Rawlins Paints Blog Industrial Paint Tips, Guidelines & DIY Articles
How to Paint Powder Coated Metal for a Long-Lasting Finish
If you’re looking for help “painting powder coated metal”, you’ve come to the right place.
Powder coating creates a durable, smooth finish that resists wear and tear, but it also makes applying fresh paint a bit of a challenge. Rawlins are frequently asked: can you successfully paint over powder coating? And if so, what steps are needed to achieve a lasting, professional finish?
In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about painting powder coated metal. From surface preparation to selecting the best metal primer for painting over powder coat, you’ll learn how to get perfect results. With the right approach, even the toughest powder coated metal surfaces can be refreshed with a beautiful new look.
Why Is Powder Coating Difficult to Paint Over?
Powder coatings are extremely durable, designed to protect metal from corrosion, weathering, and physical wear. They are applied electrostatically and cured under heat to form a strong, solid finish that adheres tightly to the metal. However, this same property also makes powder coatings hard to paint over, as most traditional paints will struggle to bond with the slick, non-porous surface.
The good news is, with proper preparation and the right products, painting over powder coated metal is entirely possible. Success lies in careful surface preparation, using a high-adhesion primer, and selecting the right type of paint.
How to Paint Powder Coated Metal: Step-by-Step Process with Zinsser
To ensure your paint sticks and lasts on powder coated surfaces, follow these crucial steps.
Equipment Checklist:
Paint Materials:
Application Tools:
Safety Equipment and PPE:
Step 1: Clean and Prepare the Surface
Preparation is key, especially when painting powder coated metal. Start by cleaning the surface thoroughly to remove any dirt, grease, or contaminants that could prevent adhesion. Use a high-quality degreaser, such as Zinsser Universal Degreaser & Cleaner, to ensure the surface is completely free of debris. Once cleaned, rinse it well and allow it to dry completely.
After cleaning, lightly sand the surface with fine-grit sandpaper (around 180–220 grit) to scuff up the glossy finish of the powder coating. This creates a texture that the primer can adhere to. Be careful not to sand too aggressively, as the goal is simply to roughen the surface, not to remove the coating entirely.
Step 2: Apply a High-Adhesion Primer
The most important step in painting over powder coated metal is priming. You need a primer that’s designed to bond with difficult surfaces. Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Primer Sealer is widely regarded as the best primer for painting over powder coat. It bonds exceptionally well to smooth and slick surfaces like powder coatings, creating the perfect base for your topcoat.
Buy Zinsser Bullseye 1-2-3 in 3,000+ colours at Rawlins
Apply one full coat of Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3, ensuring even coverage across the entire surface. Let the primer dry for at least one hour before proceeding to the next step.
Step 3: Choose the Right Paint
Now that the surface is primed, you can apply your topcoat. The type of paint you choose depends on whether the project is for interior or exterior use.
For Interior Metal
Zinsser Perma-White Interior Matt or Satin is an excellent choice for painting over powder coating. It offers long-lasting durability, mould and mildew resistance, and a smooth, professional finish in 4,400+ colours.
For Exterior Metal
Zinsser AllCoat Exterior Gloss or Satin is perfect for outdoor applications, with 4,400+ colours. It’s designed to withstand harsh weather conditions and provides up to 15 years of protection, making it ideal for metal gates, railings, or outdoor furniture.
Apply two coats of paint, allowing each layer to dry fully between applications. Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s drying times for the best results.
Buy Zinsser Allcoat in 4,400+ colours at Rawlins
The Benefits of Zinsser Products for Painting Over Powder Coat
Zinsser products are particularly well-suited for painting over powder coated metal because they offer a range of benefits that ensure your project’s success:
Strong Adhesion
Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Primer Sealer is designed to bond to challenging surfaces like powder coatings, ensuring the topcoat adheres properly.
Durability
Zinsser’s Perma-White and AllCoat paints are formulated to provide long-lasting protection against environmental elements and wear.
Ease of Application
Zinsser products dry quickly and apply smoothly, reducing time spent on the job while ensuring professional-grade results.
When it comes to tackling difficult surfaces, Zinsser is the go-to choice for professional contractors and DIY enthusiasts alike.
Conclusion
Painting powder coated metal requires a little extra care, but with the right approach, it’s entirely possible to achieve a flawless, long-lasting finish. By following these steps – cleaning, sanding, priming, and painting – you’ll ensure that your paint adheres properly and stands the test of time, whether the surface is indoors or outdoors.
If you have any questions about your project or need further advice on the best products for painting over powder coat, don’t hesitate to leave a comment below. One of Rawlins’ Technical Experts will be happy to help you with specific guidance tailored to your needs.
Posted: 18th October 2019 | Updated: 19th February 2025
I have a fence on a salt water bay which was originally power dear coated but, after 15 years in the elements, needs painting. The exposure has the fence almost white (originally black) in some places and quite rough due to the salt, wind and water. What is the process that you would recommend to paint this fence, preferably brushing it on as spraying would waste a lot of paint and hit adjacent structures?
Thank you for your help!
Hi Beth,
Thank you for taking the time to read our blog and for your question.
As a minimum prep-wise we would recommend abrasive blast cleaning SA2.5 back to clean steel, or very thorough mechanical hand tool prep back to clean steel ST3.
A thorough fresh-water wash would then be needed to remove all soluble salts after this and a manual dry in quick succession.
Again as soon as dry we would then suggest 2-3 heavy brush coats of the Jotun Jotamastic Smart Pack HB followed by 1-2 coats of the Jotun Hardtop Smart Pack.
Please note that any lapses in this process could allow soluble salts to form or flash rusting to occur which may result in product failure.
I hope this helps and please feel free to get in touch if you have any further questions.
Many thanks
Stuart
Hello Stuart:
I need advice on the best way and the correct products to use to paint over the powder coated aluminum in my FL lanai that screens in the area and also the sets of powder coated sliding glass and screen doors? I’m assuming they are galvanized metal but not sure. And is it possible to change the color from black to white?
Thank you for your advice!
Pamela K.
Hi Pamela,
Many thanks for getting in touch and for taking the time to read our blog. If it is correct you are based in the USA, we would recommend contacting a supplier local to yourself as they will be able to advise accurately based on the atmospheric conditions.
Apologies we couldn’t help this time and we hope your project goes well.
Many thanks
Stuart
Hello, I’m thinking of painting over raised vegetable beds to change the colour, do you know if the products/brand you recommend here would be safe to use on the exterior of the beds since they’ll be used for growing food? Thank you!
Hi Kathy,
Many thanks for taking the time to read our blog and for your question.
If the raised beds are powder coated the products mentioned can be used, however, please be aware that the products have not undergone any testing for plant safety or food safety. Also please note that if the beds are in direct contact with earth it may affect the coating.
I hope this helps and please feel free to get in touch if you have any further questions.
Many thanks
Stuart
hi, I have been looking for a paint to put on my powder coated roof on my house. it is a rough matte type powder coat, it’s not smooth and shiny. I am having an impossible time finding paint for it. everyone i ask at the stores says they don’t know. would this paint work for that ?
Hi Rebecca,
Thank you for your question and for taking the time to read our blog. The products in this blog post wouldn’t be suitable for the application you are enquiring about, however our Technical Team would be happy to help and advise with your project – please could you send through some more information along with some photographs of the areas in question for the attention of our Technical Team via our Contact Us page. We will then be in touch with advise and some recommendations for you.
I hope this helps and please feel free to get in touch if you have any further questions.
Many thanks
Stuart
Hi
I have a powder coated Elite greenhouse in brown, which I would like to repaint in blue. most of the powder coating is intact, there is a small part on the integral base that has ‘lifted’and the odd scratch by the nuts and bolts.
What would you advise regarding painting for a durable all weather finish?
Thank you
Hi Sally,
Many thanks for taking the time to read our blog and for your question. For this application we would suggest a clean/degrease and then a thorough sand/abrasion to remove all rust and profile any intact coating. We would then recommend 2 coats of the Rust-Oleum CombiColor Original assuming it is ferrous metal under the coating.
I hope this helps and please feel free to get in touch if you have any further questions.
Many thanks
Stuart
I have about 450 ft of metal fence consisting of 8 ft panels with 2 horizontal square tube rails and vertical pickets welded to the rails. These panels are powder coated. They attach to metal posts utilizing angle brackets that are bolted to the posts. These brackets are painted but not powder coated. About 1/4 to 1/3 of these connections have rusted to the point of separation from the posts. I believe the rust is originating inside the bracket tubes and migrating to the panel rails inside the rail tubing. I am considering cutting the rails back to good metal (~6” to 8” in most cases), extending the rails by welding new tube to the existing rail, and then using a powder coated touchup product on the repaired portion. I will likely not get a good paint match using this method but do you think this method would last. I would replace the brackets and will do my best to ensure they are primed and painted on the inside as well as outside. Thoughts? Alternately, I could do the rail extension repairs and use the method you describe to clean, sand, prime, and paint the entire panels and brackets. Do you think your prescribed method would provide extended life in this application? Thanks in advance for any advice.
Hi Rick,
Many thanks for taking the time to read our blog and for your question. If you are enquiring within the UK please could you get in touch with our Technical Department via the Contact Us page on our site to provide some more detail/photographs and our team will be happy to help.
If your enquiry is for outside of the UK we would recommend contacting a local supplier who will be able to assist having an understanding of the environment around the project.
I hope this helps and please feel free to get in touch if you have any further questions.
Many thanks
Stuart
Greetings. I have a commercial style exterior aluminum window system installed in a San Francisco condo building (mild marine environment). The 16x windows are quite large (10×15) that would be a nightmare to replace. There appears to be a clear coat that is peeling at ground level locations with constant sun, vehicle exhaust, and general industrial fallout. The windows have caulking around all exterior edges and of course around the glazing. Can you assist with a broad strokes strategy or product recommendation?
Hi Rob,
Many thanks for getting in touch. Unfortunately we don’t supply outside of the UK at present, so in this instance we would recommend getting in touch with a supplier local to you for advice due to them having knowledge of the climate etc. in your area.
Apologies we couldn’t help out this time and we hope your project goes well.
Many thanks
Stuart
I have a small yard sculpture (about 3 ft high) made from welded yard tools ( shovel, rake, clippers, etc) that I had powder coated in Black.
The basic shape is that of a Crane with long legs made from rebar. I need to paint specific areas with different colors. Because of the shapes, I can not sand the sculpture. Can you suggest a clear primer that I can use before I paint it with acrylic paint ( or should I use a epoxy paint)
Thank you for any help that you can give me.
Hi Fred,
Many thanks for taking the time to read our blog and for your question.
If your query relates to a project within the UK, please could you send through your request along with some images of the sculpture for the attention of our Technical Team via the Contact Us page on our site. Our Team will be happy to help and advise.
At present we only supply within the UK – if your query is for another location we would advise getting in touch with a local supplier who will have detailed knowledge of the climate and environment, to be able to assist with your project.
I hope this helps and please feel free to get in touch if you have any further questions.
Many thanks
Stuart