by Ron Joseph
March, 2006
Baked on Epoxy for Wood Windows
Q. I'm an architect in Berkeley, working on an historic house. All the existing
windows are to be replaced with new, custom wood windows. For aesthetic reasons
I don't want to use a clad window and am looking for a priming & painting system
which will require minimal maintenance, especially on the west-facing windows
which recieve a lot of solar abuse. "A baked on epoxy paint" is a term thrown
around a lot, but I haven't been able to find anybody who actually knows how
to go about acheiving this, who the suppliers and finishers are. Do you have
any information?
A. Truly baked coatings are applied and cured in painting facilities and not
on-site. I assume that the term "baked-on" in your context implies
a finish that is equivalent to a baked-on finish. Unless you are referring to
an epoxy polysiloxane I would not recommend the use of an epoxy as these resins
tend to chalk when exposed to sunlight over long periods. Epoxy polysiloxane
has been reported to do better. Polyurethanes are also used for exterior exposure,
but no matter what system you select, you must confirm that will be able to
flex and expand with the underlying wooden substrate.
If you would like to discuss alternative finishes for wood, we will be happy
to assist you on a consulting fee basis. We will then identify each alternative
and give you the pro's and con's of each.
Best wishes,
Ron Joseph
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