02 Feb Prefinished Aluminum: A List Of Options
Aluminum sheet comes in many finish options, and utilizing prefinished sheet can save both time and money when compared to post-fabrication finishing. Here are some of the options available to improve the appearance of the aluminum on your next project:
1. Mill Finish
If your project needs to have a very specific custom color of paint or powder coat, it is best to fabricate the parts from mill finish sheet and have them post-finished. Sometimes, there is no talking an architect out of the exact color they have in mind. Mill finish should also be used if the project requires the metal to be welded, since pre-applied finishes will most likely be marred or burned during welding.
2. Anodized Aluminum
Anodizing is a chemical process by which the top layer of an aluminum sheet is hardened and tinted to a specific color. The sheet becomes more resistant to abrasion, and fading is generally not an issue for many years on anodized aluminum. The most common colors available in prefinished sheet are: clear, medium bronze, dark bronze, champagne, and black. If you are providing brake metal that needs to match anodized extrusions, it may be best to first request a sample of the prefinished sheet to insure that the colors match closely enough.
3. Fluropon (Kynar) Painted Aluminum
A fluropon finish is a baked-on coating. It is largely resistant to corrosion and maintains excellent color consistency. Pre-finished fluropon coated sheets are available in a wide variety of colors. It may be worth investigating to see if there is a pre-painted sheet option that will work for your project. If so, you can save a great deal of time and money!
4. Aluminum Tread Brite
When you think of shiny diamond-plated toolboxes in the backs of pickup trucks, think of aluminum tread brite. It comes in a variety of gauges and sheet sizes, and this material can be used to line corridors of industrial areas for wall protection. It can also be used for corner guards, stair treads, and a wide variety of applications. We have even seen it used for bar fronts for purely aesthetic reasons.
Astro regularly works with all types of prefinished aluminum sheet, and we keep a wide variety of materials in stock. Please contact us for your prefinished aluminum needs, and we will be glad to assist!