Frequently Asked Questions about Everbrite, ProtectaClear, CrobialCoat or Metal Restoration
Everbrite, Inc. manufactures and distributes products to restore, rejuvenate, seal and protect metals and other substrates.
Everbrite™ and ProtectaClear® coatings restore and protect ferrous and non-ferrous metals,painted metals, alloys, anodized aluminum, polished metals, plated metals, as well as seal and protect rusted metal and metals with patinas. Everbrite™ coatings also protect woods, hard plastics, vinyl, fiberglass & other substrates.
Everbrite™ coatings are not cross-linked and can be maintained indefinitely. These unique, crystal clear coatings are easily removable, repairable, and are self annealing. They are thin, tough, durable, and practically invisible, allowing the beauty of metal to show through.
Everbrite™ Coatings restore the color and luster to dull, faded substrates and have excellent protection properties to shield metals from UV, salts, moisture, corrosion, acid rain and rust. The length of time between repair and/or re-coating depends on the substrate, amount of use, and exposure to the elements. For example, a polished railing in constant use will need more attention than curtain wall.
Everbrite™ and ProtectaClear® are one-part, clear, protective coatings made up of a blend of polymer resins in a solvent base with additives to protect metals from oxidation and UV.
There are several formulations of each coating; formulations that can be mailed by air and formulations that are low-VOC and comply with even the most stringent environmental regulations. These low-VOC formulations are considered ‘green’ coatings.
Available in a Natural gloss finish as well as Satin and Matte finishes.
Both Everbrite™ and ProtectaClear® have excellent adhesion on all types of metal and some types of plastics, vinyls and other substrates. Excellent adhesion on even highly polished metals with no loss of gloss.
They are homogenous, one-part coatings so there is nothing to mix and the coatings will not separate. The additives in the Satin and Matte finish can settle and need to be mixed before application.
Everbrite™ is suitable for internal or external use as a non-toxic, anti-corrosion protection for ferrous and non-ferrous metals, galvanized, anodized and painted surfaces. It can also be used on concrete, stone, wood and fiberglass.
ProtectaClear® is recommended for metal that gets a lot of use like railings, hardware, countertops or metal that gets a lot of handling.
Everbrite™ coatings have indefinite shelf life in a closed container so there is no waste. Satin formulations can settle and need to be mixed completely before use.
Everbrite™ and ProtectaClear® are non-conductive coatings and will prevent corrosion caused by dis-similar metals.
Everbrite™ and ProtectaClear® will remain flexible so they will not chip, crack or peel. They will not discolor or yellow with exposure or heat.
Everbrite™ will refinish faded surfaces and restore the original color and protect from sun fading, salt air oxidation, moisture damage, tarnish, acid rain and other damaging elements. ProtectaClear® is a thinner coating that contains resins that are scratch resistant.
Everbrite™ and ProtectaClear® are self annealing, the coating will blend to itself and can be maintained indefinitely.
Everbrite™ Coatings are NOT like lacquers or urathanes that will yellow and discolor with exposure to the sun.
While other clear coats may be U.V.stable, many do not have the U.V. absorbers in them that protect the colors behind the coating like Everbrite™. Everbrite™ has U.V. absorbers and Anti-oxidants to protect the metal or paint behind the clear coating from discoloration and corrosion.
Everbrite™, Inc. manufactures Everbrite™ and ProtectaClear® and sells direct to consumers. You can buy Everbrite™, ProtectaClear® and other items to help complete your project safely and securely on our Online Store. Click the Green Shop Now Button at the top of the page.
We do not sell Everbrite™ in retail stores because our products are very specialized and the constant training of retail employees would make your cost higher.
You can purchase Everbrite™ Products directly from Everbrite™, Inc. securely on our safe, encrypted online store or by calling our office during regular business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PT) at 916-852-0200. We are happy to help you figure out what you need to complete your project.
We also have distributors in other countries listed in our navigation.
Sun can cause paint to fail, causing chalking and fading. Salt air can corrode metal causing rust and ugly corrosion. Acid rain can cause permanent damage to metal and stone. Metals like copper, brass, bronze will tarnish, stainless steel will rust and corrode.
Everbrite™ refinishes faded and dull surfaces to look like new again and protect them against sun fading, salt air corrosion, acid rain, tarnishing, moisture and other damaging elements for years. Protected surfaces will be much easier to keep clean as dust and dirt cannot penetrate the paint or hang on the oxidation. Graffiti can be cleaned off of the protected surface and the paint will remain protected. Everbrite™ is formulated for exterior metal or painted metals as well as most interior metals as well. Use Everbrite™ on any metal that is exposed to alcohols, even hand sanitizers.
ProtectaClear® prevents tarnish and oxidation on plated metals, copper, brass, silver, anodized steel, stainless steel, etc. The metal must be polished or cleaned first, all traces of polish residue must be removed and then ProtectaClear® can be applied to seal the surface. ProtectaClear® is formulated for metal exposed to salts and chlorines and for metal that gets a lot of use like railings or jewelry. ProtectaClear® has resins that are highly resistant to salts and chlorines. ProtectaClear® keeps unpainted metal looking like it is freshly polished. Metal polished to a satin finish will retain the satin look.
Yes, ProtectaClear® is safe on skin and is used by many jewelery designers and manufacturers. ProtectaClear® is practically invisible on polished metal and is used on polished metals and even metal with patina on it.
ProtectaClear® is tough and scratch resistant once it is cured and will protect the skin of the wearer from discoloration as well as protect the copper.
You can visit our jewelry information page to read more about ProtectaClear®.
For painted surfaces, you can test the surface to see if it can be restored. Clean an area and observe it when it is clean and wet. If the color and luster come back when the surface is clean and wet, then that is how the surface will look refinished with Everbrite™.
Sometimes Formica and other surfaces are too far gone to restore. If the surface does not look the way you want when it is clean and wet, unfortunately, nothing cannot restore the surface.
Everbrite™ or ProtectaClear® can be applied by painting on with a natural bristled or solvent rated brush, gliding it on with an applicator pad or a lint-free cloth, rolling on with a high-density foam roller, spraying on the coating or dipping the object into the coating.
Refinishing with Everbrite™ Coatings is a simple 2 step process. First, the surface is cleaned and any polish or cleaner residue is removed. Second, the Coating is applied to refinish and protect the surface.
Everbrite™ Coatings can be applied by rolling the coating on with high-density foam rollers, spraying, dipping, and painting on with a natural fiber brush or a poly sponge brush or simply applied on the surface with an applicator.
Everbrite™ Coatings are one part coatings so there is nothing to mix. They are self leveling and are very easy to work with.
Surfaces like metal siding or metal buildings or roofs can be power washed but hand scrubbing is recommended to remove chalk, dirt, any wax or grease, or any other contaminating or dirtying agents. Storage doors are normally hand washed because people have their cardboard boxes stacked right up to the edge of their space and the seals are not tight. Remove all chalk and oxidation, rinse well and make sure that water does not bead up on the surface. If it does, that means there is still soap or wax or oily residue on the surface. The water should sheet off of a painted surface and not bead up.
Click here for cleaning directions for metal buildings and roll-up doors.
Surfaces such as brass, silver, copper or other non painted metals should be cleaned or polished and must be neutralized if cleaned with an acid cleaner. Then the cleaned, neutralized metal should be wiped with xylene or denatured alcohol to insure all contaminates are removed. The solvent for the final wipe cannot be shipped from Everbrite and can be found at hardware stores. Xylene or Denatured Alcohol are clean solvents that do not contain oil or other substances. Lacquer thinner is not recommended because it can contain oils that can contaminate the surface.
IF THE SURFACE IS CLEANED WITH AN ACID CLEANER, THE SURFACE MUST BE NEUTRALIZED BEFORE APPLYING THE COATING. Use EZ Prep Cleaner & Neutralizer or calcium carbonate or a baking soda wash to neutralize the acid. Water rinsing will not remove all of the acid. The acid can react with the solvent that is the carrier for the resin coating and will create problems such as black streaks.
Xylene is a medium grade solvent cleaner that is used to remove residue from copper, brass, and other unpainted metals before coating. Xylene can also be used to remove Everbrite™ or ProtectaClear® coatings from metal surfaces.
Dentatured alcohol can be used instead of xylene for the final solvent wipe prior to coating bare or polished metals but it is not strong enough to remove the coating in most cases.
Everbrite™ and ProtectaClear®have an indefinite shelf life in a closed container. Unlike 2 part coatings which are wasted if not used in a short time once mixed, there is nothing to mix. This means that if you get interrupted while applying the coating, simply pour the unused Coating back into the container, put the top on and you can resume where you left off at another time. ***Do not pour contaminated coating back into the original container. Do not allow the coating to freeze.
On exterior applications on painted metal, Everbrite™ will need to be reapplied when the surface starts to look dull. Depending on the elements and U.V. exposure, this will be about 5 to 10 years. On homes where awnings or foliage shade the home, only the sides exposed to the sun would need to be refinished.
On fiberglass, Everbrite™ will have to be reapplied every 1 to 3 years. The number of years of protection vary by the intensity of the damaging elements and use of the surface.
On brass, copper, bronze, stainless steel etc. the length of time will depend on the usage and elements it is exposed to. On interior applications, the metal will not need re-application of ProtectaClear® for many years unless it gets a lot of wear. (For example, copper sinks or counter-tops will need more frequent applications than lamps.)
In many cases, metal surfaces are repainted simply because they have become dull and faded. Refinishing with Everbrite™ is less expensive, faster, easier and achieves more permanent results than repainting.
Because many of the additives that used to make paint last (like lead) have been removed from paint, it will not last as long as it used to. Many times, paint will start to fade again in just a year. Saving your baked on paint or stopping the paint maintenance cycle with paint will save you many hours and dollars as well
Everbrite™ Protective Coating can be applied in temperatures from approximately 40o F up to 100o F. Since the metal needs to be cleaned and dry, the temperature should not be below freezing.
More important than the air temperature is the temperature of the metal. On very cool days, you may want to work on the sun side to avoid runs or sags. On warm days, working in the shade is better so the coating can self-level before drying. It is not advisable to apply the coating on metal that is too hot to keep your hand on for more than a few seconds.Condensation easily and rapidly forms on any surface. This is especially true of metal. Whenever air is cooled to its dew point, condensation occurs. Since the “dew point” always varies, it’s impossible to have a set temperature as a guide.We have all experienced dew forming on a cold bottle while the outside air is quite warm. Therefore, the difference between outside air, the relative humidity, and the temperature of the substrate to be coated must all be factors in determining whether to coat or not.One useful method, but not absolutely foolproof, is to hold your hand against the substrate for a few seconds, then remove it. If moisture is visible where you have removed your hand it is definitely too cold. Either wait until it gets warmer or use a heater or blow dryer to prepare the substrate.
If the coating is sprayed over dew or water, it will float on the moisture and will not adhere to the metal.
How is the surface cleaned?
Surfaces like metal siding or metal buildings or roofs can be power washed but hand scrubbing is recommended to remove chalk, dirt, any wax or grease, or any other contaminating or dirtying agents. Storage doors are normally hand washed because people have their cardboard boxes stacked right up to the edge of their space and the seals are not tight. Remove all chalk and oxidation, rinse well and make sure that water does not bead up on the surface. If it does, that means there is still soap or wax or oily residue on the surface. The water should sheet off of a painted surface and not bead up.
Click here for cleaning directions for metal buildings and roll-up doors.
Surfaces such as brass, silver, copper or other non painted metals should be cleaned or polished and must be neutralized if cleaned with an acid cleaner. Then the cleaned, neutralized metal should be wiped with xylene or denatured alcohol to insure all contaminates are removed. The solvent for the final wipe cannot be shipped from Everbrite and can be found at hardware stores. Xylene or Denatured Alcohol are clean solvents that do not contain oil or other substances. Lacquer thinner is not recommended because it can contain oils that can contaminate the surface.
IF THE SURFACE IS CLEANED WITH AN ACID CLEANER, THE SURFACE MUST BE NEUTRALIZED BEFORE APPLYING THE COATING. Use EZ Prep Cleaner & Neutralizer or calcium carbonate or a baking soda wash to neutralize the acid. Water rinsing will not remove all of the acid. The acid can react with the solvent that is the carrier for the resin coating and will create problems such as black streaks.
Do NOT apply Everbrite™ or ProtectaClear® to soft rubber or soft vinyl (like umbrellas or soft awnings) as the solvent can harm them. Solvents will release the plasticisors and the soft vinyl will stay sticky. Vinyl decals or door numbers are fine to coat. Test any plastic in an inconspicuous place first.
Hard vinyl signs and vinyl siding have successfully been refinished with Everbrite™. Always test a small inconspicuous area.
Everbrite™ or ProtecaClear® cannot help if the surface is already too damaged to be restored. For example, once salt air oxidation is so bad that the metal is extremely pitted or rusted, or if there is no paint left on the surface. Peeling paint must be repaired prior to being coated with Everbrite™. It is best to protect property prior to extreme damage.
Everbrite™ will prevent acid rain damage but nothing can fix it once the surface is etched and stained.
Most new metal buildings or rollup doors are coated with a coating which will usually burn off in 2 to 3 years. It is best to wait until this coating is gone before refinishing and protecting with Everbrite™.
The exception to this is if protection is necessary from salt air or acid rain. If it is necessary to coat metal with a coating, it is necessary to remove the coating for good adhesion of the Everbrite™.
If a silicone based product (like Pledge) has been used on the metal, all silicone must be removed prior to coating or painting the surface.
Yes, ProtectaClear® is recommended for protection of the brass and other components on your clocks. Especially by the ocean where you get salt air corrosion, this is very important. Another benefit is that ProtectaClear® is practically weightless and will not affect the performance. The weight of the dry film is 0.0003 lbs. per square foot.
If you mess up the application or get an Everbrite™ Coating on a surface that you didn’t mean to get it on like window glass, the coating can be removed with xylene or other solvents. Make sure to test an area of the surface to make sure that the solvent will not harm it.
The coatings can also be removed with lacquer thinner but if the surface is to be re-coated, a final wipe with denatured alcohol or xylene is necessary to remove the oil in the lacquer thinner.
If the aluminum or other metal was cleaned with an acid based cleaner and was not neutralized, the solvent in the coating reacting with the acid and can cause black streaks. Acid cannot be totally rinsed off with plain water. A solution of EZ Prep Neutralizer and water, or a calcium carbonate, baking soda wash must be used to neutralize it before any solvent based coating is applied. EZ-Prep Cleaner is also a neutralizer and is not as messy as baking soda and water.
ProtectaClear® is food safe when it is cured. Do you use this cookware often or is it mainly decorative? If you use whisks or other metal utensils, any coating may scratch off. The cured ProtectaClear® resin is not toxic.
For the outside of copper pans, ProtectaClear® will protect your beautiful copper pots and will stand up to heat as well, preventing tarnish and darkening. Your copper pans will stay bright and shiny.
ProtectaClear® will also protect your copper back splashes, copper bars, copper hoods, copper sinks and other copper in your kitchen, keeping it beautiful and easy to clean. Coated surfaces will clean up easily with mild soap and water.
In order to prevent leaking during shipping, metal cans that have liquids in them must have an insert under the screw top. This insert needs to be removed and discarded. If your can has a plastic top, it may not have this insert.
To remove the insert, hold the can to prevent the contents from spilling. Use a screwdriver or an icepick and tap through the metal insert. The metal insert will pop out. The following video shows the method of removing the insert. Keep the screw top on the can to prevent spills.
Watch the video here.
Everbrite™ Protective Coating is a unique, crystal-clear coating used to refinish and restore your faded doors and metal buildings. In addition to restoring a “like-new" appearance, Everbrite™ will protect your valuable property from sun fading, salt air oxidation, moisture damage, tarnish, acid rain and other damaging elements. Everbrite™ has U.V. absorbers and Anti-Oxidants to protect painted metal from fading, chalking and corrosion. It is a homogenous, one part coating so there is nothing to mix. It has an indefinite shelf life in a closed container so there is no waste. Everbrite™ is a thin and flexible coating so it will not chip, crack or peel when the metal flexes or the doors roll up.
Absolutely not. Automotive Coatings are formulated to be applied to short pieces of steel not aluminum doors that roll up on themselves. Automotive Coatings are not flexible. When a door is rolled up, the top of the door is compressed into a circle as little as 5 inches. Everbrite™ will remain flexible and will flex and bend with the door. Automobile coatings are 2 part coatings and are not self-annealing so re-application in 5 to 10 years is very difficult. Everbrite™ will blend to itself so it can be maintained indefinitely.
Everbrite™ Protective Coating can be applied in temperatures from approximately 40º F up to 100º F. Since the metal needs to be cleaned and dry, the temperature should not be below freezing.More important than the air temperature is the temperature of the metal.On very cool days, you may want to work on the sun side to avoid runs or sags. On warm days, working in the shade is better so the coating can self-level before drying. It is not advisable to apply the coating on metal that is too hot to keep your hand on for more than a few seconds.
Condensation easily and rapidly forms on any surface. This is especially true of metal. Whenever air is cooled to its dew point, condensation occurs. Since the “dew point” always varies, it’s impossible to have a set temperature as a guide.
We have all experienced dew forming on a cold bottle while the outside air is quite warm.
Therefore, the difference between outside air, the relative humidity and the temperature of the substrate to be coated must all be factors in determining whether to coat or not.
One useful method but not absolutely foolproof is to hold your hand against the substrate for a few seconds, then remove it. If moisture is visible where you have removed your hand it is definitely too cold. Either wait until it gets warmer or use a heater or blow dryer to prepare the substrate.
If the coating is sprayed over dew or water, it will float on the moisture and will not adhere to the metal.
If applying to vertical services, watch for runs or sags if applying between 40º and 50ºF. If you get sags, simply wipe them out with an applicator or clean, white, lint free rag damp with xylene. At 70 degrees Fahrenheit, Everbrite™ dries to the touch in about 5 to 10 minutes.
Exterior metal that has been repainted begins to age almost immediately and will rarely rival the original baked-on finish in sheen or quality. Just repainting metal cannot protect against salt air corrosion or acid rain damage and may crack, peel, blister, chip and ruin the look of your property. Unless it is absolutely necessary to paint, it is much better to refinish the baked-on finish. Unlike paint, Everbrite™ dries very quickly allowing your tenants access to their units in just minutes and will not interrupt day-to-day operations of your business.
NO. Everbrite™ can be applied by everyday people with common tools.
We have complete illustrated directions at: Complete Illustrated Directions
We also have "How-To" Videos to show you exactly how to restore your metal doors and buildings on our Video Page
The secret to a successful Everbrite™ application is making sure the surface is completely cleaned—free of oxidation, dirt, grease, silicone, wax and moisture. First, chalky oxidation can be wiped off with plain water and a microfiber towel. Then, a final wash with EZ-Prep Concentrated Cleaner and water followed by a thorough rinse with plain water.
Application of the Everbrite™ Coating can be done with most any commercially available compressed air or airless sprayer equipped with a fine finish tip. For smaller areas Everbrite™ can be applied with a lint-free white cloth, wax applicator or a high-density foam roller. For touch-ups and corners, aerosol cans are available.
This is not a good idea. Most seals on storage doors will not keep water out if a stream is sprayed into the "C" channel. Customers normally have their stuff in cardboard boxes stacked within inches of the door, and having customers approach you as to why their stuff has water damage is not a good feeling! Care must be taken not to spray water in the edges or in the opening above the door, and with our method, tens of thousands of units have been washed with no water damage.
Sure, you can just clean the doors but cleaning will not restore the color and luster if the topcoat is gone. We have a page with the best way to clean your doors.
New doors and buildings can be maintained by simply cleaning with EZ-Prep Concentrated Cleaner and water. Once the doors are faded, just cleaning the metal will not bring back the shine and color. If you clean doors or metal buildings and don't seal or protect the surface, it will soon fade or chalk again. Once the doors are sealed with Everbrite™, not only will they look new again but will be much easier to keep clean and will be protected from corrosion and oxidation.
The original paint on your metal buildings and doors is baked on in the factory. Many times when your doors are put up, touchup paint that matches the color of your doors is used by the contractor to cover any scratches. At the time it is touched up, it matches very well but non-baked on paint will oxidize faster and blotches can appear where the touch up paint fades faster than the original baked on paint. Refinishing with Everbrite™ will bring back the faded color and your doors will match once more.
Everbrite™ cannot help if the surface is already too damaged to be restored. For example, once salt air oxidation is so bad that the metal is extremely pitted or rusted, or if there is no paint justify on the surface. Peeling paint must be repaired prior to being coated with Everbrite™ Protective Coating. It is best to protect property prior to extreme damage.
While we recommend that a NIOSH/MSHS respirator be used during spray applications and that skin contact be avoided, Everbrite™ is considered non-toxic and safe when used as directed. Once dry, Everbrite™ is food safe, potable water safe and medical safe. And unlike some other coatings, Everbrite™ is NOT flammable and is safe to store at your facility.
If you count your doors, we will be happy to help figure out exactly what you need. One gallon of Everbrite™ will restore about 17 to 20 large (8'x8') doors. We have a chart to help figure out what you need. If you want to try Everbrite™ first, we have a Starter Kit which will refinish about 3 to 4 large doors. The Starter kit also includes nitrile gloves, an applicator, a microfiber towel and complete, illustrated directions.
Everbrite™ has a new One-Step Waterless Clean and Protect in an aerosol can which is perfect for keeping dusty and grimy interior doors clean and protected. One problem with cleaning inside doors with water is that if the water spills onto the floor, it can go inside the units where your customers have cardboard boxes just inches from the doors. Interior doors do not normally have the protection from water that exterior doors have. Just spray on the door and wipe with a cloth to clean and wax all in one step.
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