painting metal railings outdoors: how to refresh and repair with a lick of paint

Railings aren’t as common as they used to be, not since they were cut down during WW2 to be recycled into munitions as the story goes. If the railings on your front wall were lucky enough to survive this, you’ll want them to look fresh all year round. And what best way to achieve that by painting your metal railings?

maintaining metal railings: why bother?

Let’s talk real estate! One of the best ways to add value to your property without pushing the boat out there is by opting for small makeovers such as giving your front door a facelift or painting your railings, walls or fencing.

This will add to your curb appeal and protect your metal railings from the elements, allowing you to enjoy their sophisticated look for years to come. Win-win!

when to repaint metal railings

Spotting problems, imperfections or vulnerabilities in your metal railings is easy as pie. Metalwork left exposed to the elements due to fractures, rust and flaking paint will grow weaker over time.

If you notice the following you might want to start thinking about painting the surface of your metal railings:

• Uneven, pitted or blistering surfaces
• Discoloured or damaged paintwork
• Rust staining
• Plant growth, including moss, weeds and mould

so, what’s the best paint for metal railings?

Looking for an exterior metal paint that will give your railings a bit of ‘oomph’? We’ve got you covered with recommendations across the board.

First up, we suggest using Bradite’s ONE CAN paint. This paint is multipurpose to the max, compatible with all types of metal and achieving a lovely smooth finish. You can also use it on interior surfaces.

Our favourite though, is Zinsser’s Allcoat exterior paint, but why? The reasons are manifold: the beauty of this paint is that its self-priming, meaning no mucking around with additional paints and primers.

Not only is Allcoat water-based and therefore more environmentally friendly than other types of commercial paint, but you can choose between colours and finishes, allowing you to achieve the look of your dreams.

collect your supplies

Besides your paint, there is a bit of equipment you’ll need to gather for painting your metal railings – you can pick them up from most good DIY stores, or from us at splat!

You’ll need to get your hands on…

• Protection for yourself (dirty clothes) and protection for the floor (dust sheets, newspaper or whatever rags you have lying around)
• Safety equipment, including goggles, gloves and a mask
• Sugar soap and a cloth (soap and water will also do the trick!)
• A wire brush, sandpaper and scraper to remove flaking paint
• Painters tape to keep things looking sharp
• A suitable paint brush
• High quality metal paint

preparing for painting your metal railings

They say success is where preparation and opportunity meet. And this couldn’t be truer for the task of painting metal gates or railings. Yep, it takes some careful planning before you start slathering on that paint.

wait for sunny days

Sunny days can sometimes feel few and far between, but it’s well worth waiting for good weather conditioners before getting on with the job. Ideally, a day with minimal rain and temperature fluctuation to dampen your spirits.

As with fence painting projects, you’ll want several hours of dryness to ensure your paint has the chance to dry and cure effectively.

remove debris, weeds and moss

Hopefully, you’ll be in your mucky clothes and safety gear. Start by inspecting the railings: is there debris, moss or weeds that needs removing? Use a brush or scraper to clear it away, working carefully from top to bottom and ensuring you don’t miss any spots.

get prepping those rails

Now grab your wire brush, sandpaper or scrubber. Then get scrubbing – you’ll want to remove all of the cracked, loose or flaky layers of paint. Really get in there and give it a good sanding down.

Top tip: if you’re using sandpaper dampen it a little with some water; this will remove dust and help you get rid of deep scratches thanks to the lubrication effects of the moisture.

wipe away dirt and grime

Next up, clean up the mess you’ve just made. Sugar soap or clean spirit will cut through the muck, or if you don’t have either of these warm water and soap will also do the job. Then get a dry cloth or tea towel and dry it off.

ready the area

Before you get to the painting or repainting make sure the area is spic and span. This could mean pruning plants which may get in the way and protecting the ground from paint splashes with a ground sheet or newspapers.

how to paint metal railings professionally

prime away

It’s best to get priming right away as you don’t want the unprotected metal left exposed for too long. And this is especially true of ferrous types of metal, where primer is essential.

We recommend using a self-priming paint so you can skip this step. But if you want an extra layer of protection, let nothing stop you.

apply your new coat

Good news! Your metal paint has taken to the railings perfectly, so now it’s time to add that colour.

Work your way down the railings from the top to the bottom with a medium to small paint brush, keeping the coats nice and even. If your paint is particularly gloopy, we recommend light coats rather than thick ones. This will help it to dry evenly and smoothly.

Be careful to read the instructions on your paint tin and wait for the paint to fully dry before applying your second or third coat. If you fail to do this, it may end up looking pitted and lumpy – not a good look!

Another thing to remember: for long stretches of metal railings break up the job into sections to complete the job evenly. If there’s ornate detailing, decorative swirls or just hard-to-reach areas be sure to cut these in first.

Top tip: Generally speaking, two coats of metal exterior paint will do. But if you’re working with an especially pesky problem surface you may want to use a specialist primer like Peel Stop beforehand, which will extend its lifetime by forming a strong and flexible membrane over poor paintwork.

now it’s up to you

There we have it: everything you could possibly want to know about painting metal railings outdoors for a tidy home exterior and a professional finish.

Whether you’re leaning towards a traditional dark colour or something more out there, you can achieve a polished look with solid preparation and a pinch of creativity – as long as you don’t go too off the rails (see what I did there…)

Learnt something new and thirsty for more knowledge? Explore our painting and decorating blog here.