Galvanized Metal Painting Tips

Prepping New Galvanized Metal

• Newly manufactured galvanized metal products come with an oil coating to prevent white rust, or oxidization of the zinc coating, which makes paint peel. Clean the metal with a water soluble cleaner, such as dish soap or household cleanser, and rinse thoroughly ensuring you clean the metal in its entirety. After the metal has dried, inspect it to find any spots you missed.

Prepping Aged Galvanized Metal

• Aged galvanized metal products that have not been painted usually have white rust or zinc oxidation on the surface that you must remove before painting. Use a wire brush or sand paper to lightly remove the oxidation and access the bare galvanized surface. Sand blasting is an ideal solution for large areas, as are wire wheels for drills. Prep painted galvanized metals with peeling paint by removing all of the paint, or the areas where the paint is pulling away from the surface.

Painting

• You can use latex- or oil-based paint on galvanized metal by spraying, rolling or brushing. Spraying on paint creates a smoother surface than brushing or rolling because it evens out the pitted surface and does not leave brush or roller marks. It is essential that you use a quality primer that is designed for use on metal to help the pain adhere to the galvanized surface.

Maintenance

• You should perform regular maintenance to painted galvanized surfaces to keep them looking good and prevent oxidization or rust. Promptly strip any areas of peeling paint down to a bare surface and repaint. Apply new coats of paint to areas that show signs of fading or excess wear due to the natural elements or items coming into contact with it. Try to avoid allowing water to collect on the surface for long periods because it can damage the paint and allow the metal to rust underneath.