Metal structures have a number of advantages compared with reinforced concrete structures, and in the first place it is significantly less weight while maintaining the necessary strength. In addition, metal structures can be made collapsible, and their construction is possible at any time of the year. But metal structures must be protected from the harmful effects of environmental factors (sun, water, wind, temperature difference), and along with special protection methods (cementing, nitrocarburizing), such a method as metal painting is used. The coating layer can protect the metal from all of the above factors. Among other things, painting, metalwork is also used to give the building an aesthetic appearance.
Particular attention should be paid to the choice of coating. Paint for metal should be special, with certain characteristics. Currently, there are no difficulties with this, each manufacturing company includes in its line of specialized paints for metal.
Painting of metal structures is a responsible and laborious job that requires professional skills. This is due not only to the coating technology, but also to the fact that such structures are quite large and applying a layer of paint on them is not so simple. Such designs are often painted using industrial mountaineering, which only professionals can do.
Painting of metal structures begins with the obligatory preparation of the surface. Such preliminary work is needed to improve the adhesion (adhesion) of the coating and metal elements. First of all, it is necessary to remove the old coating, if any. Then cleansing chips and traces of corrosion. The next step will be to clean the entire surface manually, mechanically or by abrasive blasting from dirt and dust - this step should never be skipped, even if the surface looks clean from the outside. Foreign particles are always present on the metal, and if they are not removed, the paint will roll off the building elements or lie in an inhomogeneous layer, which will lead to the fact that the metalwork will be painted poorly.
Further, if possible, surface grinding is performed - this procedure also helps to improve the adhesion of paint and metal. The next step is degreasing, it is carried out using alkaline, acidic or emulsion products. After such washing, it is necessary to wait - the structure must be completely dry before painting. The last preparatory procedure is priming - processing in one or two layers with special materials, the second layer is applied only after the first has completely dried. After the primer, you can proceed directly to staining.
The only thing to keep in mind is that you should not take long breaks between surface preparation, primer and paint application, because structural elements can be re-contaminated and the coating will lie poorly. But if all the work is carried out correctly, the service life of the coating will be at least 3.5 years.