It’s just paint. Just choose the color that you like best, right? Maybe, but you probably want to know more before you make any decisions. What follows is a rundown of the types of paint applied to the pre-coated coils that are later rollformed or stamped into today’s metal panel roofs and walls. Pre-coated metal panel cladding has defined the look of manufacturing and industrial buildings for decades, but its widespread use in retail, commercial, residential and other applications continues to grow.
Differences in the two categories of pre-painted panels
Pre-coated paint is applied prior to forming the metal sheets into the specified panel profile. In some instances, the precoat paint is applied to the sheet metal long before the project even breaks ground at the job site. As you would expect, there are some pros and cons associated with this process. Uniformity, consistency and longevity are some of these pros. The pre-coat paint is applied in a controlled environment with highly regulated parameters, cured to a very durable finish and always completed in massive quantities. Trying to match a pre-coated panel to a nearby site-painted surface, or dealing with the color mismatch of replacing a damaged panel after years of exposure to the elements are definitely a few cons.
There are only two major categories of pre-painted panels: PVDF and SMP. Polyvinylidene fluoride, PVDF, is one of the most widely known and used systems on the market today. Composed of a 70% fluoropolymer resin, this paint system has been a proven winner for decades. Available in many colors, sheens and even metallic finishes, the system has a very wide base of applications and uses. PVDF is known for its vivid beauty and long-lasting color. The most common call for PVDF finish is when darker colors are chosen, in which case the importance of minimizing fading and chalking when exposed to the elements is critical.
PVDF stands out for its color retention properties. Many factors go into determining availability and overall cost of PVDF panels, but recent economic conditions have resulted in a scarcity of some raw materials and many experts looking for a suitable replacement for this system. Aside from that rather new development, the biggest downfall with PVDF is that the finish is rather soft and therefore more susceptible to scratches and marring. Damage can occur during manufacturing, shipping, installation or anytime thereafter so care must be taken to prevent that from happening.
Silicone modified polyester, SMP, is the primary pre-coat alternative and comes with its own host of pros and cons. The current formulas on the market are very advanced in comparison to the straight polyesters and siliconized polyesters of bygone eras. Modern SMP paints are available in a very wide array of colors. The SMP finish is touted as a harder and more durable finish, better resisting scratching and marring when compared to PVDF. The biggest downfall of SMP paint systems is the propensity of the darker colors to fade and chalk more than a PVDF finish over the years. If durability is paramount and the use of a lighter color is acceptable, then the SMP paint will be your best option.
Today’s PVDF and SMP paint systems are superior products to their earlier iterations. Although there are inherent cons associated with these systems the benefits almost always outweigh them. Most manufacturers now include 35-year, or even 40-year, finish warranties. Coating adhesion, or rather the loss of adhesion/delamination, of these modern paint systems is no longer a question and by today’s standards is a nonissue.
Brian Shelton is the marketing manager for Chief Buildings, Grand Island, Neb. To learn more, visit chiefbuildings.com.