How to Paint Wrought Iron Railings

Wrought iron railings will last forever and with proper maintenance and care can make your house look elegant and charming. Follow these instructions to take rusted, unattractive wrought iron railings and make them beautiful.

1. REMOVE SURFACE DIRT

2. Wash your railing with water and a rag to remove any surface dirt, mildew, or molds. If you have mildew or mold add bleach to the water prior to cleaning. Allow to dry.



3. REMOVE CHIPPED PAINT & RUST

4. This is the hard part! Your goal is to get rid of as much of the bumpy surface and chipped paint on your wrought iron railing as possible. Eliminate all rust. You should see bare metal where the rust once was.

5. There are several ways to do this and you will want to find the one that works best for you and will depend on the condition of your wrought iron railing before you start. Here are some options:

6. • Use a wire brush to remove loose paint and then sand with a fine grit sandpaper
   • After using the wire brush, sand with a palm sander
   • If your railing is in pretty good shape you may only need to sand it lightly

7. NOTE: The Dremel will help you out in tight areas if needed.



8. SAND WITH SAND PAPER OR PALM SANDER

9. Remove all loose paint and rust so that bare metal is visible where paint is not. As mentioned, a dremel can help out in small spaces.



10. PAINT with IronClad Alkyd Low Lustre Metal Paint (or other exterior paint product)

11. Lay down a drop cloth before you begin painting.

12. Paint with gloss or semi-glass exterior paint using a small brush or sponge applicator. Benjamin Moore IronClad Alkyd Low Lustre Metal Enamel is the product I have found to work the best.

13. Apply two coats if badly rusted.

Tip

You can purchase all tools and materials at Lowes, Home Depot, your local hardware store, or your local paint store.