The Value Added By Paints And Coatings

By protecting and beautifying the surfaces to which they are applied, paints and coatings enhance the value of everything — from homes, to manufactured products, to bridges and other structures. This enhancement adds value far beyond the cost of buying or applying the paint or coating.

Consider the automobile industry. It’s not hard to imagine what an automobile would look like without the coatings that add value by making it attractive and protecting it. Without coatings, you’d see a car that quickly rusts, is dull in appearance, and has a very short useful life.

Think of trucks, buses, farm and construction machinery and equipment without the protective coatings that keep them from rusting. Think of the value added to appliances, metal and wood furniture, hardware, lighting fixtures . . . the list is endless. Practically every man-made product has a coating that is necessary to protect it and maintain its usefulness.

Another important — yet less obvious — value added by coatings is the protection provided to the inside surface of metal cans used for packaging food and beverages. Here, the coating creates a chemically inert barrier so the contents cannot leach and react with the metal of the can.

Sources for Materials Used to Make Paints and Coatings

Products of the Paint and Coatings Industry