Metal railing painting in Exeter
Professional metal railing painting services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£110-£210
Typical Duration
2-4 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Metal railings painted with rust treatment, proper metal primer, and quality topcoat. Stops rust spreading, protects from weather, and makes tatty metalwork look sharp again.
Stop Rust in Its Tracks
Rusty railings look neglected and get worse every year - rust spreads. Proper painting stops rust dead and protects the metal for years. Plus it transforms the look instantly, whether it's garden railings, balcony rails, or decorative gates.
💡 Pro tip: Black is the traditional colour for metal railings and never looks dated. Dark colours also hide minor imperfections better than light colours.
Why Metal Painting is Specialist Work
Paint peeling off in sheets, rust showing through after months, drips and runs on vertical bars. Here's what goes wrong:
| ✅ Done Right | ❌ Done Wrong |
|---|---|
| Rust treated with converter first | Paint straight over rust |
| Degreased and cleaned properly | Quick wipe with a cloth |
| Metal primer then metal topcoat | Whatever paint was in the shed |
| Multiple thin coats, no runs | One thick coat, drips everywhere |
What You Get
🔧 The Full Process
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Clean | Wire brush loose rust, degrease, clean |
| Treat | Rust converter on all rusty areas |
| Prime | Metal primer for adhesion and protection |
| Paint | Two coats metal paint for durability |
📦 You're Left With
- Railings protected from rust and weather
- Smart, fresh appearance
- Years of protection
Pricing Guide
| Railing Type | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Small section (2-3m) | 2-3 hrs | £110-£160 |
| Average run (5-8m) | 3-4 hrs | £160-£210 |
| Large or intricate | 4+ hrs | £210+ |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Intricate Victorian railings take longer than simple modern bars.
Perfect For...
✅ Rusty garden railings - stop rust spreading
✅ Front boundary railings - kerb appeal improvement
✅ Balcony railings - safety and appearance
✅ Gates and metal fencing - protect and smarten
Why Choose Us for Metal railing painting in Exeter?
Rust properly treated before painting
Metal-specific paint system used
Weather protection for years
Transforms tired metalwork instantly
What to Expect
Step 1: Prep the Metal
Wire brush any loose rust and flaking paint off. Degrease everything - you'd be surprised how greasy outdoor metal gets. Clean thoroughly.
Step 2: Rust Treatment
Rust converter goes on all rusty areas - this chemically converts rust into a stable surface that can be painted. Critical step that most DIYers skip.
Step 3: Prime & Paint
Metal primer seals everything and gives the topcoat something to grip. Then two coats of quality metal paint for protection and finish. Dry time between coats required.
🔧 DIY Tips
Metal railing painting is definitely doable DIY - just fiddly and time-consuming. Here's how to get it right:
🔧 What you'll need
- Wire brush or wire wool
- Rust converter
- White spirit or degreaser
- Metal primer (red oxide or grey)
- Metal paint (Hammerite or similar)
- Small brush (1" or 2")
- Small foam roller for flat sections
- Masking tape and plastic sheet
- Gloves (metal paint is nasty stuff)
📐 The process
- Wire brush all loose rust and flaking paint
- Wipe down with white spirit to degrease
- Apply rust converter to all rusty areas, let it work
- Mask off walls, paving, plants - metal paint splatters
- Prime everything - don't miss bits
- First topcoat once primer is dry
- Second topcoat for durability
- Remove masking while paint still slightly tacky
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Not treating rust properly - it comes back through
- Painting too thick - runs and drips on vertical bars
- Missing the backs and undersides of rails
- Not degreasing (hands leave oil on metal)
- Cheap paint that rusts through in a year
- Painting in cold or damp weather (won't cure properly)
💡 Pro trick: For really smooth finish on railings, use Hammerite Direct to Metal paint - it's primer and topcoat in one, self-levels beautifully, and is very hard-wearing. Costs more but saves time and gives better results than cheap metal paint.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🎨 Colour choice: Traditional is black, but dark grey, dark green, and navy are popular too. Light colours show every mark and rust stain. Bring me a colour code or I'll advise.
Both sides? If your railings border a path or are visible from both sides, doing both makes sense. If one side faces your house wall, just the visible side is usually fine.
Victorian or period railings? Exeter has loads of beautiful old metalwork. These are worth treating properly - they're quality metalwork that'll outlast modern replacements. The intricate details take longer to paint but come up beautifully.
Bad rust? If the metal is flaking apart or there are holes rusted through, painting won't save it - the metal needs replacing or professional welding repair. I'll be honest about what's salvageable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you paint rusty railings or does the rust need removing first?
I treat the rust first with rust converter, then paint over it. Light surface rust is fine - gets converted and sealed. Heavy flaking rust needs wire brushing off first. Painting straight over rust without treating it means the paint fails in months.
How long does paint last on outdoor metal railings?
Quality metal paint properly applied lasts 5-8 years on railings exposed to weather. Sheltered railings last longer. The key is proper prep - degreasing, rust treatment, and using actual metal paint, not just any old gloss.
Do you paint them in place or remove them?
Almost always in place - removing railings is a faff and often damages the fixings. I mask off the surroundings and paint carefully. Only time I'd recommend removal is if they're literally falling apart and need refitting anyway.
Can you match existing colours or do I need to repaint all of them?
I can match colours fairly well, but touching up old faded paint always shows a bit - the new paint is brighter. If your railings are all connected, better to do them all together for consistent colour. If they're separate sections, touching up one section works fine.
What about intricate Victorian railings with lots of detail?
They take longer because every gap and detail needs covering properly, but they come up beautifully. I use a combination of brush and small roller. Those old railings are proper quality metalwork - worth painting properly rather than replacing.
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