How To Paint Rust-Stained Surfaces

Effectively block rust stains and stop them from bleeding through fresh paintwork with our simple 2-step guide to using stain-blocking paints. Learn how to prepare, prime, and paint over rust using Zinsser products, finishing with a decorative topcoat available in over 4,000 colours.

 

Zinsser Paint Rust Stains Products

• Zinsser Mould Killer & Remover
• Zinsser Universal Degreaser & Cleaner
• Zinsser Cover Stain
• Zinsser Perma-White Interior
• Zinsser AllCoat Exterior Satin/Gloss

The Benefits

Rust stains on buildings signal poor upkeep and can raise concerns about service quality or property management. Whether the goal is to clean up a shopfront or smarten a rental property, the ability to paint masonry and metal surfaces quickly is essential for creating a strong first impression.

Rust can appear on a range of exterior surfaces, including:

• Cladding
• Guttering and downpipes
• Soffits and fascias
• Shopfront signage
• Garage and loading doors
• Interior steelwork
• Brick and render where metal fixings have corroded

Customers are less likely to enter a shop with a stained exterior, just as prospective tenants may avoid viewing homes with rust damage. Zinsser products provide a simple and efficient way to resolve these issues—often with same-day application and minimal disruption to trade or viewings.

Zinsser works closely with contractors, improving and expanding its product range to solve everyday problems. From blocking water stains to the need to paint masonry affected by rust, Zinsser’s Allcoat range delivers reliable performance in more than 350 colours.

For advice on the best product to paint masonry or metal surfaces affected by rust, contact the technical support team.

Step 1. Surface Preparation / Priming

Clean the surface and ensure it is dry and free from anything that could interfere with the adhesion and application of materials and coatings to be applied.

Remove any loose and failing material by scraping or brushing with a stiff bristle brush to a sound edge, feathering this with a fine grade abrasive paper and removing all dust.

Signs of organic growth should be removed with the areas treated with Zinsser Mould Killer & Remover in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and allowed to dry.

Areas that have sound paint remaining should be cleaned down to remove any contaminants with Zinsser Universal Degreaser & Cleaner, rinsing thoroughly with clean water to remove all residues and allowing to dry, before thoroughly degreasing with methylated spirit whilst changing the cloths regularly.

Fill any cracks and small surface defects with a suitable filler, as appropriate in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, allowing it to dry before rubbing down with a fine grade abrasive paper and removing all dust.

Patch prime all bare and filled areas with one coat of Zinsser Cover Stain in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, allowing a minimum of 2 hours to dry ( in normal drying conditions).

These patch primed areas can then be brought forward with one coat of Cover Stain; allow to dry and then apply one full coat of Cover Stain overall and allow to dry before decorating the surface.

Step 2. Decoration

Now the rust-stained surface has been prepared and primed it can be decorated in one of more than 4,000+ RAL, NCS and BS colours in RAL and BS.

For interior surfaces use two full coats of Zinsser Perma-White Interior matt, gloss or satin finish in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Allow a minimum drying time of two hours between coats.

For exterior projects, decorate with two full coats of Zinsser AllCoat Exterior Satin/Gloss, in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, allowing a minimum drying time of one hour between coats.

More Information

If you require more advice on painting over rust-stained surfaces, give our technical team a call on 0113 2455450 (option 2) or send a message to [email protected].