From primer to galvanising and fire protection, specify the right finish for the steel, the environment and the job programme.
A steel finish needs to suit where the component will be installed and what the structure has to do. Corrosion exposure, fire protection, appearance and subsequent site work can all influence the right treatment.
MAH Steel can coordinate fabrication, surface preparation, the specified finish and delivery as part of the steel package. That means the finish is considered before the steel is manufactured, not left as an afterthought.
All our steelwork is supplied with high-performance protective coatings, applied in-house to ensure durability, compliance, and readiness for installation.
We offer a range of finishing options to suit internal, external, and high-risk environments, including priming, galvanising, and intumescent fire protection. Every finish is selected based on your project’s exposure conditions, structural requirements, and regulatory obligations.
Our coatings are not just aesthetic – they are specified to protect against corrosion, extend service life, and meet UK Building Regulations where required.
All preparation and finishing is carried out at our Kent facility, giving us full control over quality, turnaround times, and consistency across your steel package.
The finish should be chosen for the environment, building requirements and steel specification, not appearance alone.
A zinc coating for fabricated steel where corrosion protection is a priority, particularly in exposed conditions. Specification and fabrication details need to be suitable for galvanising.
Typical use: external steelwork and exposed components.
Primers provide a suitable base for subsequent coatings and help protect prepared steelwork. The specified system and coating thickness depend on the project requirements.
Typical use: structural beams and painted steel packages.
Intumescent coatings can provide passive fire protection to structural steel when a suitably tested system is specified, prepared and applied at the required thickness.
Typical use: steel with a project-specified fire-resistance requirement.
A dry powder is electrostatically applied and heat cured to create a coloured finish. Suitability depends on the substrate, exposure and desired appearance.
Typical use: architectural steelwork, railings and components.
Fabrication details, cleaning, surface condition and application requirements affect the finished result. MAH reviews these as part of the wider steel package so components can be treated and delivered to suit the agreed specification.
Protective coatings are part of the technical steel package. The correct specification depends on the building, the exposure and the responsible design team.
Internal, external and potentially aggressive environments call for different coating systems and protection levels.
Intumescent systems require a defined fire strategy, suitable product and verified application requirements.
Colour, finish, maintenance and wear all influence the selection for visible architectural steelwork.
Any specialist treatment should be allowed for in the programme, with the right handling and delivery sequence.
Fire ratings and coating performance are system- and project-specific. MAH should confirm the agreed coating, preparation, provider and certification requirements before final sign-off.
Five related MAH services that support a coordinated steel and finishing package.
Structural fabricationFabricated sections and connections prepared to agreed drawings.
CNC profiling & cuttingSteel profiled and prepared before surface treatment.
Steel weldingWelded details coordinated with the final protective finish.
Steel drillingHoles and fixing points prepared prior to finishing.
HIAB steel deliveryThe finished steel package delivered to suit site access.
Published MAH case studies where protective coatings were part of the actual fabrication and delivery work.
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Our coatings and the four finishes we offer, as set out on our existing finishes page.
Galvanising is one of the most common methods to protect steelwork from corrosion. This method is quite easy and cost effective for all metals. Its procedure is to apply thin coating of zinc to a thicker base metal. This helps to shield it from the surrounding environment.
Primer paint ensures better adhesion of paint to the surface, increases paint durability, and provides additional protection to the steelwork. Usually it is used before painting with other paints.
Intumescent paint which can be also called as coating are used in buildings as a passive fire resistance measure. They can be applied to structural steelwork as an aesthetically pleasing fireproofing product.
Powder coating is applied as a free-flowing powder in a completely dry form. Think of it as paint with the solvent part removed. The coating is painted electrostatically and then cured under heat which causes it to form a kind of “skin.”
Send us the steelwork details and required finish. We’ll review the package and talk through what’s needed.
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