Best Paint for Steel Pole Barn

[Tim The Tool Man]

Anybody ever repaint a steel pole barn? I would like to change the roof color of my 20 + year old pole barn and fix a few leaks while I'm at it. The original roof is a nasty beige with mildew stains throughout. This roof was originally nailed down and the rubber washers are very tired. I am not a rich man so I bought only enough new metal (green) roofing to completely redo the front side and enough screws to redo the whole roof. I plan to paint the backside and swap out the nails for screws.

I have a power washer, scrub brushes, & a strong back and can clean up the old roofing well enough to re-coat it. I am just wondering what type of paint I ought to use. A couple of gallons of rustolium (sp?) would probably be my cheapest option but it won't last that long and automotive paint, though it will hold up well, will run me over $100 per gallon. So I'm just wondering if there is a middle of the road option.

Thanks.

 

[DENALIAKITAS]

Check sherman williams for a product called duration, its more of a coating than a paint and worked great on my building. All i did was power wash it and spray it on. That was 7 years ago and still looks like new with no chipping or flaking to date.

 

[Tim The Tool Man]

I will look into sherman williams for that product. Thanks!

 

[pain]

There is a product called DTM made by PPG. It is a direct to metal product. It comes in various different sheens and can be sprayed or brushed but I don't recomend brushing it. For your application I would spray only. Sherwin Williams also makes a DTM ( Direct To Metal). It works great but any of these products have got to be prepped properly. Take the time to do that and your building will come out looking like a champ. Hope this helps

 

[Highbeam]

I look out my window at work and see where the professional painters painted a green metal roof brown on a huge brick bank. The brown is falling off in sheets and it looks like hell.

Be sure to follow the directions. Not sure what they did wrong but the results are ugly.

 

[carhunter]

There is a product called DTM made by PPG. It is a direct to metal product. It comes in various different sheens and can be sprayed or brushed but I don't recomend brushing it. For your application I would spray only. Sherwin Williams also makes a DTM ( Direct To Metal). It works great but any of these products have got to be prepped properly. Take the time to do that and your building will come out looking like a champ. Hope this helps

I just happened to be at Sherwin Williams last week to order a gallon of the DTM paint for a garage door, but nobody could answer my question -
If you're repainting a metal surface, that's already been painted, should you still use a DTM?

Seems like its no longer direct-to-metal? Its direct-to-painted metal.

 

[pain]

I just happened to be at Sherwin Williams last week to order a gallon of the DTM paint for a garage door, but nobody could answer my question -
If you're repainting a metal surface, that's already been painted, should you still use a DTM?

Seems like its no longer direct-to-metal? Its direct-to-painted metal.

You are right but if this metal is on the roof typically it will have oxidized and you will be able to see through the paint to the metal. Especialy after a good presure washing. That is why I suggest DTM.

 

[HD FLHX]

I used the Sherwin Williams DTM on my storage shed. It has held up well, but the prep was a PITA. I pressure washed entire building, scotch brited it, washed it again, then sprayed it with a DTM bonding primer and finally sprayed the colors. If I remember right I had about $1700 in material on a 24x32 building including the roof.

 

[DENALIAKITAS]

DTM is not what you want if there is any paint on the metal at all unless you go through some serious prep work. Sherman Williams duration is a direct application over the existing paint. Just pressure wash and apply.

 

[Tim The Tool Man]

Thanks for the info. I think if the job were to cost me $1700 I would just buy new sheet metal instead! I picked up enough new metal roofing and assorted trim for the front half of my 40' X 30' for about $900.

In addition to painting the back (unseen) half of the roof I will paint the sides a lite tan and I am also going to make the roof over-hang all around and add spouting. Here is my before picture:

I put in the landscaping and added the windows and a door two years ago, before that it really looked like a CSX box car!

 

[jarhead]

curious how this turned out? I need to do the same

 

[Bondo]

Anybody ever repaint a steel pole barn? I would like to change the roof color of my 20 + year old pole barn and fix a few leaks while I'm at it. The original roof is a nasty beige with mildew stains throughout. This roof was originally nailed down and the rubber washers are very tired. I am not a rich man so I bought only enough new metal (green) roofing to completely redo the front side and enough screws to redo the whole roof. I plan to paint the backside and swap out the nails for screws.

I have a power washer, scrub brushes, & a strong back and can clean up the old roofing well enough to re-coat it. I am just wondering what type of paint I ought to use. A couple of gallons of rustolium (sp?) would probably be my cheapest option but it won't last that long and automotive paint, though it will hold up well, will run me over $100 per gallon. So I'm just wondering if there is a middle of the road option.

Thanks.

Ayuh,..... If you can manage to scuff/ sand it abit, any paint you use will hold up much better,.....

'bout 15 years ago, we shot alumacoat onto an ole barn roof, 'n it's held up extremely well, without any sanding,.....