how to paint a corrugated fence

Why paint corrugated board?

The situations in which you have to paint corrugated sheets are varied:

the appearance of chips and scratches during transportation or installation;
the desire to paint a galvanized sheet or protect its problem areas;
the need to update old faded paint;
the desire to fit an inappropriately colored fence or other structure into the surrounding landscape;
reluctance to install new structures.

In any case, painting, for example, an old corrugated fence is a more than economical option to extend its service life.

The need for coloring

Owners of old corrugated roofs, after the service life of this practical material has expired, often wonder whether it is possible to use painting to restore the structure to its original appearance and resistance to moisture. During use, profiled steel sheets become covered with scratches, chips and abrasions, which become the cause of corrosion. Coloring of corrugated sheets is used in the following situations:

Scratches and chips, deep damage that appears on the material due to careless transportation or improper storage even before installation, can be eliminated with your own hands using specially selected paint.
If cheap galvanized corrugated sheets without a protective coating were used for the roofing, its performance characteristics can be improved by painting.
High-quality painting extends the life of structures that have served for 10-15 years.
With the help of a fresh paint coating, you can update the appearance of the corrugated sheet or change the color of the structure.

Repair of minor defects

Previously, in addition to galvanized sheets, only painted corrugated sheets were produced. Over the years, it has been replaced by a more practical polymer coating, which is inferior in strength, corrosion resistance and durability only to powder coating. However, this process is very expensive and is performed in special heat chambers, so it has limited distribution.

To combat small surface defects at home, a special polymer paint sold in cans will be useful. Most often - alkyd enamel for metal. The color match is selected using a special scale, which is universal and available from all sellers. Therefore, when purchasing corrugated sheeting, it is advisable to remember its number so that in the future you can easily know what paint to paint it with.

Coloring methods

The quality and service life of the paint coating applied to the surface of a corrugated sheet at home depends on the correct choice of paint and adherence to painting technology. To ensure an even layer without smudges, use the following methods of applying paint:

Powder. In production conditions, profiled steel sheets are usually painted using a special powder paint, which consists of a mixture of coloring pigment and rubber. It evenly covers the metal with a layer 60-300 microns thick, imparting impact resistance, corrosion resistance and durability to the material.

In order for the powder to polymerize, the painted sheets are baked in special chambers at a temperature of 200 degrees.

When deciding which method is more suitable for applying paint to the surface of a corrugated sheet, keep in mind that painting is carried out from a distance of 30-50 cm in order to obtain a uniform paint layer without smudges. To ensure that the paint goes on more evenly, the corrugated sheeting is cleaned, dried and, if necessary, primed.

How to paint galvanized sheet

In most key characteristics, galvanized corrugated sheeting is not inferior to a sheet with a polymer coating. However, his appearance is only for those who like gray barracks everyday life. It is possible to transform a boring color, but on the way to bright colors you will have to overcome many difficulties.

As a rule, the main problem encountered when trying to paint galvanized corrugated sheets is poor contact of the surface with the paint. It is especially difficult to paint a new product with an oxide film still intact, which has properties similar to wax. It is recommended to use only special paints for galvanizing.

Initially, you need to prepare the surface:

clean and degrease with organic solvents or special compounds;
if there is a previous paint coating, it must be completely removed using the abrasive that will cause less damage to the galvanizing;
remove dirt and rust with alkaline solutions;
rinse thoroughly and dry.

The first layer is a primer for non-ferrous metal. And only after it has completely dried can the corrugated sheeting be painted with the base layer. As a rule, spray guns are used as a tool for large areas.

What paints are best for galvanized metal?

At home, you can use several paint options for galvanized sheets:

Alkyd enamels. Compositions intended for galvanized surfaces form a smooth, durable, shiny film. They repel water well and are frost-resistant.

Acrylic primer enamels. Easily applied to galvanized sheets. Their peculiarity is that application of a primer is not required. Operations are faster, and the quality of protection is higher than that of alkyd compounds. However, the price is slightly higher.

Choosing the right paint

Acrylic paints

Matte acrylic paints contain active anti-corrosion additives with organic solvents. They are excellent for exterior finishing of galvanized surfaces. Acrylic options have increased light resistance. Such paints can withstand atmospheric influences and are not affected by moisture.

The advantage of acrylic paints is that they do not require pre-treatment of the surface of the corrugated sheet using a primer. The paint adheres securely to galvanized metal and is applied in one layer.

Alkyd enamels

An alternative option for painting galvanized corrugated sheets is alkyd enamel. The variety of colors is not inferior to coatings made of polymer materials.

Alkyd enamel can give corrugated sheets the required properties and protect them from the negative effects of the external environment. By increasing resistance to seasonal and daily temperature changes, corrugated sheets can last 10 years longer.

The main rule when using alkyd enamel is to paint when the surface of the corrugated sheet is completely dry.

Among the disadvantages of alkyd enamels, it is worth noting the fact that over time the material loses its elastic properties and becomes covered with a network of microcracks. This leads to a decrease in anti-corrosion properties. In addition, enamel on “ferrous” metals can only be applied to a pre-treated surface.

pixabay

Paint Application Methods

In principle, you can paint galvanized corrugated sheets with your own hands with any tool from the painter’s arsenal: both primitive and advanced. However, if you use a brush, the process will take a long time, and the consumption and quality of the surface will depend on the person’s skills.

A pneumatic spray gun is most often used, and you need to be able to:

correctly adjust and maintain constant jet pressure;
protect yourself from droplet fog;
Don't waste paint on the surrounding landscape.

The combined method (a combination of airless and pneumatic supply) is more convenient for native surfaces, but causes difficulties on profile waves.

The electrostatic method has proven itself to be the most effective. It works due to the static attraction of the paint and the sheet surface when an electrical discharge occurs at the nozzle. Already from the definition it is clear that to perform the operation you will have to call a professional with special equipment. Whether the costs of minimal loss of paint and an excellent surface are worth it, each owner will have to decide for himself.

Paints for corrugated sheets

To change the color of a profiled steel sheet, renew the protective coating, or disguise minor defects on the surface with your own hands, you can use various coloring compounds that must withstand temperature changes, maintain brightness when exposed to ultraviolet radiation, and protect from water. The quality and duration of the coloring service depends on the correct choice of paint. To paint corrugated sheets, use the following compositions:

Alkyd, polyester and epoxy polyester enamel. For painting metal, alkyd and polyester enamels are used, which perfectly withstand temperature changes, high humidity and other weather influences. How to decorate a gate with your own hands? However, during operation they lose their elasticity, breaking into a network of small cracks that reduce their protective properties.

In addition, alkyd and polyester enamels are not used to paint galvanized corrugated sheets, since they are only suitable for treated metal.

Acrylic paint.
Water-based acrylic paint is often used to paint profiled steel. The main advantage of this coloring composition is its high adhesion, thanks to which it fits perfectly on a metal surface. This type of paint is suitable for galvanized corrugated sheets; it has high elasticity, saturation and a long service life. It is optimally suited for metal processing, as it successfully withstands the fairly large linear expansion of this material.

Important! The profiled sheet begins to become covered with cracks and rust after an average of 10-15 years of operation. Painting sheets to extend the service life of the material with special paint is much cheaper than completely replacing corrugated sheets.

Features of painting polymer-coated sheets

If there are defects in the polymer coating or it is necessary to repaint it in a different color, the following steps must be taken:

before painting the corrugated board, clean the surface from dirt and chips and degrease it;
there is no need to completely remove the old coating (this, moreover, costs enormous time and effort);
deep damage is smoothed out with automotive putty;
It is necessary to apply a special primer;
The paint is applied in 2 layers, with an interval of up to 2 days.
To obtain a close to ideal surface, it is better to carry out work in calm weather at temperatures above 15 degrees.

The following is used as a coating:

aerosol paint for corrugated sheets and metal restoration;
enamel for metal on an alkyd, polyurethane, urethane-alkyd basis.

Acrylic paints are not used due to rapid abrasion. Oil-based ones do not adhere well to a galvanized base.

Main characteristics of the profiled sheet

This product is a wear-resistant and durable roofing covering. On the domestic market it is sold in the form of profiled galvanized metal sheet. Many consumers are interested in how to paint corrugated sheets and which method to choose.

To improve the protective qualities of the material, it is sometimes coated with a polymer composition. Manufacturers offer corrugated sheeting in a wide range of colors with different sheet parameters, so you can select products so that they cover the entire roof area with a minimum amount of overlap.

To produce corrugated sheets, rolling equipment is used to produce sheets of the required sizes. In terms of its physical properties, the material has much in common with metal tiles, from which it differs in shape and lower cost. Its thickness is on average 0.5 millimeters.

During the manufacturing process of corrugated sheets, metal sheets are coated with a layer of zinc. Next, the products are primed in order to then apply a colored polymer coating to them. Initially, profiled sheets are produced from cold-rolled steel. This roofing material is also coated with pural, plastisol or PVDF.

When you have decided how to paint a metal profile, you need to choose one of several modern methods of painting:

airless;
pneumatic;
combined;
electrostatic;
powder.

The above technologies differ in the speed of application and paint consumption for metal profiles, as well as the quality of the final result.

What paint to paint corrugated board

To choose what paint to paint corrugated sheets with your own hands, quickly and inexpensively, let’s consider the main types of paints and varnishes offered by the chemical industry:

✔ Restoration aerosol paint for corrugated sheets and metal (Alucoat Color, Newton Ral, KUDO). Available on alkyd or polyester base. The range is wide, the color is easy to choose. The coating dries quickly and is resistant to temperature changes and other external influences. The cost of a can is from 300 rubles.

✔ Enamel for metal on an alkyd, polyurethane, urethane-alkyd base (Hammerite, Tikkurila Panssarimaali, Nerzhamet). Works great as a paint for galvanized corrugated sheets. It is characterized by weather resistance and good adhesion even to rust. Each series has a wide selection of shades according to the RAL system. The price of the can is from 160 rubles.

How to paint a corrugated fence correctly

Any defects in the metal surface can be repaired. The main thing is to follow the correct algorithm for painting a corrugated fence:

Clean the surface from polymer coating crumbs, dirt, and degrease with a solvent.
If the damage is deep, you must first fill it with automotive putty (Body, Otrix), let it dry and level the surface with sandpaper.
Apply a special primer (passivating or protective).
The finishing paint should be applied in 2 layers with an interval of up to 48 hours.

It is advisable to carry out work in cloudy, windless weather at a temperature not lower than +15 °C.

The best protection against “diseases” is prevention. No one can handle this better than professionals.

When is it necessary to paint a fence made of corrugated sheets?

The question of how to paint a corrugated fence with your own hands arises for various reasons. For example:

strengthen and secure galvanized material to extend its service life;
repair sheets that were damaged during transportation;
change the color without having to install a new fence;
update faded paint or simply add some design to enhance the design.

Actually, it is possible to paint a profiled sheet; this does not require any special skills or special technologies. A self-painted corrugated sheet will not have the same properties as a factory-processed material, but high-quality paints and varnishes serve as excellent protection for the corrugated sheet from corrosion and damage.