[RE-wrenches] Painting rails

[Ray Walters]

I concur with both Mike and Richard here:  keep the rails because it 
should look better than all silver;
  or if the customer insists, change the rails out, and get tough with 
your supplier that duffed the order.
Either way you won't have some nightmare paint peeling in a year call back.
If the customer is reasonable, you probably don't have to do anything; 
explain that dark anodized rails actually cost more.

R.Ray Walters
CTO, Solarray, Inc
Nabcep Certified PV Installer,
Licensed Master Electrician
Solar Design Engineer
303 505-8760

On 7/5/2013 4:06 PM, Mike & Jessica Nelson wrote:
> Wreches,
> I've tried to paint clear anodized unirac solarmount rail with paint, 
> spray on bedliner, etc. It always comes off after a few months. I say 
> leave it, or swap it out.
>
> Mike Nelson
> MD Electric & Solar, Inc.
>
> On Fri, Jul 5, 2013 at 2:08 PM, Richard L Ratico 
> <Richard.L.Ratico at valley.net <mailto:Richard.L.Ratico at valley.net>> wrote:
>
>     Hi Benn,
>
>     No images but the ones in my imagination. The majority of arrays
>     are viewed at
>     some distance, as in waaaaay up there on the roof. Most roofing
>     materials are
>     dark colors. There's a good chance the few parts of the rails that
>     are visible
>     at all, are less so than if they were silver. When given lemons,
>     make lemonade.
>     This may become a look you come to like.
>
>     Dick Ratico
>     Solarwind Electric
>
>
>     --- You wrote:
>     I've suggested leaving the rails black with silver-framed mods.
>     They are
>     considering it.
>     It certainly looks better than black-framed mods w/ silver rails.
>
>     Can anyone share a few install photos with me with black rails and
>     silver-framed
>     mods, so I can show the client that it doesn't look that bad.
>
>     Thanks
>
>     benn
>     Sent from a 'smart' phone, with touch screen keys. Please excuse
>     shortcuts and
>     typos.
>
>     On 2013-07-05, at 9:30 AM, August Goers <august at luminalt.com
>     <mailto:august at luminalt.com>> wrote:
>
>     > Hi Benn,
>     >
>     > This sounds tricky. We've occasionally painted silver rail black
>     on the
>     > ends with Rust-Oleum matte black paint. It always seems to
>     adhere well but
>     > I don't know for sure how long it will last. I've never tried
>     painting
>     > silver over black.
>     >
>     > Is the client unhappy with black rail and silver modules? As long as
>     > you're consistent with the type of rail maybe you can talk them into
>     > leaving it?
>     >
>     >
>     > Best,
>     >
>     > August
>     >
>     > -----Original Message-----
>     > From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
>     <mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org>
>     > [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
>     <mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org>] On Behalf Of
>     Benn At
>     > DayStarSolar
>     > Sent: Thursday, July 04, 2013 6:29 PM
>     > To: RE-wrenches
>     > Subject: [RE-wrenches] Painting rails
>     >
>     > Anyone successfully/properly painted silver/anodized rails to
>     black, or
>     > black rails to silver to match module frames?
>     >
>     > We have a large project and the supplier hiccup'd the order (if
>     you can
>     > believe it). The black rails are already installed and silver framed
>     > modules are what arrived.
>     >
>     > One of the options being considered is painting the visible
>     black rail
>     > portions to silver.
>     > Are there any known, tried and true methods/products for doing
>     this so
>     > that the paint will last?
>     >
>     > Reluctantly,
>     > benn
>     > Sent from a 'smart' phone, with touch screen keys. Please excuse
>     shortcuts
>     > and typos.
>     > ___________________
>     --- end of quote ---
>     _______________________________________________
>     List sponsored by Home Power magazine
>
>     List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
>     <mailto:RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
>
>     Change email address & settings:
>     http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>
>     List-Archive:
>     http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>
>     List rules & etiquette:
>     www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
>     <http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm>
>
>     Check out participant bios:
>     www.members.re-wrenches.org <http://www.members.re-wrenches.org>
>
>
>
>
> -- 
> Michael & Jessica Nelson
> MD Electric & Solar Inc.
> Office: 707-884-1862
> Cell: 707-684-0064
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> List sponsored by Home Power magazine
>
> List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
>
> Change email address & settings:
> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>
> List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>
> List rules & etiquette:
> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
>
> Check out participant bios:
> www.members.re-wrenches.org
>

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20130705/b0997ea4/attachment-0004.html>