#andreoyacademy - DIY Maintenance of metal surfaces

The maintenance of metal surfaces, such as railings, iron doors, garage doors, iron tables and chairs, is essential because otherwise they begin to deteriorate, the paint wears off and, in the final stage, rust begins to appear.

#andreoyacademy is here to help you maintain and renew the color of the iron surfaces of your home . Easy and affordable, even if you are trying it for the first time, #andreoyacademy 's instructions for DIY Maintenance of metal surfaces will guide you step by step, you just have to put in a little bit of attitude and patience!

Materials and tools you will need: 

• Cloth for cleaning the surface.
• Sandpaper or sanding sponge to remove loose paint and rust.
• Brush or roller (especially for metal painting)
• Iron putty (if you have cracks or dents)
• The color you choose (the shade, matte, satin, glossy or even hammered )

#andreoyacademy tip: Summer is a good time to maintain our iron railings. However, we always paint early in the morning or late in the afternoon . The high temperature during the day raises the temperature on the metal surfaces, causing the paint to burn during application.

#andreoyacademy tip: We never start painting when the surfaces are wet or when there is moisture. The paint will not adhere well to the metal and will definitely peel off after a while.

Before we start the maintenance of iron surfaces.

Very good cleaning

Cleaning the iron bars is the first, basic and necessary move you will make. We want a spotlessly clean surface so that the paint will catch properly on the iron surfaces afterwards. Wash without fear with plenty of water with a hose and with a wet cloth wipe the surface well. Any remaining chipped, worn paint or rust should be thoroughly sanded until completely removed . With a brush, remove the residue, then wash the iron surfaces again.

The method for amateurs

#andreoyacademy's DIY Metal Surface Maintenance instructions in this article are aimed at hobbyists, the goal is to easily and affordably be able to do maintenance and paint yourself. With proper application of the instructions, you will need maintenance again in 1-2 years (maybe more depending on the area and climatic conditions in your area).

To keep our instructions simple, quick and economical, we will skip the steps of applying anti-rust materials and primer, which a professional would necessarily use because it would ensure a much longer life for your iron railings and your iron surfaces in general.

#andreoyacademy tip: There are, if you want to spend a little more money, and paints that are two or even three in one ( that is, they are both anti-rust and/or primer and final color ) that can simulate the work of the professional we mention. 

Let's maintain iron railings, garage doors, iron tables and chairs!

Time to maintain and renovate our iron surfaces! We choose our shade and what finish (matte, satin, glossy or even forged colors), suits us aesthetically and we start transforming our iron surfaces into new ones!

You will definitely need two layers, we recommend that they have a day off between them to allow the first layer to dry well. If you are in the mood for a third coat you will need to maintain much later!

#andreoyacademy tip:  You don't need to wash the rollers or brushes every time, wasting energy and solvent. Wrap tightly in a bag and seal it as tightly as you can, squeezing out as much air as you can. It can keep them for 1-2 days without drying out!

#andreoyacademy tips:

• Remember, clean thoroughly and remove any loose paint or rust
• Cover around the area to be painted (lay down newspapers, tissue paper, nylon, old sheets).
• Wear disposable gloves and long clothing to protect your skin. Enamel paints do not come off with water afterwards, better not to get your skin dirty so you don't have to clean it up.
• Start painting from the hard-to-reach areas , this way the easy ones will be left for the end and you don't risk touching fresh paint!
• We don't paint if it's windy because dust can rise or leaves fall, etc. They will stick to our paint and spoil the result!
• Make sure your brush or roller always has enough paint on it and apply it evenly.
• The most vulnerable places that can show quickly damage and tear - rust are the corners and any patterns your railings have. Pay close attention and be patient to these surfaces to get plenty of paint and spread it to cover the entire surface, even the most difficult corner.
• Do not coming back on an already painted surface (especially if there is enough heat or air) to correct an imperfection you saw. You will "pull out" the paint and it will leave a mark. It will be fixed in the second layer.  
• Continuing the above,do not rush. Slow and gentle movements and before moving on to the next surface always check the one you are leaving before it sets, while it is fresh for any imperfections that need correction.
• Don't worry if you don't manage to finish the entire surface. If you get tired or something just happens and you have to stop, you can continue the next day. Just be careful not to stop in a straight line! 
• We always stop not evenly (straight line) but as unevenly (think a checkered line pattern) as you can make it so that the joint is not visible if you continue the next day.

 

 

We hope we've helped you maintain your metal surfaces! Good luck!

The #andreoyacademy team