Painting and Varnishing Metal: What You Need to Consider

8 min reading time

Table of content

1. Which metal objects can I paint?
2. Ideas from the MissPompadour Painting community
3. Preparation: How to choose the right colour for your project
4. Paint metal professionally: Instructions from MissPompadour
5. FAQ: Frequently asked questions
6. You need these tools for painting metal

Which metal objects can I paint?

In principle, you can paint all metal objects. Decorations, banisters, doors, fridges, window frames - there is hardly anything metallic that our customers have not already painted with our colours. MissPompadour has a solution for almost all projects. You can find more detailed information in this article here.

Ideas from the MissPompadour painting community

Why should you paint metal? Because this way you can match almost everything in your home and outside to your living style. Your black banister doesn't match the freshly painted staircase? The flower pot on the windowsill doesn't match the new sofa? The heating urgently needs a new coat of paint and you want the handles on your chest of drawers to match the new colour? No problem! Take a look at what our customers have already painted and let yourself be inspired!

MissPompadour Red with Flamingo

Design piece

- There was no room for classic white goods in this beautiful kitchen. Painted, the fridge looks really classy!

MissPompadour Orange with Salmon

Colour kick

- Fridges don't have to be boring! Orange with Salmon gives this one a fruity, fresh flavour.

MissPompadour Red with Merlot

Noble

- The elegant look of Red with Merlot is further emphasised by the tone-on-tone design.

MissPompadour Green with Ocean

Harmonious

- The white radiator was a disruptive factor. Painted, it takes a back seat and now matches the wall perfectly.

MissPompadour Orange with Tangerine

Like new

- Bright colour effects are particularly suitable in the garden - to match the surroundings.

MissPompadour Beige with Cashmere

Decent

- Even small changes can have a big effect!

MissPompadour Grey with Black

High quality

- The newly painted garage door enhances the whole building.

MissPompadour Red with Sweden

Alive

- Painting the door makes it look fresh again. The old protective metal paint did not have to be sanded off.

Preparation: How to choose the right colour for your project

Which metal do you want to paint?

Generally, if a metal is already coated with a metal paint, you can simply paint over the existing finish. For bare surfaces, it is always best to prime with MissPompadour To Bond & Block. Rust-resistant steel, stainless steel, and older galvanised sheet metal are straightforward. You simply need to clean them thoroughly and then apply the primer. Bare iron and non-rustproof steel should be treated with an anti-rust primer first. If your metal already has rusty patches, sand them down well and apply an anti-rust primer before using the primer.

Paint will not adhere permanently to chrome-plated surfaces. The same goes for anodised aluminium.

pro tip: Anodised means the metal is coated with a protective layer that makes it much more robust. Try scratching the surface with a coin. If it scratches – no problem, you can paint it. But if no scratches form, the aluminium is anodised and unfortunately cannot be painted. Sadly, no paint will adhere to this protective layer.

You can easily paint copper with our paints. If there is already corrosion or verdigris, it's best to sand it off thoroughly. Don't forget to wear a face mask!

Galvanised sheet metal should not be freshly galvanised. You can paint older galvanised metal as normal after applying a primer.

Interested in our metal paints? Then take a look at our page on metal surfaces!

What look do you want to achieve?

You're spoilt for choice! Generally, we recommend our satin-sheen Easy Eggshell!. It creates a low-maintenance, robust surface that will last for years. If you prefer to paint with a matte paint or chalk paint, that is also possible. Please note, however, that matte paints are less hard-wearing.

Where do you want to paint?

Whether indoors or outdoors, metals are usually very easy to paint. We have already described above which paint you need for indoor projects. Easy Eggshell! is also perfect for outdoor use on garage doors, letterboxes, fences and more. Why not also take a look at our blog post on painting metal garden furniture?

Paint metal professionally: Instructions from MissPompadour

Step 1: Choose a varnish

Choose a colour shade that you like. Because all our varnishes are very suitable for painting metal.

Tip: As we have so many colour shades to choose from, simply order our colour cards in advance to make sure you find the perfect colour.

Step 2: Prepare the surface

If the old varnish is still intact, you can paint without sanding. However, if there are damaged areas and flaking, you should first sand them smooth or off. Rust must also be sanded away completely. If you want to remove the old varnish completely, you can simply sand it off. You can easily fill any holes or imperfections with To Fill - MissPompadour Filler.

Step 3: Clean metal parts

Use To Clean - MissPompadour Cleaner and lukewarm water to ensure that the surface is completely free of dust and grease. Then rinse well with clean water so that there is no cleaner residue left. This also applies to all other cleaners.

Step 4: Prime surfaces

Treat raw iron or sanded areas first with a rust protection primer and then with MissPompadour To Bond & Block. You can use To Bond & Block directly on other metals. After priming, wait at least 5-6 hours or overnight.

Step 5: Painting

Now apply the layers of colour. Apply as many coats as you need until you are happy with the result. Often 2 coats are enough for a perfectly opaque result. Allow each coat to dry very well. On average, the next coat can be applied after 4 - 5 hours, but depending on the ambient conditions, it may take longer for the paint to dry sufficiently to the touch. Ensure good air circulation and medium temperatures so that the paint can cure properly. The surfaces will become more stable from day to day and will be very stable after 10 - 14 days.

Step 6: Seal the varnish

Finally, seal the varnish with the To Seal - MissPompadour Topcoat if you expect it to be exposed to heavy loads. You are on the safe side with it. A protective coating creates a robust surface, especially with the matt varnish qualities. Please note that To Seal is only suitable for indoor use.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions

1. Before painting

Which colour is suitable for metal?

Each of our stable varnishes is suitable for different metals. We particularly recommend our Easy Eggshell! You can use it to create a durable and hard-wearing surface with a soft satin lustre.

Do I need a primer?

Yes, in many cases. For raw iron and metal where you have already sanded off rust spots well, first use a rust protection primer and then MissPompadour To Bond & Block. For all other raw metals, you can use To Bond & Block directly. If the metal you want to paint already has a good covering coat without rust spots, you can dispense with the primer.

Which brushes are suitable for painting metal?

Our fine MissPompadour brushes are perfect for painting all corners, edges and hard-to-reach areas. If you have larger, flat surfaces to paint, you can also paint them wonderfully with the paint roller for water-based varnishes.

How do I deal with rust?

Rust should always be sanded off as completely as possible so that it does not continue to wax and then crack the varnish. Then prime with a rust protection primer to prevent rust from forming again and then with MissPompadour To Bond & Block.

Can painted metal be painted over?

Yes, you can simply paint over old anti-rust paint as long as it doesn't flake off. You can also sand them lightly before painting, so the metal paint adheres better.

2. To Paint

How often do you have to paint metal?

As a rule, you can achieve an opaque result with 2 coats of our varnishes. However, depending on the substrate, varnish colour and painting technique, more may be necessary.

Do I need a topcoat?

Whether a topcoat is required always depends on how heavily the painted surfaces will be loaded. A metal railing and handrail, for example, can be exposed to heavy loads. Decorative objects, on the other hand, usually do not need a topcoat. You can make all heavily used surfaces even more robust with MissPompadour To Seal. The matt qualities in particular become more resilient.

How do I paint a radiator?

All the tips and advice mentioned above apply to radiators too. For example, you can paint the radiator with Easy Eggshell! and the wall behind it with wall paint in the same shade. This way, it simply blends into the wall. Why not take a look at our blog post on painting radiators?

You need these tools for metal painting

You will need these other materials to paint metal objects:

Sandpaper or sanding pad: For all areas where old varnish has flaked off or rust has formed. These should be sanded first.
Cleaning cloth and bucket to thoroughly clean your workpiece first: The surface must be free of dust and grease for your paint to adhere well.
Masking tape for masking: It is best to always remove the masking tape when the paint is still wet, this will give you a clean edge.
plastic drop cloth or newspaper: To protect the parts that are not to be painted.
Brush, varnish roller and paint tray: Use the brush to paint corners and edges and hard-to-reach areas and the varnish roller for larger areas.