Metal Painting

In this article let us together learn how to paint METAL surfaces like Roof Painting and other metal painting. 

We are a strong advocate of clean and healthy preparation of the paint surface before painting. Proper preparation not only saves resources to the owner but it does ensure the longevity of the surfaces (metal or wood) and the topcoats. Cleaning and applying the right primer does make a lot of difference. Even premium metal primer and paint tend to lose their sheen (Learn Sheen) if proper surface preparation is not accorded. So do clean and prepare thoroughly before you put your hands on the brush and the rollers. Here we have a few ways to paint any metal surface:

Clean Metal surface: The metal surface should be free from dirt, grease, old paint and rust.  Remove all of them with the help of sandpaper, pressure wash if possible, or some mineral spirits. Cleaning with detergent water could also help wash some dirt.

Peel off loose or peeling paint: Old paint that is loose and peeling off should be removed completely. One can use hand wire brushing, scraping, and sanding (Learn Sanding) techniques for removing old paint. While sanding with a power tool may be faster, they could polish the metal surface abrasively giving adhesion problems.

Remove Rust: Rust is one major issue in metal painting. It affects the adhesion of the paint. So it is very much important to remove the rust deposit before applying the paint. Sparse rust on the metal can be cleaned by brushing and sanding. Using a premium primer on rust affected metal surfaces could bear better results. Painting on a rusted surface will damage both the surfaces and the paint applied.

Repair holes and dents: After removing rust, if there are holes and dents on the roof or surface, fix them to the shape and fill them up with appropriate fillers or sealants. Check with the hardware or paint shop for the sealant options.  

Right Primer: As endorsed in our previous post, priming (Learn Priming )is one of the most important parts of the painting. Water-based primers don’t go good on metal surfaces. The primer available in our market that prevents rust is Iron Oxide.  Check for other options that help averts rusting with the shopkeeper. Apply the primer immediately after surface preparation. This help to keep away flash rusting (corrosion of wet iron) and accumulation of dust on the surface.

Whether you are painting the metal roof, gate or door, the painting process and taking precaution remains the same. Clean the surface properly of any dust or grease, take out any loose or peeling paint, and discard rust. As soon as cleaning and preparation are done, apply a primer coat. Consider enough drying time before applying paint. It's safer to refer to the product description for better results as drying time varies with paint brands.  

Painting in Cold & Hot weather

Winter does no good for the construction industry generally. It is because cement and paint adhesion doesn’t go well with the cold. However, if the average temperature is read in between 15-29’ Celcius, it is good to do outside painting.

Idle temperatures for latex and oil-based paints are between 10-21 and 10-32 degrees Celcius respectively. Heat and cold temperatures are less of a concern in Bhutan.  Painting can go around the year except for some days.   Know these;

Heat & Paint

Very high and low temperature affects the adhesion of the paint resulting in peeling or cracking of the paints. Painting at a very temperature can cause bubbles and blisters. It is recommended not to paint latex that goes good on the exterior at a temperature above 32’ Celcius.  

Cold & Paint  

Avoid painting when the temperature is below 10’ Celcius. It is hard to cure paint in cold weather which affects the overall life of the paint.

Oil-based paints thicken in cold weather, causing paintbrushes to harden. This leads to thicker paint application and less coverage. Since paint takes a long time to dry in cooler temperatures, the painted surface stays wet for a long time, attracting dirt on the paint.

Humidity & Paint 

Humidity/moisture is another issue for the paint to adhere to surfaces causing the paint to bubble and eventually peel.

Sun & Rain

Avoid painting in direct sunlight, rather follow the sun’s shadow around the house. It’s a good rule of thumb to allow the paint to be dry to the touch before the sun goes down for the day.

No matter what the temperature outside is, painting is never a work when it’s raining. Enough dry time is magic for better results.

 

How to get rid of the paint smell

I found very nice information worth the share here on how to get rid of the paint smell. We have condensed to a few points which implementing is easier and possible.

We have not tried or tested ourselves but trusted the content from a reliable website.

********Cut a Few Onion Halve******

Onions naturally release high levels of sulfur, which is a compound known to neutralize paint smells. Slice a few onions place them around your room for a couple of hours. Once you’re done eliminating paint fumes, put your onions straight in the bin.

********Baking Soda to Remove Paint Odors*********

Baking soda, also called sodium bicarbonate, has abrasive qualities that catch fumes to get rid of paint smells. Pour a few inches of baking soda into a few bowls, and lay them near your paint walls. Alternatively, you can spread your powder onto baking sheets.

********Fill a Bucket of Water*********

This simple trick effectively absorbs paint solvent vapours and removes its foul odour. Do so by filling up a three-gallon bucket with water, lemon slices, and a tablespoon of salt. Proceed to leave your bucket in your room’s centre overnight. By the morning, the paint fumes should have significantly dissipated.

Helpful Tips

*********Opt for Low VOC paints********

If you want to keep paint fumes to a minimum, purchase paints with zero or low Volatile Organic Compound amounts.

********Turn off Your Air-Conditioning Unit and Close Air Vents*****

Ensure your AC and air vents in rooms adjacent to your paint job are turned off and shut during your paint job.

*********Paint in Cooler Temperatures*********

High humidity causes paint to dry slower, gradually emitting a foul odour. Do a painting project on cooler days or make sure to dry your rooms quickly with a fan.

************Close Paint Can Lids****************

Be sure to seal the paint lid on the job site and store paint cans in a cool, and dry place.

*******Wait for Paint Layers to Fully Dry before Reapplication******

Wet paint emits strong odours and typically needs several hours to dry. Allowing your paint layers enough time to dry will reduce fumes and stench emitted.

*********Ensure your Room is Well-Ventilated*********

During your paint job, facilitate good airflow throughout the room by opening your windows and turning on a few fans. As a result, paint fumes will dissipate faster, and your paint will dry quicker.