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Keeping Zinc Finish Bright inside buildings

October 7, 2009

Hello
We are a small architectural practice in North Shields on the Tyne. We are using galvanised Z purlins in a domestic project where we want to keep the bright finish of the zinc as the purlins are in the main space - holding up an arc of glass. I read on the site about the control of heat during the process to help start with a bright finish - and will discuss this with the supplier.

My question is how do we ensure the bright finish stays with us and any coating doesn't fall off? We would expect to design for a minimum of 10 years: more if possible. Someone suggested a thin oil: Danish? which would need renewing every ~year: which seemed sensible but might attract dust.
Many thanks for your time.

Henry Amos
Architect - North Shields, Newcastle

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Dear Mr Amos,

It is possible to keep the coating bright for some time using a clear oven cured acrylic based lacquer. Zinc is known to tarnish even below the lacquer, so its anyones guess as to how long it will last.

Its worth the effort since it looks like an indoor area, you should get 10 years if you are not to close to the sea.

Khozem Vahaanwala
Saify Ind

Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

October 14, 2009