Can You Paint a Steel or Metal Building?

A Complete Guide to Painting Your Metal Garages, Barns & Buildings

Although steel buildings can last decades or longer with minimal maintenance, the constant barrage of wind, rain, snow, sand, and sun can leave the finish of your metal siding and roofing looking faded and chalky after about seven to 10 years.

To restore the look of your steel building, you may have wondered if it’s possible or practical to paint it. With the right amount of preparation and quality products, painting your metal building can be a great way to make it look new with a bit of time and effort.

How To Paint Your Metal Building

With time, even the best painted or powder-coated finishes can break down due to wind, precipitation, and UV radiation. To protect the metal roof and siding panels from corrosion and impact damage, it’s a good idea to paint your metal building with high-quality primer and exterior paint.

For a great-looking, long-lasting paint job, careful planning and preparation are crucial. The basic process includes:

• Removing rust with a wire wheel or sandpaper and finishing with 120-grit or higher
• Repairing dents or damage by pulling, welding, or filling with automotive body filler
• Priming areas where corrosion or chalking was present
• Applying bleach or biocides to areas of mold, mildew, or moss growth
• Washing with soap and water or pressure-washing the building to remove any dust, oil, and contaminants
• Covering or taping off windows, doors, and trim that won’t be painted

Once the building is prepared, apply two or more coats of latex paint that’s compatible with metal buildings according to the product’s directions. Smaller projects like carports or RV covers can often be completed with rollers and brushes, but for larger garages, barns, or commercial buildings, a sprayed application will yield the best results.

Multiple thin coats will give the best coverage with less chance of drips or runs. After painting is complete, spray down or pressure-wash the building periodically and clean off any mold or moss to keep your building looking great. Address any corrosion right away to prevent its spread.

Call (888) 551-2156 today or contact us online to learn more about designing your metal building.

Signs You Need To Paint Your Steel Building

Before you decide to paint your barn, garage, or pole barn, thoroughly inspect the building. When you notice any of these issues, it might be time for a fresh coat of paint:

• Rust or corrosion, even if it’s just a few small spots
• Paint that’s peeling or flaking
• Areas that are faded or discolored
• A finish that has become milky-looking or chalky
• Paint that leaves a powdery residue on contact
• Areas that have been scratched, dented, or physically damaged

It’s also important to choose an appropriate day and time to paint. If the weather is too hot or too cold, the paint may not cure correctly. Inclement weather like wind, rain, hail, or sandstorms could ruin your new finish, so it’s essential to keep track of the weather throughout the project.

Finally, painting early in the morning or during overcast days can help avoid excessive heat that will cure the paint too quickly.

Quality Steel Buildings for Residential, Commercial, or Agricultural Applications

When you want a quality steel building with a finish that will last, turn to Bulldog Steel Structures. We serve customers throughout most of the U.S., and we offer long-lasting, American-made metal buildings from the nation’s top manufacturers.

We feature a one-year workmanship warranty on all our buildings, along with a 20-year rust-through warranty on our 12-gauge materials or a 10-year rust-through warranty on 14-gauge materials.

With dozens of building types, sizes, and finishes available, great financing options, and complete installation and delivery included for most orders, we make the process of buying a new metal building simple and convenient.