In Pursuit of Curb Appeal

If you have ornamental iron fencing adorning your property, you may want to revamp its appearance by altering its color. If the fencing had been painted in the past, you will need to take a few steps in removing the old paint before adding a new shade. Here are some instructions to follow when switching the color of paint you have on your iron fencing.

Materials You Will Need

• Wire brush
• Sandpaper
• Mild detergent
• Bucket of water
• Sponge
• Pressure washer or garden hose
• Tarps or old sheets
• Rust-inhibiting primer
• Paint in desired color
• Paint sprayer
• Paintbrush

Remove The Old Shade

Use a wire brush to lightly rub against the surface of the fence. Start at one end and work your way around to the other, rubbing any areas where flecking or peeling paint is noticeable. Removing the old color in these areas will allow the new paint to adhere to the iron and not a portion of paint that may fall off soon. Any spots of bare iron that appear rusted should be rubbed with a piece of sandpaper to remove the rusted portions before adding color.

Clean Your Fence

After you have removed old paint and rust, the fence should be completely cleaned off in preparation for adding the paint. Add a few tablespoons of mild detergent to a bucket of warm water. Scrub down all areas of the fence using a sponge dipped in the soapy mixture. Pay special attention to any spires and scrolled portions. These are often hiding places for spiders and small insects. After the entire fence has been rubbed down with soap, rinse it well using a pressure washer or garden hose. The fence should be dry before you start adding paint to its surface.

Add The Color

Place a tarp on the ground on each side of the part of the fence you will be working on. This will protect any grass or asphalt from becoming colored in the process. Before adding paint, the fence should receive a coating of rust-inhibiting primer. Depending on the intricacies of scrolling you may have on your fence, you can add both the primer and the paint by spraying the fence or by using a paintbrush. The sprayer can be used for the bulk of the job. Using a paintbrush allows you to get color in all smaller crevices. Allow the fence to dry thoroughly after each coat of primer or paint you apply.

To learn more about iron fencing, contact a company like City Wide Fence Co.