Before an industrial coating goes anywhere near a surface, that surface must be ready to bond with said coating. If the surface readiness for coating is below par, then not only can it make the application of the coating much more frustrating, but it can also impact how long the coating lasts and the long-term health of the surface itself.
To nail this process, we do something we call ‘assessing surface readiness’. In a professional sandblasting and painting context, this is one of our most important processes to ensure our work delivers long-term protection, but it’s also something you can learn to do on a smaller scale for the surfaces in your business or restoration.
To that end, we’re guiding you through what surface readiness is, why it’s so important when blasting and coating, and how to assess it for yourself.
What is ‘surface readiness’ and why is it important?
Surface readiness is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the condition a surface needs to be in before any coating, paint, or protective system is applied.
Rather than just sitting on a surface, any coating worth its salt will bond to it on a chemical level. If that surface is dirty, oily, rust, uneven, or just compromised in any significant way, the coating will have a very hard time breaking through to bond with the actual surface. That’s when you start seeing issues like peeling, blistering, early corrosion, or coatings that fail years before they should.
In an industrial environment, the problem goes far beyond aesthetics. Sure, a peeling surface is a bit of an eyesore, but poor surface readiness for coating can lead to downtime for your equipment, accelerated wear, or even safety risks. All of these issues cost money to fix, not to mention they cause a lot of frustration. That’s why professional blasting and coating teams like ours spend so much time on preparation. The coating is only as good as what’s underneath it, after all.
When we get surface readiness right, that means the coating does the job it is designed to do. Then, you get something that will protect your steel, extend your machinery’s life, and seriously cut down on those long-term maintenance costs that plague your bottom line.
So, big question: how do you actually assess?
How to assess surface readiness for coating:
This is a pretty methodical approach, although after decades on the job we develop a certain muscle for simply knowing if a surface is ready to be coated. That said, we’ve broken down the particulars of how we assess surface readiness for coating to make it a bit easier to understand if this isn’t your usual industry.
Essentially, we’re checking out the surface to look at how it’s doing on several different counts.
1. Contamination.
This includes things like grease, oil, dirt, salts, old paint, and chemical residue. Even a thin, invisible film can prevent proper adhesion.
If water beads on the surface instead of spreading evenly, that’s often a sign there’s too much contamination for the protective industrial coating to bond properly.
2. Corrosion.
Surface rust might look harmless, but it can hide deeper corrosion beneath. Flaking rust, pitting, or scale must be addressed before coating.
This is where we might call on abrasive blasting to remove corrosion and bring the surface back down to a clean, sound base.
3. Profile.
Coatings need a certain level of texture to grip onto. A surface that’s too smooth won’t allow proper bonding, while one that’s too rough can lead to uneven coating thickness.
This is why we use professional blasting to create what’s called a ‘profile’. Surface readiness for coating requires a solid profile; otherwise, the sprayed coating will have nothing to grab onto once it’s on your machinery.
4. Structure.
During that professional blasting, we might reveal cracks, thinning metal, or damage that wasn’t visible before. If a surface is compromised, coating alone won’t solve the issue.
5. Environment.
Finally, we examine the environment in which the surface usually lies. Temperature, humidity, and moisture levels all affect how well your machinery’s coating will perform.
If a coating is applied under the wrong conditions or cured improperly, then the surface’s readiness for coating becomes almost moot. This is why we work hard as professionals to carefully time our application and monitor the humidity and other contaminants throughout the job.
These five factors are what build a good assessment of surface readiness for coating, and they’ll serve you well day-to-day.
On smaller projects, some of these checks can be done visually and manually, but larger or more critical assets will make all the difference if you bring in a professional team for assessment and application of the new coating.
Stay on top of your machinery’s condition with Hamilton Blast & Paint.
Our expert team specialises in heavy equipment blasting, sandblasting, surface preparation, and coating. No matter the surface you need restored, our team can help you ensure it stays like new for years to come.
Get in touch for more on our process and a free quote on your particular project.