COAT NOTES

We've Got You Covered


Leave a comment

Removing Organic Growth from Prepainted Metal Roofing

A rolling stone gathers no moss……but your roof sure does, in addition to any number of other growing things.  Organic growth on a prepainted metal roof is an aesthetic problem that may become a more serious problem if not addressed. This blog offers a simple approach to dealing with the problem.

A roof can look like this…

…or this

These biological growths thrive on moisture and organic debris. The more water and the more debris, the greater the chance of growth. Another critical factor is the amount of shade your roof receives. A well-shaded roof prevents the evaporation of moisture, creating excellent growing conditions.

But what is this stuff? It is usually some combination of moss, algae, and lichen. Sometimes there is dark buildup that may look like dirt, but it is more likely algae growth called gloeocapsa magma, also known as blue-green algae. A similar material in the same family is cyanobacteria. The “cyano” in this bacteria refers to its blue-green color. This growth can turn very dark in color over time. Algae is an airborne plant, so it spreads relatively easily. It thrives in humid conditions because it needs heat, moisture, and nutrients to grow. 

Continue reading


Leave a comment

Four Ways Coated Metals Improve Sustainability in Construction

These days, it’s not uncommon to hear businesses from nearly every industry discuss “sustainability” or plans for a more sustainable future. As the term becomes more ubiquitous in today’s business planning, its definition can be somewhat vague. For our purposes, sustainability refers to a company’s efforts in reducing its environmental impact through the use of more environmentally-friendly building materials and less consumption of natural resources. While the coating industry works diligently in manufacturing products that adhere to high standards for sustainability, there are several ways to be more sustainable and environmentally conscious.

1. Reduce the use of volatile organic compounds.

For a long time, volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, played a large role in the coating industry because they contain properties that assist in applying coatings to a surface. Continue reading


Leave a comment

Three Growing Trends in Coated Metal Color and Aesthetics

Year after year, the coated metal industry continues to innovate and inspire designers and architects with new aesthetical and color options that have reshaped consumer expectations. More than ever, buildings have the ability to stand out, while reaping the durability and environmental benefits of using prepainted metal. Here are just a few of the latest trends in coated metal that define why there’s never been a more exciting time in the industry.

1. Textured Products

Textured, painted metal products were introduced in the 1980s to expand the visual, durability and eco-friendly possibilities of incorporating these products into commercial and residential applications. Continue reading


Leave a comment

How Prepainted Metal Can Make Building Interiors Shine

We’ve seen the beauty and innovation prepainted metal has brought to countless exterior applications. But did you know prepainted metal can be an integral part of a number of interior applications? Here are five ways prepainted metals can spice up the interior of any building:

1. Interior Walls

Prepainted interior wall panels are available in a variety of profiles, including ribbed, insulated (foamed), composite and architectural shallow flat styles. These panels are lightweight and can be installed more quickly than traditional walls. They can also take on dramatic shapes with colors or laminates that create striking design elements.

2. Ceilings Continue reading


1 Comment

Choosing a Resin-Based Coating

When it comes to coatings, the resin, or “binder,” acts as an adhesive that keeps all the elements of a paint formulation together. The resin selected is the backbone of the coating and therefore the primary source for determining the coating’s durability and physical properties. When choosing a resin-based coating, it’s important to know some of their key features.

Fluoropolymer resins are known for non-stick properties and their ability to avoid UV damage. The most well-known best performing resin in this category is Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF). PVDF is at least 70 percent of the binder used in superior performance coatings, while an acrylic resin makes up the other 30 percent. PVDFs are found in coil coatings, where exceptional durability is desired. When compared to other coatings, PVDF resin-based coatings were the only coatings that did not lose their original gloss within 2-5 years.

One of the most common causes of failure for resin-based coatings is the risk of color fading. Continue reading


Securing Coils for Shipping and Related Requirements

The U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) provides specific requirements regarding shipping of products, including metal coils. The complete FMCSA requirements can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations. The following provisions of the code relate to securing cargo and safe loading:

  • Shifting or Falling Cargo: FMCSA, 49CFR393.100
  • Safe Loading: FMCSA, 49CFR392.9
  • Rules for Securing Metal Coils: FMCSA, CFR393.120

It is typical for shipping companies to properly secure cargo. Carriers assume responsibility for complying with DOT regulations, and coil coaters do not accept liability for the carrier’s responsibility to properly secure loads. Some companies require their carriers to acknowledge their familiarity with the federal shipping requirements and to agree to abide by the DOT regulations.

Some companies also include signs in their facilities to make drivers aware of their responsibility to be aware of the applicable regulations. An example of such a sign in a coil coating facility follows:

Notice of U.S. Department of Transportation Shipping Regulations: Continue reading


Nine Ways to Get the Most from Your NCCA Membership

 

You already know the tremendous benefits of coil coating metal, but do you know just how much there is to gain with your NCCA membership? Below are just nine ways that the more than 100 industry leaders involved with NCCA get the most from their membership.

Strength in Numbers – One company has limited influence on the media, regulatory agencies and legislatures. When many companies speak with one voice, you command the attention of movers and shakers at the federal, state and local levels. Acting as a unified industry, we speak more effectively and more cost-effectively through NCCA.

Cutting Edge Technology Resources – Through cutting edge technology resources, networking opportunities, educational materials and advanced training tools, NCCA provides critical resources to companies and allows them to grow the market for pre-painted metal. Continue reading


Preventing Job Site Storage Corrosion of Pre-painted Building Panels

coil-coating-process-prepainted-metal-header-image

Prepainted building panels have been successfully used for many years. Properly installed building panels under normal service conditions have excellent corrosion resistance and extremely long life expectancy. However, prepainted building panels may be  subject to premature corrosion failures prior to installation if they are not handled and stored properly on the job site. Excessive storage periods or poor storage conditions can result in water intrusion into panel bundles. Prolonged exposure of bundled panels to wet conditions can cause paint blistering and substrate corrosion.

Environmental and Service Conditions

Water is a necessary prerequisite for corrosion of stored prepainted panels. When water or water vapor is available along the sides of a panel bundle, it may penetrate between the panels by capillary action. If proper precautions are not taken during transport, water may be present between the panels upon delivery at the job site.

Besides water, two other important factors that contribute to the corrosion of stored pre-painted panels are temperature and exposure time. Corrosion will accelerate with increased temperature. Given enough time, panel bundles will eventually become wet and storage corrosion may occur . Customer satisfaction can be increased, and storage corrosion can be prevented by: Continue reading


Five Benefits of Using Coil Coated Metal

Since the 1930s, pre-painted metals have become the superior choice in coating options in a variety of different ways. From going green to saving green, here are just a handful of the reasons why coil coating is becoming the future of the coating industry.

Beauty:

Architects, manufacturers and consumers appreciate the beauty  and benefits of coil-coated metal, including consistent quality, low cost, design flexibility and green properties. Many savvy manufacturers now know that pre-painted metal can be easily fabricated and joined.coil-coating-process-prepainted-metal-header-image

Durability: Continue reading


Leave a comment

Introduction: We’ve Got You Covered

coatnotes-logoWelcome to Coat Notes, the official blog for the National Coil Coating Association (NCCA)! NCCA is a trade association dedicated to the growth of coil coated products and consists of member companies that are at the forefront of the coating industry. These members are often leading manufacturers and suppliers of coil coating services, metal, coatings, chemicals, and equipment.

Founded in 1962, NCCA is a unified organization providing resources and leadership in order to ensure that coil coated materials are the products of choice. The association’s primary goals are to:

  • Provide information that addresses the changing needs in the marketplace.
  • Provide educational resources and assist its members in producing superior products and services to their customers.
  • Increase industry awareness of the coil coating process and its benefits.
  • Promote prepainted metal.

With Coat Notes, we aim to reinforce these goals by delivering regular, easy-to-follow content on all facets of the coil coating community and providing insights from industry experts to position ourselves as the most-trusted resource in coil coating.

Also, be sure to email a colleague, tell a friend or share these posts via Facebook, Twitter and other social media using the buttons below and join the NCCA LinkedIn group here. The NCCA LinkedIn group provides a forum for discussing issues pertinent to the process, industry participants, users and potential users of prepainted metal.

Be sure to check back frequently!