Iron made staircase and gates

[DenizIsmail]

Last year we had our newly purchased villa installed with iron made staircase going to the attic and iron gates side of the villa. I have now been informed by the builders after their final inspection that the gates and staircase are beginning to rust due to proximity to sea. Has anyone got any suggestions of solving this problem please?

[Keithcaley]

Hammerite!

[13roman58]

We live 100m from the sea and tried hammarite it lasted 4 months not 5 years as advertised

[gates]

well unfortunately there arent any plating plants out here you would not put up raw metal in the UK were ever you lived it must be galvanized as the light coating they put on as black spray here is no good the best thing if you get new installed metal is to give it another coat straight away
Now you will have to live with it and paint every year
The only other alternative is to have it renewed with polished aluminium

[Keithcaley]

We live 100m from the sea and tried hammarite it lasted 4 months not 5 years as advertised

Oh, that's bad news!

I'll revise my advice for people near the sea, then...

Thanks for the info!

[brian24001]

You need a product called 'Phetch'. Just google 'phetch rust remover'

Not sure if it's available here though, never looked, but if you ask in some of the better Yapi's you might get lucky.

It's quite acidic, so you do need gloves if you can get any..

Paint it onto rust and it dries to a black (from the oxidation) paintable surface that a rust repetitive (often copper based) primer will adhere to.

You can then paint on top of this. Hamerite will be better than most paints, but you do need to store it upside down for a few days before opening and stiring well, or even use a small plaster mixer in a drill, and it does settle out very quickly.

Apply it thick enough to be successful, which is where most applications don't go quite as well.

[DenizIsmail]

Many thanks for the replies much appreciated

[Becker]

We used Hammerite on our railings & gate,did what it said on the tin other than where the gate latch is,not a spot of rust has appeared. It is a product that must not be overbrushed. These "Cure Rust" products are pretty naïf unless you get back to pretty much bare metal. Then a metal primer is needed before top coating.

[Keithcaley]

Brian, I take it that it's better to remove any loose paint by wire brushing before applying the hammerite? - as well as trying to 'passivate' any existing rust?
Just seen subsequent post, so not in 'conflict'

[brian24001]

Brian, I take it that it's better to remove any loose paint by wire brushing before applying the hammerite? - as well as trying to 'passivate' any existing rust?
Just seen subsequent post, so not in 'conflict'

Definitely best to remove as much as possible Keith.

The phetch chemical reaction actually eats microscopically into the metal, and some loose flakes can then fall off.

We used to use this product on offshore equipment, even after sand blasting we would give the metal a coat of phetch as is acts as a rust neutralising base coat.

Still best to apply a rust resistant layer above, which we used to 'hot apply', probably not that easy here, and certainly not with a flight of stairs!

[Keithcaley]

We used Hammerite on our railings & gate,did what it said on the tin other than where the gate latch is,not a spot of rust has appeared. It is a product that must not be overbrushed. These "Cure Rust" products are pretty naïf unless you get back to pretty much bare metal. Then a metal primer is needed before top coating.

Are you near the sea then?

[gates]

its like the old cars once its in its in dont mater what you do you wont get rid of it , if it is not galvanized you cant stop it and just paint every year but as soon as it rains you will see rust spots you and every body else
If you got metal out here you got rust i am sure its in it just as when you buy wood some of it is rotting when you buy it
But what do you do its Cyprus we live with it

[Keithcaley]

I looked up 'Phetch' - It used to be made by ZEP, otherwise known as Forward Chemicals Ltd, although I couldn't see it listed in their current product lineup - they may have renamed it.

A suitable alternative for home use might be KURUST made by Hammerite themselves, it is available in 90cl Blister Packs and 250 ml bottles.

[gates]

If you think there is a substitute the best place to go is Marshall's Karalangaloo they sell every thing and are the major paint suppliers here
You did used to buy galvanized paint years ago but i think due to the led content it stopped as most good affected paints did see they might have it other wise thats it paint paint and paint again

[Becker]

KC,not too far from the sea,do you?

[Keithcaley]

KC,not too far from the sea,do you?

???????

[Philoz]

Keith,you are obsessed with rust-let it go Keith.

[Maisiemoo]

We have used Hammerite twice and a local metal paint and all were useless, rust appeared pretty quickly. My husband was meticulous iin rubbing down and applying a primer. We are now trying Marshalls own brand, which is a fraction of the price of Hammerite. By the way we live a mile from the sea but on an elevation.