How to Paint a Metal Awning for a Bay Window
The steel awning covering your bay is much more than a decorative home accent; it serves the same function as the roofing material covering your house’s roof. Like most substances, metal awnings require routine maintenance to maximize their life expectancy. Keeping the awning painted prevents moisture from contacting the steel. When water contacts unprotected steel, is causes the steel to rust and, over time, rust will create holes through the awning. 1 exception to this scenario is aluminum awnings. Given that the event, the paint is there for cosmetic purposes as opposed to safety.
Establish a stepladder near the awning. Make sure the ladder is totally open and secure.
Use a pressure washer to remove built up dirt and debris in the surface. Kill mildew — if present — by applying a mildew retardant into the awning, with a rag. Wash the awning with the pressure washer and allow the awning to dry.
Slide a paint scraper across the surface of the awning until it’s free of loose paint and stubborn debris. Eliminate any remaining small paint chips in the awning with a wire brush. Moving the wire brush in the direction of this awning seams will ease the procedure. Sand the gloss off the awning paint with 400-grit sandpaper. Scrub the sanding dust in the awning with a damp rag.
Apply plastic sheeting to all areas surrounding the awning. Secure the plastic with painter’s tape. Make sure the plastic shields all areas that you don’t wish to cover with paint and make sure neither the plastic nor tape covers any portion of the awning’s surface.
Determine the type of awning steel by setting a magnet on its surface. If the magnet sticks, then you have a steel or galvanized awning. If the magnet does not stick, you’ve got an iron detector. Spray all exposed areas of the aluminum awning with self-etching buffer, while keeping the spray nozzle 6 to 8 inches apart from the surface. Permit the primer to dry. Wipe down the surface of the exposed galvanized awning with a white vinegar-dampened rag. This will remove manufacturing oils and zinc deposits from the steel’s surface.
Hold the spray paint can’s tip 8 to 10 inches apart from the surface. Apply a thin layer of paint into the surface, while constantly moving the can. It’s fine if a few of the paint colour shows through the applied paint. Permit the paint to dry, per the manufacture’s recommended drying time. Employ an additional two to three thin layers of paint into the awning. Make sure to let the paint dry between coats.
Remove the plastic sheeting from the region enclosing the eaves, by first completing the meeting point between the painter’s tape along with the painted awning with a razor knife and then pulling both the tape and the plastic away from the region.