How to Paint a Metal Building

Kunal Singh
June 5, 2022
2:16 am

A metal building is strong and sturdy; however, maintaining them can become challenging due to wear and tear issues. It is ideal to hire the best professionals in town if you dont want to try out the DIY techniques while painting a metal building. A good amount of time and money is saved in acquiring supplies such as an airless sprayer, airbrush dispenser, paint roller, organic rust converters, protective coating, mild household detergent, and primer.

Painting metal buildings isn’t as simple as painting the regular structures, and it is pretty tricky. Barnardos, pole barns, Equestrian buildings, sheds, storage buildings, RV storage, carports, and garages need to be painted time and again to keep them functional for several years.

Profound Benefits Of Painting A Metal Building

Paint for metal buildings not only provides functional and visual benefits but also enhances the overall sustainability of your metal structure.

Reduces Rsuting

One of the concerns that usually a metal building owner has is the fear of his/her structure accumulating rust.
And one of the best solutions for this concern is by repainting metal buildings.
You see, metal structures are more prone to rust, and a coat of the best paint for metal buildings can offer maximum protection that increases the livelihood of your building.

Functional Finish

Steel And Stud, metal building painting services, offer a multifaceted finish that not only excels from the aesthetics and visuality POV but also delights the latter in terms of performance.
And is also great for exposed steelwork.

Increases Lifespan

Investing a couple of bucks in painting metal buildings can prolong the life of your metal structure, especially in areas with unpredictable weather conditions.

Types of Paint Suitable for Metal Buildings

Choose a high-quality paint that adds value to your metal building structure in the long run.

Acrylic Latex Paint

Acrylic paint is known for being the most versatile steel building paint. Acrylic paint is often merged with acrylic latex paint because both these paints are made from acrylic resin.
Notably, acrylic latex is the most promising exterior paint for metal buildings in regions prone to extreme weather conditions due to its flexibility and resistance to cracking properties.

Oil-Based Paint

Oil-based paints are known for their durability, providing long life to your metal structures.
And the most notable thing to consider here is that these oil-based paints possess a remarkable resistance to moisture trait, automatically making them rust-resistant.

Direct To Metal Paint

These solvent-based paints are specially formulated to be used on metal surfaces.
DTM paint metal building claims that it can work (both) as a primer and paint.
It also helps simplify the finishing process by reducing labour costs and coating inventory reduction.

When to Repaint Metal Buildings?

It is a great idea to repaint a building; however, seeking the manufacturer’s recommendations could be highly beneficial. They would be able to guide you in choosing the perfect tools and protective coating needed to enhance the structure’s aesthetic appeal.
For example, if the metal shed or pole barns are installed recently as part of your property, repainting them isn’t needed as they would last long for several years.
However, if they have developed rust or flakiness, painting them with acrylic latex paint can be the best option. The only times when you need to paint metal buildings are:

When they develop a Chalky appearance
Fading of colour
If you notice peeling on the metal panels
Development of rust or corrosion
Discoloration of the sides that are constantly exposed to high sunlight.

How to Paint a Metal Building?

Painting metal buildings isn’t similar to any other concrete building. Following a step-by-step procedure coupled with the manufacturer’s recommendations and thorough preparation can help restore the aesthetic appearance largely.

And please make sure that you’ve gathered the following tools before commencing the painting procedure:

Driller.
Primer for metal.
Power washer.
Plastic sheeting.
Metal primer.
Soap.
Paint roller or paint sprayer.
Solvent.
Duct tape.
120-grit sandpaper.
Detergent.
Airless sprayer.
Ladder.

Firstly, it becomes important to understand the areas of imperfections, and the systematic rust removal, corrosion, and flakiness using organic rust converters. Rusted areas can cause severe structural damage. Thus, removing them entirely is mandatory before you decide to paint.

For dirt residue removal using soapy water, a wire brush, and a pressure washer, we apply a protective coating on the doors and windows using a taping plastic sheeting. This must be made to prevent the dripping of substances. Only after carrying out the surface preparation, the actual work at the job site begins.

As already stated, metal buildings aren’t similar to normal concrete structures; thus, incorporating the right techniques while painting different parts of buildings becomes mandatory.

Installed wrought iron railings require the most superior quality exterior painting to keep them functional for several years.

An airless sprayer is helpful if the painting is sprayed; else, we can use a paint roller or a brush to give an even coating without any air bubbles.

Metal doors and windows also require a lot of attention as they are an integral part of every building. The painting process is slightly different from metal buildings with glasses or metal roofs. The activity begins with removing external hardware elements and cleaning the metal from grease using soapy water and mild household detergent.

Note: Make sure whenever you’re removing the door or windows for paint purposes, always do it in such a way that it doesn’t jeopardise security.

After a thorough cleaning, eliminating dirt and grease and smoothing the surface using sandpaper has to be done before applying primer as part of the preparation process.

Note: If you don’t prime or coat it properly, the paint you’ll apply in the following steps won’t adhere for long.

As a final step, choose your favorite acrylic latex paint color and cover the surface evenly. Allow the first coating of new paint to completely dry, and then proceed with applying the second coat. While painting roofs, applying thick layers of a primer using a paint roller and allowing them to dry thoroughly is extremely crucial to increase their lifespan and keep them protected.

Easy DIY Steps for Painting a Metal Building

Painting metal buildings can be done by hiring professional services or DIY techniques. Many people at the job site prefer the latter as it allows them to experience the painting activity independently.

By following a few simple steps, you would be able to restore the aesthetic appearance of the cover doors, sidewall, doors, windows, and roofs quickly and effectively.

Take time to inspect the areas of imperfection on the pole barn, roofs, and sidewall of the metal buildings.
Before starting the painting project, list down the severity of the issues, such as the development of rust, corrosion, flakiness, or chalky appearance.
Choose the right tools, primer, and paints to paint metal buildings.
Clean the surface thoroughly using a power washer, wire brush, and sandpaper.
Protect the other parts of the building using plastic sheeting.
Apply primer either using a roller brush or an airless sprayer (Application of a solvent thinned primer is needed while working with a paint sprayer).
Allow it to completely dry, and then start the painting process.
For larger buildings, a second coat using a paint sprayer would be good after the first layer is completely dry.

Some of the benefits of repainting include

Repainting activities of metal buildings time and again would help in:

Increasing the lifespan and the functionality of the overall structure.
Contributes towards enhancing the aesthetic appearance of the metal building.
Reduction of heat and energy costs during summer if a new metal shed or a barn is painted with lighter colors.
Saves a lot of money toward maintenance.

Maintenance Tips for Painted Metal Buildings

Here are some invaluable tips curated by our experts on preserving the allure of your personal and commercial metal building painting.

Schedule bi-annual washing to protect the original glossy colour of your metal building.
Replace or repair your damaged insulation. Because without proper insulation, the metal panels will condensate, which causes moisture.
Repaint your metal building structure with oil-based or acrylic paint because new paint gives a pristine look to your existing structure.
Try to address rust spots, if any. Why? Because removing them as soon as possible can prevent further corrosion.
If you notice any stains on your metal building, address them promptly using a mild abrasive cleaner.

Additional Considerations

Besides the provided tips for upkeep, here are some considerations that you need to keep in mind:

The first factor which you need to view is the climate of the region where you reside. If you live in a hot and humid area, go for light colours because they help keep your structure cooler and result in low energy costs. Conversely, if your region is relatively colder, go for darker colours, as they absorb sunlight and keep your shelter warmer.
Ensure the colour you prefer for your metal building harmonises with your surrounding environment, elevating your overall aesthetics.
The metal building colour can also impact its durability because some colours are resistant to fading and chipping while others are more prone to it.

About Steel And Stud

Steel and Studs is a trustworthy supplier and manufacturer of metal and steel buildings. We provide high-quality steel building material kits along with customized installation services. Contact us if you are looking for contractors for remodeling your metal buildings. In addition to painting old metal buildings we can also assist in choosing the frames for house or basement walls. Our services are easily accessible to all 48 states and are affordable. On top of that, we are considered the most durable option. All our metal structures are resistant to fires and other environmental adversaries while being easy to maintain.