What paints to choose for painting metal railings?

Metal railings, placed on balconies and stairs, perform two important functions: protective and decorative. To preserve the aesthetic appearance of such a structure and to protect it from destructive corrosion, suitable paints, varnishes and protective preparations should be used. What products to choose and how to paint the balcony railing? Here are a few solutions.

Types of paints for balcony railings

External balustrades are particularly vulnerable to moisture, wind, sand particles, varying temperatures and ultraviolet radiation. All these factors make painted metal elements quickly destroy, rub and corrose. So what to paint a balcony or terrace railing?

Among the paints available on the Polish market there are three main product groups: decorative, protective (anti-corrosion) and 2-in-1 paints, i.e. protective and decorative paints. The first of these is distinguished primarily by its diverse colors, they also protect the metal from mechanical damage, and to a lesser extent protect it from rust formation. Anti-corrosion products are divided into soils (good for securing well-used barriers, which have been damaged to a small extent) and primers – used against proper painting.

Paints for external metal railings

What paint to choose for the outer metal railing? If the surface is small, 3-in-1 quick-resin paints containing pigment, alkyd resin, solvent and anti-corrosion additives can be successfully used. Products of this type well cover any surface (steel or metal), protecting it from rust or preventing its spread even for another 5-8 years.

When renovating a railing, it is worth paying attention to its finish – it is a decorative element that should work visually with the façade. Available on the market paints allow you to achieve the effect of matte, semi-matte or gloss, there are also a variety of color variants, from black, graphite, silver and gold to green, red and white.

Varnishes for metal railings

An alternative to metal paints is clear lacquers, combining the function of primer and paving. Varnishes are used for renovation of balcony railings,steel or gel railings, they can be used oncorroded or healthy coatings, without visible rust stains. It is also a solution for people who do not want to change the existing color and completely repaint the railings.

Anti-corrosion, water-resistant clear lacquers, produced on the basis of acrylic resins, are characterized by increased resistance to various types of damage: abrasion, discoloration, moisture ingress and flaking. These products are ideal as an external protective and decorative layer wherever the metal is exposed to high or low temperatures, wind, rain, snow and intensive operation.

Self-painting of barriers step by step

Where to start painting balcony railings? Whether the metal surfaces are covered with paint or varnish, they must be thoroughly cleaned in advance – if they are heavily corroded, it is best to use mechanical cleaning, i.e. wire brush, sandpaper or drill, equipped with a wiper. For newer railings, without visible signs of corrosion, there is no need to rub the old paint, it is enough to wash it with water with dishwashing liquid and degreased with gasoline or solvent, so that the adhesion of the paint will improve.

How to paint the railings on the balcony? There are several ways to apply varnishes and paints to railings, for example: point brush painting, linear painting – roller or (in the case of large surfaces) spray gun, which evenly distributes the pigment or preparation under pressure, reaching each gap. Painting is best started from the upper zones and details and gradually move towards the lower parts.

Renovation of the balcony railing – what to keep in mind

When painting balcony balustrades, it is necessary to remember that in order to achieve the desired visual effect and avoid the formation of spatter, beading or bulging, it is necessary to position the ground and the primer layer in advance. These preparations can be contained in paint (2 in 1, 3 in 1) and if they are not in its composition, it is best to follow the manufacturer's recommendations regarding the choice of primers. Painting is worth planning on spring or autumn, airless days, when the temperature is between 10-20 degrees Celsius.

In order to achieve expressive, uniform shades of barriers, topcoat should be applied in two or three stages, thin layers. The average waiting time for freshly laid paint on metal is from 2 to 4 hours, depending on the conditions outside. The lower the ambient temperature, the higher the humidity and the longer the dry time of the individual layers.