Inspiration

Porcelain Enamel vs Powder Coat | What’s the Difference?

Spring is lurking just around the corner and you’re getting the itch. Not the allergy kind. It’s more of the itch to give your home a fresh look. And two of the most powerful options at your disposal are color and lighting. So let’s breathe some new life into one of the most used rooms in the house — the kitchen.

Perhaps you’ve grown tired of builder beige on the walls. Bring home some of those sample bottles of paint and splash it around. Be bold! Try something new! Live with it for a week and see how the colors look at different times of the day. With minimal investment, you might just find the perfect shade!

Next, think about replacing those kitchen pendants that your contractor spent a solid 30 seconds thinking about at the big box store. When it comes to lighting, you have many choices but one of the first things you should consider is the finish.

One of the most popular finishes available today is powder coating. Powder coating is a dry powder that is applied most often to metals. We apply powder coating to an aluminum alloy of a thicker grade than you will find at most retail outlets.

We also prep our aluminum by hand with denatured alcohol which allows the powder coat to adhere better. This durable finish comes in more than a dozen different colors ranging from traditional hues of Black, Galvanized, and Rust to more brilliant shades of Barn Red, Buttery Yellow, and Royal Blue so you’re sure to find the right shade to fit your décor.

A second finish option is porcelain enamel which was an industry standard back in the early 20th century. When RLM warehouse shades became the fixture of choice over bare bulb lighting in factories and warehouses, porcelain enamel was used because of its ability to withstand high heat, chemicals, and even outdoor elements. Our porcelain enamel shades are hand-spun from commercial grade steel, then three coats of porcelain enamel glass are also hand applied. The shades are baked in a special oven where temperatures reach up to 1,600 degrees to seal the glass to the steel resulting in a high-gloss finish.

This signature finish that will never fade and is simple to maintain. Our American-made collection of Gooseneck Lights and Pendant Lighting are perfectly suited for exterior applications while our Wall Sconces look divine in kitchens, hallways, and baths.

Although porcelain enamel manufacturing faded away when cheaper painting techniques came onto the market in the 1950s, Barn Light Electric has revived this long-lost art form and is the only company in America manufacturing porcelain enamel lighting!