Best paint for black metal staircase?

[emilybronte]

Staircase treads are showing rust spots and customer wants a matt or satin finish, not high gloss. I'm thinking of using Hammerite satin.

Can anyone think of a reason not to, or suggest a better product?

Thanks!

 

[misterhelpful]

Hammerite is horrible to use, clogs brushes and dries too quickly on larger flat surfaces to keep a wet edge. The best results I got with a metal winding iron staircase was with Blackfriar's Anti-rust Primer and their Satin Black Paint (they also do/did a matt version but I don't know if either are still available). It really looked the business when finished and still looked very good several years later. That said, it was indoors so if yours is outside then I couldn't say how it would fair against the elements - I'm not sure if the satin would be ok but I know the matt is/was indoor only.

 

[emilybronte]

Hey, thanks! Did as you suggested and the results were excellent (even though I say it myself!)

Blackfriars is good stuff methinks.

 

[misterhelpful]

Good to know they still make it (and seemingly haven't lowered their product quality, like many other companies) and that it turned out well.

 

[emilybronte]

Yes, the matt wasn't an option as it is apparently not durable enough to be walked upon, but the satin is, and it looks good.