Rust often starts small, just a few spots on a metal fence, railing or gate, but left untreated, it spreads. It weakens structure, spoils appearances, and shortens the lifespan of what was once a solid investment. If you've painted metal only to see rust return months later, you're not alone.

Haymes Paint have spent nearly 90 years developing protective coatings that do more than coat a surface. They seal, shield, and last. As a fourth-generation, family-run business and Australia’s largest Australian-made paint brand, we’ve seen what works, what doesn’t, and where most metal projects fall short.

This guide will take you through the MetalPlus range to prep, prime and protect your metal surface. It's an easy-to-follow process that ensures your metal surfaces are protected and your paint job lasts.

Why Paint Often Fails on Metal

Metal isn’t forgiving. It's smooth, reactive, and prone to oxidation. So if paint starts peeling, bubbling or letting rust through after a few months, chances are it wasn’t applied with the right method or materials. Common causes of failure include:

• Painting over dirt, grease or corrosion
• Skipping the primer or using the wrong one
• Applying paint in unsuitable weather conditions
• Using topcoat without treating rust or prepping correctly

Metal needs more than a splash of paint, it needs a properly prepared surface being a rust-stopping primer and a durable, UV-resistant finish. That’s why we developed the MetalPlus range.

Prep the Surface Properly

Every good paint finish starts with thorough preparation. If you skip this step, your paint job is on borrowed time.

Begin by cleaning the surface to remove any oil, wax or grime. Use MetalPlus Brushable Enamel Thinner to degrease the surface. For rusted areas, scrub with a wire brush or sanding pad until clean.

Other surface-specific guidance includes:

• New bare metal (steel, aluminium, galvanised): Clean thoroughly, sand lightly for adhesion, then clean again.
• Previously painted in fair condition: Scuff-sand and clean.
• Previously painted in poor condition: Strip back, treat rust, clean, and proceed to primer.

This step ensures the primer and topcoat will bond properly and provide lasting protection.

Choose the Right Primer for Your Metal

Priming is where rust protection really begins. Different metal types require different primers, and using the wrong one can cause adhesion failure or poor corrosion resistance. Use this reference table to match the right primer to your surface: