PAINT FOR EXTERIOR METAL STAIRS

[phil]

Hi can anyone give me any advise on painting my spiral staircase  I seem to be painting it every couple of years and the rust still comes through on a few places. It was primed by the manufacturer when installed 4 years ago and painted with metalic paint similar to (Hamerite but spanish one from brico depot) as soon as it was installed.  I have recoated it twice now but still get rust back.  I am coming out in November again to wire brush it and re paint it again  Anyone got some pointers on whats the best paint to use and where to buy from? should it be primed 1st again I know there is a hammerite paint in england that you can paint straight on without priming again after wire brushing     Any suggestions would be warmly accepted   Phil

[Spurs]

Have you tried a rust remover there are some that chemically change the rust so it can’t come back maybe treat it first with that then paint it again . The only other suggestion I have is remove it strip it and get it powder coated .

[Aficionado]

I bought a rust converter in Brico a several years back ( can't remember the name and it's in Spain and sadly I am not ) to use on our swing seat and it actually worked very well, so worth a try. Not been out now for just on two years so don't know what it will be like now but hoping it will still be ok, if not I'll just do it again.

Powder coating would be a great option if done correctly but cannot be done in situ, you would have to take the staircase to a professional coater for treatment, will be a costly exercise but if done correctly will last for years and years.

[Tony Gillam]

I had a perennial battle with the railings on my balcony even on the last occasion using an angle grinder to get back to bare metal. This was followed by two coats of Hammerite ( brought down by car) and then a top coat. It was good for about three years before the first traces of rust re-emerged. My final solution was to sell up and let someone else have a go.

[wilson]

We concluded 10 years ago that trying to maintain the exterior on our properties in Spain was like pushing sand uphill. The environment is harsh so that lovely finish this year looks a mess just 6 months on. Saying that my paint of choice for metalwork is Hammerite but it doesn’t seem as good as it once was.