How to Paint Aluminium an Overview by House Painter Toronto

 

Aluminum does not need a protective layer but can be painted like almost any other metal to enhance its appearance. When painting, however, you should pay attention to the special features of aluminum, especially the oxide layer.

You can paint house wholes items made up of aluminum like doors, kitchen cabinets, ladders, mailboxes, staples, nails, computer parts, screen doors, and many more things.

Why House Painter Recommend painting aluminum?

Many things in the house are made with aluminium like doors, windows, kitchen accessories, etc. If you want to paint aluminum, you usually do it for decorative reasons. Special corrosion protection is not necessary for aluminum in the hobby or private sector, as it will hardly come into contact with aggressive substances.

House Painter says "Painting aluminium help to blend that item to your home and enhance the look of your interior e.g. kitchen cabinet"

How should steel be painted?

Whether painting chrome, steel, aluminium, or sheet metal - as a rule, you should always treat the metal with special paint metal. To repaint metal furniture, all you have to do is choose between these 3 suitable types of paint: alkyd resin, synthetic resin paint, or acrylic paint.

• Synthetic resin paint containing a volatile organic solvent and, thereby, the paint flows better. However, the solvent evaporates for a relatively long time, smells unpleasant, and is hazardous to health. This type of paint also takes a long time for the surface to dry. But this is also an advantage, as the paint dries out from bottom to top. In plain language: If the surface of the paint is dry, you know that it is completely dry. Besides, synthetic resin paint is remarkably robust.
• Since acrylic paint contains solvents instead of only water, it is usually excellent with the "Blue Angel". The principle of pigmentation is based on dispersion, which is why this type of paint is also known under the term dispersion paint. The acrylic varnish is odorless, dries from top to bottom, and is easy to paint over. The disadvantage: The paint dries slowly so that the surface remains sensitive to touch and elastic for a long time. Also, acrylic paint is not as resistant as synthetic resin paint.
• There are also acrylic paints with a PU (polyurethane) component: they are just as robust as synthetic resin paints, but just as environmentally friendly as acrylic paints.

Preparation - the most important thing

It is best to have everything you need for painting steel furniture ready right away. Then you have the right utensil at hand, without having to search for a long time and without having to interrupt your work. Usually, you need:

• Coarse sandpaper (180-240 grit)
• Grinder or hand grinder for metal
• Respirator
• Solid work gloves
• Basecoat
• Fine sandpaper (400 grit)
• Dust blower
• Surface paint
• Brush, roller, or spray gun

Above all, you must find a well-ventilated place where you can paint your metal furniture. Otherwise, there is a risk of inhaling fine dust or other chemical substances from the paintwork that can be harmful to your health. Of course, a dry place outdoors is always best.

Sanding off old paintwork, rust, and paint residues

The first thing you need to do is sand down the old furniture paintwork thoroughly. Even if most of the old paint or primer has peeled off - even the smallest scrap has to be removed and the entire surface roughened. The paint cannot adhere to rust or old paintwork.

Metal surfaces can be sanded down quite well with sandpaper, which has a fine grain size between 180 and 240. It does not matter whether you do the sanding with the help of a machine or do it yourself. It is only important that you put on the face mask beforehand because the amount of dust generated should not be underestimated. Wearing sturdy work gloves also prevents injuries.

Apply primer and allow drying

Now it's the turn of the metal primer, often referred to as a rust protection primer. Which color you choose is entirely up to you? Most people opt for white primer paint, so the new colored surface paint comes into its own later. It doesn't matter whether you paint the furniture with a brush, roller, or even a spray gun. Just use the utensil that is best for you to use.

Let the undercoat dry well so that the new color can be easily applied afterward and an even color tone results.

Sand down and remove dust again

Has the base coat dried properly? Wonderful, then things can go on. The undercoat must now be sanded. For this, however, you need even finer sandpaper with 400 grit. However, we recommend putting the grinding machine aside here and performing the fine sanding manually.

This is important so that no grains of dust penetrate the paint and thus roughen the surface.

Apply surface paint & paint metal properly

It's finally time to paint the metal! Especially with large steel/aluminum furniture such as a steel cupboard, a steel locker, or a steel table, it is advisable to use a foam roller instead of a spray can. 

The area is simply too big, you will get better results with a roller to apply the colored varnish. Always make sure to apply thin layers, let them dry slowly, and only then put the next layer of paint on top. Roll along with length ways and spread the color across.

Then just let it dry for several hours - and your old piece of furniture will be presented in a radiantly fresh and new look. And you've learned something for life: painting a metal cabinet and painting metal!

While renovating your house you can contact today the best House Painter in Toronto to paint your aluminium items and make them look beautiful.