Can I save Money by

Q: My FRP looks Old and faded and has damage and loose areas. Instead of Upgrading to Jemiclad Can I just refresh my FRP with Paint?

A: Absolutely FRP can be painted. There are going to be several critical steps that need to take place to prep the FRP wall product you’re going to paint. You’ll need to grind or sand the product down through the surface seal to the fibreglass strands so the paint has something to adhere too. Be very cautious when grinding FRP to be well ventilated and wear good quality respiratory protection as the fibreglass dust is potentially very harmful to your lungs. Once that is done you must clean the FRP with a solvent based cleaner and then you can paint the fibreglass all different kinds of colours that you wish. Thing to Know Before Painting FRP in an Attempt to Save Money Alone, fibreglass products are not necessarily considered food safe. A surface coating is used to make fibreglass FRP wall panels FOOD SAFE, depending on the product you used it can be susceptible to sun damage from UV rays or water damage via scratches on the surface and or from behind where the FRP is not guarded from water damage. The epoxy resins used in FRP can degrade and loose strength over time in direct sunlight or with the use of heavy duty cleaning products like the ones used to sanitize Medical and or Food service areas. This causes an effect called Fibre Blooming.  While FRP’s structural integrity is stronger than simple latex or polyester resins based products like paints on drywall, the epoxy in the FRP is susceptible to degradation caused by many possible factors over time When water infiltrates FRP it can cause discolouration, bubbling or blistering beneath the surface, although this can take years to happen, we have seen this happen over only a few days when water, temperature and UV all meet in the just right conditions. It should be noted that once blistering begins to show up, eventually it will potentially lead to an un washable spot or area and creating a potential environment for black mold to grow and also lead to the delimitation of the FRP composite panels. This can cause serious problems. You have probably seen the signs Fibreglass degradation in things like abandoned fibreglass boats. This of course is much more of a dramatic example however it is no different than what is happening to your fibreglass walls. Causing them to no longer be waterproof or food safe. Occasionally if the water source is entering the FRP from the back or the “unprotected side “you can immediately see fogging or a type of discolouration that looks like hazing. This is most prominent in the darker pigment panels. Although it is often present in white panels it is rarely noticed. This Foggy look is trapped water vapours, causing oxidization and fibre blooming. This is the beginning stages of breaking down the fibreglass resin. Epoxy resin FRP wall panels are the most susceptible to this type of delimitation due to water and or UV exposure. Over time, the composite panel surfaces can crack and crumble which can also lead to major safety concerns cause by the fine dust released into the air and or the black mold spores growing in the damaged areas What Is The FRP Paint Made From? These types of Paint no matter the type or brand, are usually made up of a liquid, a binding agent, and the pigment for colour. In paints used for FRP, the liquid is usually a high Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s), using polymers for the binder, These types of VOCs are liquids that evaporate at a very quick rate—the liquid remains fluid long enough for the paint to self-level. However, it also evaporates fast enough to make the coat durable in a small amount of time.   These compounds are not safe to use without protective breathing apparatuses and plenty of ventilation. The binding agents are chemical compounds that make the particles of pigment stick to each other. Usually, the binder is a resin. In the case of paints for FRP those resins are epoxy or polyester. And we just covered what happens to these resins when exposed to UV, scratches and water. So essentially although it now looks better you have only bought some more time until this whole process needs to be done again. FRP Paint PREPARATION IS CRUCIAL and Potentially Dangerous Surface prep is critical and will comprise upwards of 90% of your labor—if the surface is dirty, oily, or greasy the paint will not adhere at all. Additionally, paint will not adhere to glossy or slick surfaces like the surface coating found on FRP, so sanding down to the glass strands is crucial. While painting FRP can be done in two different ways, the best one depends on your equipment and needs. In most cases, Painting FRP, it is best to hire an FRP manufacturer to perform paint jobs on products. They will have the necessary equipment and know-how to combine the right paint and prep work for your project. Spray Application Paint is applied using compressed air with a high-quality spray gun that can cover a large area quickly and evenly. This is the most often used method for commercial FRP products such as grating, wall panels, and railings. Roll and Tip Method The paint is applied with a paint roller and then immediately followed with a fine tip bristle or brush. Often this is used more in home consumer FRP products such as models, outdoor furniture, and others. But can be applied to FRP wall panels. However it almost always has a painted appearance. Temperature and Humidity You also need to be aware of environmental conditions when you plan to paint. If it’s too humid (over 60%) and too cold, it will take much longer for the paint to cure or, if cold enough it won’t cure at all. If it’s too hot, the paint will set immediately leaving the layer below basically in a liquid state. You should aim for humidity of less than 60% and a temperature between 66° and 89° degrees Fahrenheit. If conditions are good then you move on to prepping and painting the surface of your product. CONCLUSION In summary the conclusion of this article is that, YES YOU CAN paint FRP or replace your Frp with new FRP. But why. When you can upgrade to a healthcare approved, medical grade, 100% waterproof, washable, food safe product like Jemiclad. Not only will installing Jemiclad potentially save you time and money but it will also save you from being exposed to potentially harmful fibres, black mould and VOCs. Reach out to Jemiclad Canada for more information www.jemicladcanada.com And remember if it doesn't say Jemiclad it is an imposter and may not meet your Local, Municipal, Provincial and Federal health codes, Class A fire codes and or food safe requirements by health inspectors. Don't be fooled by the imitators. Jemiclad is manufactured in Europe and held to the highest standards of wall protection panels in the industry. Unlike some other products that are made in substandard conditions and in cheap manufacturing warehouses. Stick with the original JEMICLAD Creating a better environment for everyone. One project at a time.