painting a structural i-beam

[dusterbd13]

so in the ceiling of my shop is a large, rusty, poor looking I-beam. it supports the end of the house. definitely structural.

I want to make it less ugly. preferably white to match the ceiling im installing.

can I? someone told me that I don't want to mess with it, as its supposed to rust and that painting it will cause it to fail quicker.

it only supports 18 foot of house.

if I can paint it, can I pretty much do rustoleum rusty metal primer with a white topcoat?

any reason not to do this?

thanks guys
Michael

 

[Bill Bowman]

Personally, I would consider your plan okay. Maybe scrape or wire brush any loose stuff.

 

[barks]

"someone told me that I don't want to mess with it, as its supposed to rust and that painting it will cause it to fail quicker"? You might not want to take any life or death advice from this "somebody". Just a suggestion.

 

[Compressor]

Box it out?

 

[readhead]

This is the steel guy. Paint is ok. Clean, prime and paint or clean and use a DTM product.

 

[LB-1911]

so in the ceiling of my shop is a large, rusty, poor looking I-beam. it supports the end of the house. definitely structural.

I want to make it less ugly. preferably white to match the ceiling im installing.

can I? someone told me that I don't want to mess with it, as its supposed to rust and that painting it will cause it to fail quicker.

it only supports 18 foot of house.

if I can paint it, can I pretty much do rustoleum rusty metal primer with a white topcoat?

any reason not to do this?

thanks guys
Michael

This is the steel guy. Paint is ok. Clean, prime and paint or clean and use a DTM product.

DTM = Direct To Metal

A few examples -

http://protective.sherwin-williams.com/detail.jsp?A=sku-25995:product-6783

http://www.behr.com/pro/products/specialty-paint/behr-premium-direct-to-metal-gloss-paint

http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/...r-spec-hp-dtms?lang=en_US&role=C#advs=0&tab=3

 

[rustyjames]

If it's rusty, give it a scrape, clean it and use Rusteolum Rusty Metal primer and their paint. Quick and easy, and it'll last and look good. I wouldn't use the gloss, however.

 

[ATC]

can I? someone told me that I don't want to mess with it, as its supposed to rust and that painting it will cause it to fail quicker.

 

[readhead]

ATC, that was my first reaction. Where does this **** come from?

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

A structural member is NOT "supposed to rust". When do people get these ridiculous ideas and then why do they pass them on as some kind of "wisdom"?

Here's what I did to the structural steel columns and beam I used when I removed nearly all the rear wall of my garage. I did nothing, zero, nada in the way of prep. I painted it with Rustoleum Hammered finish in silver. Painted it with a $1.99 foam roller. It's kind of a weird paint, it dries very quickly and becomes "stringy" if you don't keep a wet edge while painting. I think that's the hammered finish starting to form. Anyway, here's what it looks like. Follow the directions EXACTLY. If you don't out a 2nd coat within X hours you've gotta wait like 5 or 7 days(!). I waited and it came out rock hard. VERY pleased with it.



Closeup of finish. Looks great to me. Recommended!

 

[wssix99]

someone told me that I don't want to mess with it, as its supposed to rust and that painting it will cause it to fail quicker.

They are most definitely confused and probably thinking about COR-TEN steel. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weathering_steel

Even if you did have a COR-TEN beam -> which you don't -> there would be no harm in painting it. It would effectively be trading one protective coating for another.

 

[LX-Markham]

LOL, whoever that 'someone' was, hasn't got a clue.

We specify all structural steel to receive one coat of primer. Paint if specified by the architect. Only bare steel we specify is if it's going to receive fire spray.

 

[Angelfire]

A bit of advice....don't listen to your source for future questions! Steel beams are typically delivered with at least red oxide paint. In many instances they are painted after install. How paint will reduce the structural integrity of a steel beam is a mystery.....and ludicrous.