Along the Palm Beach County coast, exterior metal does not get a quiet year. Salt carried on the breeze settles on railings, gates and fencing, holds moisture against the surface and speeds up corrosion at every scratch, weld and joint. Good metal painting here is mostly about what happens before the topcoat.
Where rust starts
- Welds and joints where water sits
- The base of posts and pickets
- Scratches and chips from maintenance or furniture
- The underside and back faces that are hard to reach with a brush
What a lasting repaint includes
- Wash. Remove salt, dirt and chalk. Pressure washing is the first step.
- Rust removal. Grind or wire brush loose rust and scale.
- Treat and prime. Rust-inhibiting primer on bare and treated metal.
- Topcoat. An exterior system suited to coastal exposure, sprayed so it reaches back faces and scrollwork.
Why spraying beats brushing on railings
Railings are mostly edges. A brush loads the front and starves the back. Spraying, and in particular electrostatic painting, wraps the profile and leaves an even film all the way around.
Plan it, do not wait for it
A maintenance cycle that catches rust at the spot stage costs far less than replacing a corroded section. Associations and property managers can set a regular inspection and touch-up cycle across buildings.
Want your railings assessed? Get a free estimate.
