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Bollard Finishing Options

Protective Coatings Built to Last. Engineered for Real-World Performance.

Bollards are exposed to some of the harshest conditions—moisture, salt, sun, abrasion, and impact. The right finish protects your investment, preserves aesthetics, and reduces long-term maintenance costs. We offer a full range of professional-grade finishes to meet every project specification and environmental condition. Unlike many bollards painted with low-cost hardware store paints, our finishes are engineered to outperform in the field—resisting rust, fading, and failure over time. 

Standard & Specialty Finishes:

Hot-Dip Galvanizing (HDG)

ASTM A123 / ASTM B117 Compliant

  • Rust Resistance: Exceptional. Creates a zinc-iron alloy barrier that protects steel from corrosion even when scratched. 

  • Saltwater & Coastal Environments: Excellent for marine zones and high-salinity regions. 

  • Paint Adherence: Challenging. Galvanized surfaces require etching or sweep blasting before top coating; improper prep leads to peeling from off-gassing or poor bonding. 

  • Field Touch-Up: Cold galvanizing spray (zinc-rich coatings) can be used but lacks full HDG durability. 

  • Lead Time & Cost: Moderate lead time. Cost-effective for long-term corrosion control but higher initial cost, especially for heavier materials. 

  • Common Issues: Drain holes must be properly placed and patched post-dip. Paint over galvanizing may lift if not properly processed. 

Cold Galvanizing (Zinc-Rich Primer Paint)

  • Rust Resistance: Good. Zinc content (85%+) provides cathodic protection but lacks the durability of hot-dip. 

  • Best For: Projects requiring localized rust prevention or touch-up where HDG is not feasible. 

  • Field Repair: Easy to apply by brush or spray. Ideal for small-scale jobs. 

  • Cost: Economical. 

  • Limitations: Not suited for full submersion or high-impact areas. 

Epoxy Primer + Urethane Top Coat (Our Standard System)

Industrial-Grade, Two-Part Epoxy Base + High-Gloss UV-Stable Urethane

  • Rust Resistance: Excellent. Epoxy primer seals the surface and bonds tightly to steel; urethane top coat provides long-term weather resistance. 

  • Fade Resistance: Industry-leading. Urethane is highly UV resistant and holds color for years without chalking or fading. 

  • Custom Color Matching: Infinite options available. 

  • Field Touch-Up: Easy. Touch-up kits available. 

  • Best For: High-visibility, durable protection with aesthetic flexibility. 

  • Lead Time: Short – even with In-house color matching. 

  • Cost: Affordable with best-in-class performance. 

Polysiloxane Coatings

Next-Generation Hybrid Coating System

  • Rust Resistance: Excellent. Combines epoxy durability with silicone’s UV and chemical resistance. 

  • Fade Resistance: Superior. Outperforms polyurethane in high UV zones. 

  • Chemical & Salt Resistance: Exceptional. Ideal for coastal, industrial, or de-icing salt-prone locations. 

  • Best For: High-performance environments where aesthetics and extreme durability are needed. 

  • Field Touch-Up: Requires multi-part kit and trained application. 

  • Cost & Lead Time: Higher cost. Moderate lead time due to specialty formulation. 

Polyaspartic Coatings

Fast-Cure, Industrial Performance

  • Rust Resistance: High when used with appropriate prep. 

  • Fade Resistance: Very good. Holds gloss and color in UV exposure. 

  • Benefits: Fast curing—even in cold temperatures. Tough, abrasion-resistant finish. 

  • Ideal For: Projects requiring quick turnaround or cold weather applications. 

  • Field Touch-Up: Limited. Requires specialty coating knowledge. 

  • Cost: Higher than urethane; offset by rapid return-to-service. 

Powder Coating

Thermoplastic or Thermoset Applied Electrostatic Coating

  • Rust Resistance: Varies. Depends on prep, powder type, and application process. 

  • Types & Performance Range:

  • Generic/Low-Grade: Often single-layer polyester, poor UV resistance, chalks/fades in 6–12 months. 

  • High-Performance: Multi-stage pretreatment, zinc-rich primer, super-durable polyester second coating.

  • Adherence in Complex Geometries: Excellent coverage in hard-to-reach areas when professionally applied. 

  • Salt & UV Performance: Variable; poor in low-cost systems, excellent in premium-grade. 

  • Color Options: Wide range (RAL standard). 

  • Field Repair: Difficult. Matching color and gloss can be challenging. Field paint is aerosolized and does not provide they same level of coating as the original. 

  • Lead Time & Cost: Cost-effective for large batch runs of smaller bollard configurations; requires curing ovens, so lead time may be longer than paint in custom runs. 

Why Not Generic Outdoor Paint? 

Many bollards painted onsite by contractors, or low-cost bollards ordered from overseas are coated with basic enamel or acrylic outdoor paints. These coatings: 

  • Fade rapidly, often within months. 

  • Lack corrosion resistance, especially at weld seams or surface scratches. 

  • No UV protection provided, leading to chalking and discoloration. 

  • Require frequent stripping and repainting, adding to lifecycle cost and degrading the look over time as paint builds up and flakes off. 

In contrast, our finishes are engineered for performance—each system tested and refined to meet the realities of industrial, commercial, and municipal installations. 

Finish Type

Rust Resistance

Fade Resistance

Saltwater Use

Color Options

Cost

Hot-Dip Galvanized

★★★★★

★

★★★★★

None

Medium

Cold Galvanized

★★★★

0

★★★

Gray Only

Low

Epoxy + Urethane (Standard)

★★★★★

★★★★★

★★★★

Unlimited

Low

Polysiloxane

★★★★★

★★★★★

★★★★★

Limited

Medium

Polyaspartic

★★★★

★★★★

★★★★

Limited

Medium

Powder Coat (Low Grade)

★★★

★

★★

Wide (RAL)

Medium

Powder Coat (Medium)

★★★★

★★★★

★★★★

Wide (RAL)

High

Generic Paint

★

★

★

Wide (Brand Specific)

Low

Selecting the Right Finish

When choosing the right finish for your bollards, consider: 

  • Environment: Saltwater zones? High UV exposure? Freeze/thaw cycles? 

  • Visibility & Aesthetics: Safety colors, branding colors, gloss retention? 

  • Maintenance Needs: Will your team have to touch up onsite? How often? 

  • Budget vs Lifecycle Cost: Lowest up-front cost doesn’t always mean lowest total cost. 

Our team of experts can help you balance durability, lead time, budget, and compliance to ensure the finish you select will meet your project’s expectations for years to come.

Need Help Specifying a Finish? 

Contact our team for spec sheets, prep standards, and coating performance data. We’ll help you get the protection and look your project demands—done right the first time.