Finishing Options

Get a bespoke colour that matches your desires!!

At Channelglaze Ltd we take great pride in the finish of your product and ensure that it is both extremely attractive and highly functional. Since 1978 we have developed our range of standard colours from our customer’s desires and inspired by the traditions linked with canal boats. These standard colours and adaptations are popular throughout the industry.

We run a strict quality control process for the coating of our windows which matches the rigour of our functionality checks. We ensure that your finish is free of major surface damage, damaged areas, chips or peeling, fading, orange peel effect or bubbling and corrosion. In addition, we check that the finish is relatively uniform in colour, thickness and depth of finish. We aim for consistency throughout our range and order processing, and aim for the most desirable finish at all times.

There are a host of commercially available surface finishes to coat, colour, enhance and protect aluminium. The most common and the two that we choose to utilise are powder coating and anodising. It is using these types of finishes that we are able to offer our standard colours to customers, clients and the industry as a whole. We get many questions from our customers on which of the two options are best. The fact is that both have their strengths and weaknesses.

It is not our objective to sway anyone either way – just to give you the facts. We offer both finishes, and have no benefit in pushing one process over the other. We feel that both have their place in the market. Each individual needs to make their choice based on the facts and their own preference of colour choice, resistance to fading, anti corrosion properties etc.

Please note: We do not send out our aluminium windows in their natural state, as this may in certain instances (especially marine environments) corrode due to its environmental and atmospheric conditions.

TAKE CARE! Quality finished aluminium surfaces are long lasting if correctly maintained and can last in excess of 15-20 years under normal conditions.

Anodising:

A high quality anodised finish to our windows requires a lot more preparation work compared to the powder coating process. Anodising requires a scratch free, polished surface prior to coating, meaning that any slight scratches or polishing marks will be seen after the coating process is complete. Care is as a result of paramount importance to the successful application of this method.

Anodising protects the aluminium by making the surface much harder than the natural aluminium itself. Aluminium oxide is grown out of the surface during anodising and then becomes aluminium hydrate, which is extremely hard. The porous nature of the anodised layer allows the product to be dyed any colour that is required. This process is also known as anodic oxidation.

The three standard colours that we offer in our anodising range are Etched (Satin) Anodised, Bright Silver Anodised and Bright Gold Anodised. Unfortunately when anodising to a brighter, shinier finish like our standard colours, some of the advantages of anodising disappear. This is the main drawback of the method. Below are some of the other advantages and disadvantages of anodising.

Advantages of Anodising

1. The aluminium oxide that is created is an integral part of the substrate and is much harder than the aluminium it replaces, giving it excellent wear and abrasion resistance. Because the coating is an integral part of the substrate, the anodic coating will not chip, peel or flake over time.

2. Unlike other finishes, anodising allows the aluminium to maintain its metallic appearance and provides an excellent sharp appearance.

3. Anodising is a safe process that is not harmful to human health. An anodised finish is chemically stable and will not decompose; is non-toxic; and is heat-resistant to the melting point of aluminium (1,221oF).

4. Anodic thickness (currently 15 microns for our Category D windows) can be applied according to suit the purpose of the finish or end use of the product. For example, to achieve a good resistance to salt air corrosion (Category C/B), it would be beneficial to think about increasing the anodic thickness to around 20 microns, whereas 25 microns will ensure maximum protection.

5. Different textures and finishes can be applied to the aluminium "prior" to anodising. Since the anodic film is "transparent", the final surface texture/finish still remains visible.

6. The finish is slightly more desirable in terms of its shininess and can often make our windows the subject of great pride to owners.

Disadvantages of Anodising
1. The anodic film is very susceptible to mortar attack (lime) and chlorides (Hydrochloric acid) - if left to dry these will leave "corrosion stains" that are irreparable.

2. Because the finish is part of the aluminium itself. It is a more conductive finish and therefore will be noticeably more susceptible to condensation problems on canal boats.

3. Visually, aluminium finishes may appear the same, but the actual quality characteristics of the coating may vary considerably, only becoming evident in the course of time.

4. Our standard soft anodic coatings could lead to premature failure and premature fading of colours (especially noticeable with our Bright Gold Anodised finish).

5. Slight differences in colour can be seen from time to time at the joints of the windows.

6. There is a lack of uniformity of colour throughout our anodised range, which can only really be noticed on our Bright Gold finish and sometimes our Bright Silver finish.

7. It is near impossible to match gloss levels and colours when restoring damaged areas of anodised finished products.

8. Unlike other finishes, anodising is a “clear transparent” film that follows all contours of each piece of aluminium, making it quite difficult to get a perfect finish.

9. Although the etching process will remove finer blemishes, it will not remove deep scratches.

10. Often jig marks can be found on the coated parts as a result of the dipping process.

11. There are a limited number of colours available.

12. A higher initial metal preparation cost combines with higher quality control costs for the increase in price of this finish over our powder coated finish.

13. The finish can be easily damaged during installation of your windows.

14. Although this is known as the harder finish to use, it actually scratches far easier than powder coating finish.

Please note: The standard anodic thickness of our anodising is 15 microns. Our standard colours are know as soft anodised finishes and are not as durable as hard anodised finishes.

Like any other surface, anodised aluminium will require periodic cleaning with PH balanced soap.

For added protection it is highly recommended that ALL EXPOSED surfaces be suitably protected with a low tack removable tape prior to installation, to help protect the finish.

Powder Coating

Powder coating is a relatively new metal coating technique and was first introduced in the early 1970s. In this process, powdered resins along with coloured pigments are applied to metal products using an Electro-static charge. The product is then "baked" in a high temperature oven, causing the powder to melt, flow, and then cure, ultimately forming a molecular fusion bond. The result is a surface-to-coating bonding unlike any other. Powder coating gives consumers, businesses, and industry one of the most economical, longest-lasting, and most colour-durable quality finishes available.

For 30 years, powder coating has been the finish of choice for a superior, more colourful, longer lasting and more durable finish. Powder coating is often seen as superior because of its durability, scratch resistance, gloss retention, weatherability, resistance to chalking, its unlimited range of colours, finishes, glosses and textures and because it is an environmentally friendly finishing process. The main difference between a conventional liquid paint and a powder coating is that the powder coating does not require a solvent to keep the binder and filler parts in a liquid suspension form. It is usually used to create a hard finish that is tougher than conventional paint.

We offer a standard range of powder coated and anodised finishes to suit the market, but can also powder coat to most RAL Colours and British Standards Colours (price on application). Our standard selections of colours to the industry are black, cream, beige, silver and our own bronze and gold powder coated finishes.

Advantages of Powder Coating

There are several advantages of powder coating over conventional liquid coatings:

1. Powder coatings emit zero or near zero volatile organic compounds (VOC).

2. Powder coatings can produce much thicker coatings than conventional liquid coatings
without running or sagging.

3. Powder coated items generally have fewer appearance differences between horizontally coated surfaces and vertically coated surfaces than liquid coated items.

4. There is clear uniformity in colour compared to that of anodising, producing a beautiful and uniform quality finish without paint runs.

5. Economical, long-lasting and most colour-durable quality finish.

6. High resistance to chipping, scratching, fading, and wearing.

7. Minor surface damage can be readily toughed up with colour matched aerosols.

8. Quicker turnaround times.

9. The electrostatic powder process ensures complete coverage, even on our complex aluminium extrusions.

10. Protection against external ultra-violet fading.

11. Corrosion resistance.

12. Exceptional gloss and colour retention.

13. Applicable to steel, zinc, brass and aluminium.

14. Controlled high film thickness of coated film meaning that condensation issues are less of a problem aboard canal boats.

15. Low rate rejections of components.

16. Reduced packing and handling costs.

Disadvantages of Powder Coating

1. It produces a softer surface than anodising.

2. Uniformity of coating thickness is sometimes difficult to maintain

3. More prone to the orange peel than liquid coating

4. Touch up is more difficult than liquid coating

5. Powder coating is susceptible to scratching and chipping

6. If incorrectly applied it may crack or peal easily

7. It is difficult and expensive to strip (and in some cases almost impossible)

8. Gloss finishes "highlight" any imperfections on the surface

9. Critical dimensions may be effected if coating is too thick

10. Unsuitable powders used for external use, will lead to fading if exposed to the elements.