What paint to choose for painting a metal fence?

Range of materials

The market for paints and varnishes amazes with its wide range. Such a variety of colors sometimes leads to a dead end. To make the right choice, you need to become better acquainted with each species.

There are several main types of dyes for metal fences:

• alkyd;
• oil;
• acrylic;
• universal.

Epoxy paint solutions can also be used for iron fences. However, it is worth remembering that they are highly toxic.

Important! When choosing paint, you should pay attention to its main characteristics: resistance to frequent changes in temperature and level of adhesion (adhesion to metal).

The basis of oil dyes is drying oil. This substance is made from natural oils. Such paints tolerate temperature increases up to 80°C. Their disadvantages include rapid fading and cracking. Painting an iron fence with oil paint is possible, but not recommended.

Alkyd paint compositions have more suitable properties. They have excellent adhesion to the surface, but are not resistant to high temperatures. Alkyd materials are ideal paint for galvanized metal.

Acrylic compounds are most suitable for painting metal fences. They have a lot of advantages:

• maintain an attractive appearance for a long period of time, do not fade or crack;
• protect iron products from corrosion and adverse environmental conditions;
• absolutely safe for people;
• differ in elasticity.

Universal paints are those that can be used to paint a completely unprepared surface. However, experts still advise not to neglect the preparatory process and first clean the metal of dirt, dust and old paint.

Separately, it is worth mentioning dyes that can be applied even to rusty surfaces. They have a unique feature, painting over rust and protecting the metal from subsequent destruction. They can be used to paint a fence made of ferrous metals, cast iron or steel.

If the fence is made of non-ferrous metal, it is better to choose paints based on organic solvents or acrylic. They will help create a coating that is resistant to corrosion.

Painting a metal fence

A private house should not only be a functional and comfortable structure, but also look attractive. The fence should also have an attractive appearance, which will perfectly complement the appearance of the residential building. Painting a fence seems like a fairly simple task, but it also has its significant aspects. Before applying a paint coating to a fencing structure, you need to consider the following factors: what material was used to build the fence, the stage of wear of the fence, and the style of the fence after the painting work was completed. A neglected, inconspicuous fence will completely ruin the picture of the site, even if there is an elite cottage on it, but a well-groomed and neat fence will give even the most ordinary small house an attractive appearance. If, when painting a fence, you comply with all the requirements of the technical process and do it on time, then the service life of the fence structure will increase significantly. The fact is that properly selected paint and varnish coatings not only give an aesthetic appearance, but also protect against the adverse effects of natural factors. After reading this article, you will learn how to choose the right paint and learn how to paint a fence.

Application technique

A few years ago, the work process consisted of three main stages: surface preparation, priming and painting itself. Now you can skip one of the stages, because paints have appeared on sale that can be applied directly to metal.

First you need to prepare all the tools and materials:

• container for dye;
• brush, roller or spray;
• sandpaper for sanding the surface.

The first stage is preparing the paint. It must be thoroughly mixed using a construction mixer or a regular stick. If you need to get any shade, you can mix two colors. Under no circumstances should you mix different types of paint. You should not mix those solutions to which a solvent has already been added.

Very often you can see clumps or film in a newly opened paint can. This indicates that it was stored incorrectly.

Most likely, the dye has lost its properties and has become unsuitable for further use.

The second stage is preparing the surface to be painted. Using the simplest means, you need to clean the metal from dirt, dust, etc. After this, use special means to get rid of rust. Don't forget about a layer of old paint. You can try to remove it with sandpaper. If this does not help, it is recommended to use a brush with metal bristles or other special products. If necessary, coat the fence with a primer.

DIY metal fence painting scheme

The last stage is painting. To get high-quality coverage, you should listen to several recommendations from experts:

1. Fences made of non-ferrous metals should be painted in two layers. The first is a special base composition that improves adhesion. The second is the chosen paint. The second layer can be applied a day after applying the first.
2. It is better to pour the dye from a large package into a smaller container. This will reduce consumption and keep the paint in good condition.
3. A fence that consists of several metal rods will be easier to paint with a medium-hard flat brush.
4. For large, smooth fences, a roller is suitable. The process will go faster with it.
5. If the fence consists of several separate parts, they can be painted before installation. In this case, you can use a spray bottle.

Painting a fence using technology

Not long ago, painting a metal fence was carried out in three stages. To begin with, the surface was prepared by applying special rust removers to it, then a primer was applied, and only then it was possible to start painting. But time moves forward and you can already find universal primers on sale. They performed two functions at once - an anti-corrosion agent and the function of the primer itself. After the universal primer, universal paints appeared, which already had three functions and could be applied directly to unprepared metal.

Powder type of dye

A spray bottle will also be needed if powder dye is chosen for painting. The coating created with its help has its advantages:

• attractive appearance;
• strength;
• long service life;
• safety;
• resistance to exposure to adverse environmental conditions;
• fire safety.

Powder paints come in several types. They differ in their composition:

1. Epoxy is made from resins.
2. Epoxy-polyester is a mixture of two types of resins in equal quantities.
3. Polyester contains polyester resins of artificial origin.

Painting with powder dyes is carried out in several steps:

1. Surface preparation. This stage includes stripping the metal of old paint, dirt, rust, etc.
2. Spraying of coloring composition. This procedure must be carried out in a special chamber using special spray guns.
3. The last stage is the most difficult and most responsible. This is a heat treatment of a metal structure. It is carried out in a special oven. After the procedure, the product is cooled.

Due to the fact that powder painting requires many additional devices, it is not done at home. It is carried out by specialized companies.

Color and decorative solution

Nowadays, choosing a paint of the desired shade and effect will not be difficult, because their range is simply amazing. Dyes can be glossy, matte or semi-matte. If the store doesn't have the color you want on the shelves, you can make it yourself. To do this, you will need to purchase a color scheme or mix two or more different colors. Computer programs for creating shades will help speed up the procedure.

There are coloring compounds on sale that give the surface an additional effect. This may be the effect of deformation, aged surface, etc.

Stages of painting a new fence with your own hands

The sequence is:

1. We clean the surface from dirt and grease stains. Greasy stains can be easily removed with solvent 647 or acetone; dirt can be removed with soapy water and a sponge. Let it dry.
2. Apply primer to the metal surface with a brush. Let it dry overnight. In the morning we inspect the missed areas, apply a primer, and leave until completely dry. To prevent your work from being in vain, it is better to work in dry weather.
3. Let's start painting. It is recommended to wear protective clothing and a mask. We apply paint with any convenient tool (roller, brush, spray gun) or combine them if necessary.

Depending on the type, the paint can be applied in 1–2 layers. The next layer is applied only after the previous one has completely dried.

If the paint is too thick, you can dilute it a little with a solvent, but not too much, otherwise the composition will become liquid and lose its color brightness.

Some tips

There are several recommendations that, if followed, will make the work process easier and make the coating more durable and attractive:

1. When priming, do not use a roller. Moisture and air will get into small cracks and holes. Because of this, the structure will rust faster.
2. There are optimal conditions for painting. This is an air temperature from +5 to +40°C and humidity in the range of 80-85%.
3. The more solvent added to the paint, the more transparent the layer will be.
4. When using a spray bottle the layer will be smoother.

You can paint a metal fence in two ways: yourself, using, for example, acrylic dye, or using powder paint in special chambers. Which one should you choose? It depends on capabilities and preferences. Both options will help extend the life of the structure and protect it from exposure to adverse environmental conditions.

The use of acrylic paints for painting fences

Fencing finishing process

The fence has always been an element of the decor of a personal plot. After all, when approaching the house, the first thing any guest sees is part of the fence. Without it, private ownership is very difficult to find. They come in a variety of types: wooden, corrugated, natural stones, concrete panels and others. The elements of wooden and metal fences require the greatest attention and care. One of the main stages of caring for such fences is their painting.

Of course, hiding, for example, a wooden structure under paint is sometimes blasphemous. That’s why stains, impregnations, and varnishes are often used for wooden fences. This all makes the material beautiful. But some time passes, and the canvas darkens and loses its elegance. And already the structure of the tree looks faded and unattractive.

It is simply impossible to update such a fence so that it looks modern again and retains its wooden “pattern”. And then paint comes to the rescue. The modern market is filled with a variety of offers that help solve this problem.