due to irregular passes of the spray gun. Clogging can also be a common issue for professional liquid and powder coating guns, caused by infrequent flushing and maintenance. Finally, problems like overspray can be solved by using the correct spray tips and managing pressures.
Architectural Coating Innovation: Industry-Leading Products to Consider
Over the years, architectural coating equipment has continually improved, making it a far superior choice over rollers and brushes. Graco paint sprayers are some of the best in the industry and come packed with robust features to ensure high-performance coatings.
Similarly, Gema's Optiflex Pro is designed for demanding powder coating jobs and comes in both a manual model for contractors and as an automated system for robotic systems. Implementing products like these is a guaranteed way to optimize any coating job.
Rely on Bolair for High-Performance, Optimized Equipment
Architectural coating equipment can be a significant investment for any business, so it's essential that it is fully optimized and calibrated for maximum functionality. By choosing the right equipment, following maintenance protocols, and applying the correct techniques, you can expect the best performance out of your system.
Above all else, purchasing high-end equipment from a trusted dealer like Bolair will ensure years of lasting performance and immaculate finishes. Browse all of our products today and contact one of our professionals for help finding the perfect machine.
