Painting “Red Iron”

[pgilmore7]

I’ve searched and really haven’t found too much on the topic but I decided to just get started on painting the Red Oxide primer in my shop white. I pressure washed and treated the rusty spots with rust neutralizer and also knocked off the heavy stuff. I used Valspar Duramax paint, even though I’m a Powerstroke guy. Lol. It’s a big job and there is no such thing as one coat coverage over red like this. I have a 30x60 shop and one 30x20 bay has taken over 2 gallons but after seeing the results I think it’s well worth it. I’m also installing new lights but just the white brightens it up nicely. I’m further along than the pics indicate, I’ll post updated pics in a bit.

 

[readhead]

Looks good. When they say primer it is a little misleading. It is actually a shop coat designed to protect the material during transportation and storage. Not a prep coat for finish paint. Usually the plans will call that out in the specs. Some companies use a paraffin based product that doesn’t like a top coat at all. Some companies offer colors on the primary steel and galvanized for the secondary.

 

[sberry]

26 gallons on mine. Sprayed after erection though. Move the stuff out, spray the above job.

 

[welder57]

Sherwin-Williams has a base steel primer for structural steel and coldform, spray or brush on.

 

[pgilmore7]

Some updated pics, sorry they aren’t the best but I was trying to contain a toddler and take the pics. I contemplated spraying the paint and I might still do it because it’s a lot bigger pain than it looks especially the purlins on the ceiling, my neck starts to get stiff from looking up. I pretty sure the original red coating isn’t an issue for the top coat, I tested part of one I-beam a few years ago and it’s holding up great.

 

[Bowtie68]

I wish i had painted mine before filling it up. I think it does make things brighter in there.

 

[rmack898]

It looks good, I like it.

Just a curious question though. You have inulsation on your roof but no insulation on your walls, how is it in the summer? I'm just little north of you and I insulated walls and ceiling but it's still under construction.