Tips For Painting a Metal Deck
How many people actually bother to read the label on a can of paint. You have a painting project and the prevailing thought is that painting is easy, right. Well, you are partially right; painting is easy and anyone can do it but not everyone does it the right way and with great results. The complexity increases dramatically if you are painting metal. Read on to find the best way to paint metal deck and what paints you should use.
The type of paint you buy is dependent upon the surface you wish to cover. One of the hardest surfaces to paint is metal. Not that it is hard to put the paint on the surface, but getting the paint to stick to metal decking…now that takes knowledge.
You must match the primer to the topcoat so reading the label on each can is a must. What you need to be concerned with is the drying time on each and also what type of topcoat it is. Urethane and enamel paints work best on metal surfaces. You paint a metal deck to avoid rusting and to make the deck fit in with the color of the home or landscape. You will need to purchase a paint primer and topcoat that has a rust inhibitor in its formula. You can find this information directly on the cans.
The most important part of painting metal surface is the surface preparation. The surface must be thoroughly cleaned and free of debris and totally dry before you begin. If you are using a metal surface underwater for any reason, then a flat shiny finish would not be the thing you need. That is why the decks of ships are almost always grainy if painted or have ridges in them to channel surface water.
Once you have decided on the right paint and primer and have prepared the surface, it is time to get down to the business of painting. The first step would be to roughen the surface a bit. This can be done using a sand blaster. The paint will cling to a rough surface a lot better than a smooth metal one. Now paint on the primer coat. Allow this to dry completely before you add your topcoat.
Knowing what types of paints that will best adhere to metal surfaces is only half the battle. The other half of the equation is putting the paint on the surface properly. You can do a Google search for "proper painting techniques" to learn more on this. Good luck.
The type of paint you buy is dependent upon the surface you wish to cover. One of the hardest surfaces to paint is metal. Not that it is hard to put the paint on the surface, but getting the paint to stick to metal decking…now that takes knowledge.
You must match the primer to the topcoat so reading the label on each can is a must. What you need to be concerned with is the drying time on each and also what type of topcoat it is. Urethane and enamel paints work best on metal surfaces. You paint a metal deck to avoid rusting and to make the deck fit in with the color of the home or landscape. You will need to purchase a paint primer and topcoat that has a rust inhibitor in its formula. You can find this information directly on the cans.
The most important part of painting metal surface is the surface preparation. The surface must be thoroughly cleaned and free of debris and totally dry before you begin. If you are using a metal surface underwater for any reason, then a flat shiny finish would not be the thing you need. That is why the decks of ships are almost always grainy if painted or have ridges in them to channel surface water.
Once you have decided on the right paint and primer and have prepared the surface, it is time to get down to the business of painting. The first step would be to roughen the surface a bit. This can be done using a sand blaster. The paint will cling to a rough surface a lot better than a smooth metal one. Now paint on the primer coat. Allow this to dry completely before you add your topcoat.
Knowing what types of paints that will best adhere to metal surfaces is only half the battle. The other half of the equation is putting the paint on the surface properly. You can do a Google search for "proper painting techniques" to learn more on this. Good luck.
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