Frequently Asked Questions

We're based at 55 Angle Street, Onehunga, Auckland 1061. Open Monday to Friday, 7:30am – 4:30pm.

We're open Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 4:30pm. We are closed on weekends and public holidays.

The easiest way is to use our online quote form, call us on 09 218 6436, or email workshop@coatinglab.co.nz. Have the item description, dimensions, quantity, and preferred colour ready.

Yes — items are dropped off at our workshop at 55 Angle Street, Onehunga during business hours (Mon–Fri, 7:30am – 4:30pm). We also accept items sent via courier or freight for customers outside the Auckland area. Please label your items with your name and contact number so we can keep track of your job. If you have any questions about getting your items to us, get in touch and we'll help sort it out.

Our workshop is a busy production environment with high-temperature ovens, compressed air equipment, and abrasive blasting — so for health and safety reasons, public access to the workshop floor is limited. You're always welcome to chat with our team at drop-off or pickup about the process, and we're happy to explain exactly what's involved in your particular job.

Powder coating is a dry finishing process where electrostatically charged powder particles are applied to a metal surface and then cured in an oven. The result is a smooth, hard, durable finish that's more resistant to scratching, chipping, and corrosion than traditional liquid paint. Learn more in our full guide.

With proper surface preparation and care, powder coating can last many years. Lifespan depends on environmental exposure, UV levels, and how the item is used and maintained. Read our full article on powder coating lifespan.

We offer the full RAL colour range plus custom colour matching. We can match most Resene and Dulux colours. Finishes include gloss, semi-gloss, satin, matte, textured, metallic, and more. See our RAL colour guide.

Yes — aluminium is one of the most commonly powder coated materials. It requires specific pre-treatment to ensure coating adhesion. Read our aluminium powder coating guide.

Yes, stainless steel can be powder coated. While stainless steel doesn't rust, many customers choose to coat it for a specific colour or finish. The surface needs to be grit blasted first to create an adhesion profile for the powder to bond to. If you have a stainless steel project in mind, request a quote and let us know the details.

Turnaround depends on the size and complexity of the job, whether sandblasting or other prep work is needed, the colour and finish selected, and our current workload. We'll give you an estimated completion time when we quote your job. If you're working to a deadline, let us know up front and we'll do our best to accommodate. Get a quote to find out timing for your project.

Powder coating costs vary based on item size, quantity, colour selection, surface condition, and preparation required. We don't publish standard rates as every job is different. Contact us for a free quote tailored to your project. Read about what affects powder coating pricing.

For metal items that will see outdoor use or regular wear, powder coating is generally more durable than liquid paint — more resistant to scratching, chipping, UV fading, and corrosion. See our detailed comparison.

Sandblasting (abrasive blasting) is a surface preparation method that uses high-pressure compressed air to propel abrasive media against a surface, removing rust, old coatings, and contaminants. It's often an essential first step before powder coating or painting. Learn more about sandblasting.

Not always, but in most cases yes — sandblasting is the best way to ensure a clean, properly prepared surface for powder to bond to. It's essential when there's rust, old paint, mill scale, or surface contamination. Our team assesses every item at drop-off and will let you know what prep is needed for a quality result. Learn more about our sandblasting service.

Absolutely — rusty items are one of the most common things we see. Sandblasting removes surface rust and old coatings, taking the metal back to a clean surface ready for coating. In some cases where rust has caused severe pitting or structural thinning, there may be limits to what can be restored, but we'll assess that and let you know. Don't worry about cleaning it up first — that's our job.

We use garnet and steel grit, selecting the appropriate media based on the substrate and the finish required. Steel grit is effective for heavy rust and scale removal, while garnet is suited to a wider range of surfaces. If you'd like to know what media will be used for your particular item, just ask when you drop it off or give us a call.

Wet spray painting (liquid paint application) is used for larger items that can't fit in the powder coating oven, or when specialised coatings like 2K epoxy or polyurethane are required. It complements our powder coating service for certain applications.

Wet spray painting is the better option when items are too large to fit in the powder coating oven, when the substrate can't withstand curing temperatures (such as assemblies with rubber or plastic components that can't be removed), or when a specialised industrial coating system is specified — such as 2K epoxy or polyurethane. Our team will recommend the best approach for your project. Learn more about wet spray painting.

We apply a range of liquid coating systems depending on the application, including 2K epoxy, polyurethane, and acrylic coatings. The right coating depends on the environment the item will be exposed to and the level of protection required. Get in touch and we'll recommend the best system for your project.

Zinc arc wire spray (also called thermal spray zinc or metallising) is a corrosion protection process where zinc wire is melted using an electric arc and sprayed onto the steel surface. The zinc acts as a sacrificial anode, protecting the underlying steel — particularly effective in marine and coastal environments.

Both use zinc for corrosion protection, but the processes differ significantly. Hot-dip galvanizing involves immersing steel in a molten zinc bath. Zinc arc wire spray applies zinc thermally and can be done on larger structures and items that can't fit in a galvanizing bath. Read our full comparison.

Our zinc arc wire spray service is performed in-workshop, so items need to be brought in for treatment. One of the advantages of zinc spray over hot-dip galvanizing is that it can handle a wide range of item sizes without needing a molten zinc bath. Contact us to discuss your project and we'll advise on the best approach.

Yes — this is called a duplex coating system and it provides the highest level of corrosion protection available. The zinc spray layer acts as sacrificial protection for the steel, while the powder coat topcoat adds colour, UV resistance, and an additional barrier. The zinc layer is sealed before the topcoat is applied. It's an excellent choice for items in harsh or coastal environments. Learn more about zinc arc wire spray.

Every job is different, so turnaround varies depending on the service required, the amount of preparation involved, the number of items, and our current workload. We'll provide an estimated completion time when we quote your job. For the most accurate timeline, request a quote with full details of your project.

Yes — we understand that sometimes timelines are tight and we do offer urgent turnaround. If you have a deadline, give us a call on 09 218 6436 and we'll do our best to work with your schedule. The sooner you let us know, the better we can plan around it.

Remove any non-metal components that can't go in the oven — rubber, plastic, foam, glass, electronics, and wiring. If there are threads, mounting holes, or surfaces that need to stay uncoated, let us know so we can mask them. Clean off any heavy grease or oil if possible, though we'll handle the rest of the surface preparation. Bring a colour reference if you have one — a RAL number, paint chip, or even a photo helps.

Colour chips are a reliable guide, but a small chip can look slightly different from the same colour on a large surface — this is normal with any coating. The gloss level also affects how a colour appears (the same colour in matte and gloss can look noticeably different). For colour-critical jobs, we recommend approving a sample panel before we coat the full batch. Just let us know at the quote stage and we'll arrange it.