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How To Paint Steel

Painting steel requires a primer with excellent adhesion to provide a good base for your chosen top coat. Follow our 3-step guide below on how to paint steel with Zinsser products to ensure a lasting result.

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Zinsser Paint Steel Products

The Benefits

Step 1. Surface Preparation / Priming

Step 2. Interior Decoration

Step 3. Exterior Decoration

More Information

Further Reading


Zinsser Paint Steel Products

Zinsser Mould Killer & Remover

Zinsser Cover Stain

Zinsser Perma-White Interior or Zinsser AllCoat Exterior Satin/Gloss

Clicking on each Zinsser item will take you to its product page where you can add to basket.

The Benefits

Steel can be a difficult material to paint over; a good primer such as Zinsser Cover Stain will ensure excellent adhesion for your topcoat, providing a finish that will last for many years.

Zinsser listens to contactors and develops new products – or adds features to existing products – to meet their changing needs, delivering world class products that meet “real world” challenges, providing tried and tested solutions to painting problems, such as painting steel.

Step 1. Surface Preparation / Priming

The steel surface must be clean and dry before priming; clear anything that could affect adhesion and application of Zinsser products and materials, removing any visible signs of organic growth and using Zinsser Mould Killer & Remover (in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions) to treat the area.

Wash the area that is to be coated, removing any contaminants with hot water and liquid detergent solution; rinse thoroughly with clean water to remove any remaining residues and allow the area to dry.

Thoroughly degrease with methylated spirit, changing the cloths regularly before applying one full coat of Zinsser Cover Stain in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, and allow to dry.

Step 2. Interior Decoration

Decorate interior areas with two full coats of Zinsser Perma-White Interior in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, with a minimum drying time of two hours between coats

Available in Matt, Satin or Semi-Gloss finishes, the top coat has a choice of over 350 colours from RAL and BS shades.

Step 3. Exterior Decoration

For exterior projects, decorate steel with two full coats of Zinsser AllCoat Exterior Satin/Gloss in one of over 4,000+ colours. Apply in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and allow a minimum of one hour’s drying time between coats.

More Information

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

Further Reading

How to Paint Stainless Steel

Fire Protecting Structural Steelwork

Surface Preparation Methods for Steel Explained

How To Paint Over Powder Coatings

How To Paint Metal Garage Doors

How Rust-Inhibiting Metal Primers Work

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