Fineline Product Usage & Roofing Overview 4
Guidelines when considering repair to damaged pre-painted metal cladding products.
Evaluate the extent and nature of damage to the pre-painted surface and also inspect for substrate damage.
If cladding profile has been compromised: replace the affected sheet.
If substrate damage is not a factor, then durability is not an issue as dicussed earlier: Consider the level of Aesthetic Damage (eyesore).
If light paint scratches are the problem, and they are not in line of sight: Best Practice: Leave alone, as durability is not affected.
If paint scratches are extensive and heavy, and not easily visable: Consult with client and/or specifier etc. whether sheets should be replaced or left alone.
If paint scratches are clearly visable and easily seen from the ground, and considered an (eyesore):
When paint damage is extensive and/or heavy: replace affected cladding sheets.
When paint damage is light and/or intermittent: Consult with client/specifier, whether to leave alone: replace: or consider whether minimal (touch-up), could be appropriate, bearing in mind, as previously discussed here, the limitations re differential colour performance, over time.
Note: It is appreciated that often the degree of difficulty in replacing a damaged sheet, is likely to influence the choices made.
Best practice Option: Replace sheet or leave alone. Choice is dependant on immediate visability.
Often the choice is made, when the damage is tiny, and an eyesore, to consider touch-up of the area to disguise a scratch from sight: If this process is carried out, then it has to accepted that two different paint systems may appear similar in colour on the day, but will weather independantly, and there will be limitations due to differential colour performance, that can occur over time.
Therefore minimal use is essential as Fineline product is recommended for colour matching fasteners rather than cladding repair.
If a large area of cladding is damaged, that cannot be replaced easily: Consideration should be given to a full repaint, in which case, as in wall cladding, the damaged sheets as well as, the surrounding sheets, would need to be over-painted to avoid the effects of differential colour retention.
If only one sheet is overpainted on a wall of pre-painted sheets, they may match on the day, but they will weather differently over time and affect the colour warranty.
It is understood that pre-painted coil suppliers offer guidelines in overpainting their products, so that substrate durability is maintained.
Author: Philip J. Meyers
Fineline Distributors
27-11-2023