How commercial cladding is prepared before spraying

Why preparation determines the finish

A new coating can only perform as well as the surface beneath it. Dirt, traffic film, chalking, weak existing paint and corrosion can prevent a new system from bonding correctly, even when the finish initially looks acceptable.

Cleaning and inspection

The building is assessed before work begins, then cleaned with a suitable chemical product and pressure washed where the substrate and site conditions allow. Once dry, the surface is inspected again because cleaning often reveals defects hidden by contamination.

• Identify loose or poorly bonded coatings
• Check cut edges, fixings, overlaps and damaged plastisol
• Confirm that the substrate is clean and dry before coating

Repairs, abrasion and corrosion treatment

Failing material is removed and sound coating edges are feathered to reduce visible steps. Corroded areas require appropriate mechanical preparation and a compatible treatment or primer selected for the condition and coating system.

Masking, priming and application

Windows, doors, signs, rooflights and neighbouring surfaces are protected carefully. Bare or repaired areas are primed where the specification requires it, followed by controlled application of the chosen finish within the product’s temperature, mixing and recoat requirements.

What extensive preparation looked like at Fairline

At Fairline’s luxury yacht manufacturing facility in Oundle, cleaning and degreasing were followed by several days of scraping and sanding failed paint. Retained coating edges were feathered before the cladding was finished in RAL 8017 Chocolate Brown. This illustrates why the old coating must be assessed before estimating labour or promising a programme.

Different buildings need different coating systems

At Dawn Foods in Evesham, Apex prepared two buildings, treated corrosion with HMG Ferrozinc Water Based Rust Converter 8457 and applied an HMG 1K industrial protective topcoat in RAL 7016 Anthracite Grey. At the former Travis Perkins site in Leeds, the recorded specification included epoxy primer and Selemix Direct two-pack polyurethane on relevant substrates.

These examples show why a named paint alone is not a complete specification. The existing coating, corrosion, substrate, compatibility and manufacturer’s application requirements must be assessed together.