Best method for painting fibreglass porch/pillar

[thesmoothound]

Hi,

I have moved into a house which has a Georgian style porch/pillar on my house which is fibreglass. It looks like it has been painted at some point as the paint has flaked off. I have managed to sand this back to the original state. I want to repaint it but not sure of the method. It is facing South so gets direct heat. Should I prime, undercoat and gloss? Also, there are some cracks/holes in the framework (see photos). Should I just use a standard filler for this or is there a special technique for fibreglass?

Thank you

 

[KenGMac]

thesmoothound, hi

I have copied and pasted your Digital images on to my Lap top to be able to zoom in on the Images.

I think I can see some individual fibres of the Fiberglass and the fiberglass matrix itself?

As I remember it, the fibre glass mats have a Gel-Coat? on the top surface, it is this coating that can be painted, if your arch has exposed fibres then you may have to do something other than a coat of paint?

Suggest you undertake some research into Fiberglass or ask on the car site on this board how to undertake repairs to this material?

As for paint? there are a multitude of highly specialised painting "Systems" a lot aimed at the Boating Fraternity

Sorry no definitive answer, but I am not liking what I am looking at?

Ken