This is the first question professionals ask before investing in a treatment: how long does it really last?
The duration depends on the environment
A zinc treatment does not behave the same way depending on where it is applied. We generally distinguish 5 categories of environment according to ISO 9223 standard:
Dry rural environment: maximum protection, up to 20-30 years
Urban environment: 10 to 20 years
Industrial environment: 7 to 15 years
Coastal marine environment: 5 to 10 years
Submerged marine environment: specific treatment required
How zinc protects over time
Zinc works by cathodic protection. It slowly "sacrifices" itself in place of the steel — as long as there is zinc left, the steel does not rust. This is why the thickness of the applied layer is directly related to the duration of protection.
Two layers of GALVACYL® offer significantly longer protection than a single layer.
Signs that it's time to re-treat
- Appearance of isolated superficial rust spots
- Grayish discoloration of the surface
- Areas where the coating begins to flake
These signs indicate that it's time to apply a maintenance coat — before rust sets in deeply. A quick touch-up with GALVACYL® is enough, without having to redo everything.
Maintenance every 5 years in an exposed environment, every 10 years in a sheltered environment — this is the recommended interval for continuous protection.
