Repainting Metal Railings on Balcony

chrisb1357 · 22 Apr 2011

Hi all,

We have some metal railings on our balconey that have been painted black for sometime. We have now noticed that the paint has started to flake on the bottom and the top of the railings where the handel rail is.

What is the best option to re paint these without spending loads of money as i have never painted railings before. Do i just wirebrush them down.

If anyone can advise on the best way to do this and which paint to use as i dont want them to start to flake again as soon as we repaint them.

Chris

TheDec · 22 Apr 2011

Chris.

Exposed metal can form rust very quickly, and although at the outset can't be spotted with the human eye it will develop and always remain a problem.

So your preperation and first coat should be done as one application, the use of a wire brush is fine on the proviso that you intend to apply a solvent/alkyd base paint.

The correct procedure here would be to remove all loose and flaking paintwork and apply one coat of zinc phosphate primer followed by two coats of gloss. If you need further advice please feel free to ask.

Dec

chrisb1357 · 22 Apr 2011

Can you get black Gloss then, Also is this ok for outside

Chris

TheDec · 22 Apr 2011

Chris, yes black gloss is readily available and is ok to use outside.

Dec

Alarm · 22 Apr 2011

Hammerite or Smoothrite is like gloss but made to cover railings and other metalwork. Also inhibits rust, just wirebrush down and paint.

TheDec · 22 Apr 2011

Both of those products simply will not work, there is no such thing as one coat wonder paints when it comes to rust.

Dec

Alarm · 22 Apr 2011

Well we had no complaints with it on automatic gates fitted and welded on site for the motors and attached fencing and pedestrian gates.
Was also used for touch ups on take overs when retro fitting accuators.

You will note I did say clean down rust first.

misterhelpful · 22 Apr 2011

TheDec said:
The correct procedure here would be to remove all loose and flaking paintwork and apply one coat of zinc phosphate primer followed by two coats of gloss.

TheDec's method is the right way to do it, but as a quick fix you can use Hammerite.
It isn't the easiest paint to get a nice finish with but is now sold as a Direct to Rust gloss paint. If you have bare galvanised metal without rust, you will need the Direct to Galvanised version.

My advice for lasting results though, is to follow TheDec's instructions.

chrisb1357 · 23 Apr 2011

This might sound stupied but how can i tell what type of metel the raillings are as i dont have a clue LOL

Chris

JohnD · 23 Apr 2011

they are steel, as a magnet will show you.

there might be a dull grey layer of galvanising under the paint. This delays rusting for several years until it weathers away.

BTW Hammerite is quite expensive, quite difficult to apply, and very very difficult to repaint in future. The rust can continue to grow under the hammerite film. I recommend wire-brushing off any visiblr rust, then apply Kurust (chemical rust killer) followed by a metal preservative primer and gloss oil paint system.

georgiepie · 23 Apr 2011

use a coat of red oxide first then undercoat and finish with a good gloss paint that will do the job have you seen the price of hammerite these days

diynot

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Repainting Metal Railings on Balcony

Alarm

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