Metal structures have a number of advantages compared to structures made of reinforced concrete, and first of all, this is a significantly lower weight while maintaining the required strength. In addition, metal structures can be made collapsible, and their construction is possible at any time of the year. But metal structures must be protected from the harmful effects of environmental factors (sun, water, wind, temperature changes), and along with special protection methods (cementing, nitrocarburizing), metal painting is used. The coating layer can protect the metal from all of the above factors. Among other things, coloring of metal structures is also used to give the structure an aesthetic appearance.
Special attention should be paid to the choice of coverage. Paint for metal must be special, with certain characteristics. At present, there are no difficulties with this, each manufacturer includes specialized paints for metal in its line.
Painting metal structures is a responsible and time-consuming job that requires professional skills. It's not just about technology.coating, but also with the fact that such structures are quite large and it is not so easy to apply a layer of paint on them. Such structures are often painted using industrial mountaineering, which only professionals can do.
Painting of metal structures begins with mandatory surface preparation. Such preliminary work is needed to improve the adhesion (adhesion) of the coating and metal elements. First of all, it is necessary to remove the old coating, if any. Then, chips and traces of corrosion are cleaned. The next step is to clean the entire surface manually, mechanically or by abrasive blasting from dirt and dust - this step should never be skipped, even if the surface looks clean on the outside. Foreign particles are always present on the metal, and if they are not removed, the paint will roll off the elements of the structure or lie in an inhomogeneous layer, which will lead to the fact that the painting of metal structures will be of poor quality.
Further, if possible, the surface is polished - this procedure also helps to improve the adhesion of paint and metal. The next step is degreasing, it is carried out using alkaline, acidic or emulsion agents. After such washing, it is necessary to wait - the structure must be completely dry before painting. The last preparatory procedure is priming - processing in one or two layers with special materials, the second layer is applied only after the first has completely dried. Afterprimers, you can proceed directly to staining.
The only thing to remember is that you should not take long breaks between surface preparation, priming and applying paint, because the structural elements can be re-contaminated, and the coating will not lie well. But if all the work is carried out correctly, the service life of the coating will be at least 3.5 years.
