Exterior wrought iron rust is a common occurrence with metal railings, furniture and gates in people’s yards. This is because homeowners spend more of the time keeping their lawn and flower beds tidy they often forget to check the metal and wrought iron around their home.
Whether you have wrought iron fencing, railings, decorative elements or patio furniture, you can make it last longer maintaining it and preventing rust.
Did you know you can easily prevent your metal and wrought iron from rusting. We recommend homeowners do a perimeter check of the exterior paint of their home and fence every spring and then make any necessary repairs and maintenance items. Checking your metal and wrought iron furniture is a great thing to add to the list. Follow our instructions to prevent rust and you’ll be golden (or silver, black or green!).
Table of Contents
Prevent Exterior Wrought Iron Rust Taking Safeguarding Measures
We recommend you do a thorough clean of your metal furniture and exterior wrought iron at least twice per year. Create a solution of warm water with liquid detergent. Use a sponge to clean the area. You can use an old toothbrush to get into any hard to reach places. You can then use a hose to rinse. Use a metal rag to dry the meta, or leave it to air-dry in the sun.
You may also consider bringing your metal furniture indoors or under cover during storms and winter. If you do not have a spot for your metal furniture, you can cover the furniture with a breathable fabric.
Maintain & Fix Exterior Wrought Iron Rust
Despite even the best preventative measures, the metal around the exterior of your home will eventually begin to show signs of wear and weather. Inspect the metal outside your home every year and when you come across a small patch of rust, it’s time to fix it before it gets worse. To repair exterior wrought iron rust you will use a dish soap and water solution to thoroughly clean the area. You will then use a fine-grit sandpaper to lightly sand the rust away. Clean the area once more. You will then apply a metal primer. Once the primer has dried you can apply a coating of paint that is designed to adhere to metal surfaces.
Completely Repair Exterior Wrought Iron Rust
You can refinish and restore metal that has extensive rust damage. The very first step is to remove all the rust and paint coat to get down to the bare metal. This isn’t an easy job, but it can be done. To do this you will use a wire brush or a wire wheel attachment on your power drill. You will then scrape away the coating n the metal. Once you are done scraping you will wipe down the metal with a damp cloth. Next you will apply a coat of metal primer. Allow that to dry thoroughly. You will then apply one or two coats of metal paint, allowing the paint to dry between coats.
Can You Paint Metal?
We get asked this question often. The simple answer is yes. But, painting metal is a little more complicated than just painting? Why? Because not every paint will adhere well to metal. Also, because metal rusts. If you decide you’d like to change the colour or add a fresh coat of paint to metal around your house, it’s important to use paint designed for metal. If what you are painting will be exposed to the natural elements outside, you should use a rust-prevention paint, too.
To prevent rust in the future, you can use a paint designed for metal, and also for preventing rust such as rustoleum.
Preventing rust should be added to your outdoor maintenance list! As with many home repair items, prevention is key for maintenance. When you maintain items around your home, you can extend their life.
If you need help to repair exterior wrought iron rust or metal rust, give us a call. At Home Painters Toronto, we have over 25 years of experience in home painting and have painted, repaired and restored thousands of pieces of metal over the years. We know the right products to use for the job so you can extend the life of your metal. Give us a call for a free no-obligation quote. We’d love to help.
