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How to treat rust in and around the home

It is important to prime and paint all iron and steel fittings in and around a home. Unpainted iron and steel will, under the right conditions, rust and deteriorate. Add salt to the equation and rust will attack unpainted iron even faster. So how do you prevent or repair rust on furniture and fittings?

 

Anyone living at the coast will tell you that rust attacks almost any item constructed or made of steel and iron. While this is true in many cases, rust only occurs on metals that contain iron such as unpainted or untreated wrought iron, steel burglar bars and gates, etc.

Aluminium does not rust
There is a lot of confusion when aluminium is said to rust. Aluminium does not contain any iron and therefore cannot rust, but it does corrode. Aluminium corrosion is a condition where the surface becomes dull and is sometimes crusted with calcium, lime, tarnish, or hard water stains. Where corrosion does occur, follow these steps to remove areas of corrosion.

Rust prevention
Rust occurs when iron is exposed to oxygen and moisture, which is why it is important to prime and paint metal fittings and furniture.

Plascon Metalcare Metal WB Primer should be used as a primer for all mild steel and galvanised iron surfaces. Simply apply to metal fittings and furniture to prevent rust from forming, particularly in coastal regions. This water-based product offers protection against metal corrosion and degradation on all mild steel and galvanised iron surfaces

Repair rust on fittings and furniture
When rust appears on metal or steel, immediate attention is required to prevent further damage.

Plascon Metalcare Rust Converter & Primer reacts chemically with rust and effectively stops further corrosion. Once dry, the product provides a water-insoluble coating that protects and that can be overcoated with most types of solvent-borne and water-borne paints.

  • For interior and exterior use.
  • Apply directly to rusted mild steel as a two-in-one, direct-to-rust primer.
  • It neutralises the rust, eliminating the need to remove the rust or use a primer before overcoating.
    • - See more at: http://www.plascon.co.za/products/product.asp?SectionID=1&RangeID=13&ProductID=98#sthash.Wc88fB4u.dpuf
  • For interior and exterior use.
  • Apply directly to rusted mild steel as a two-in-one, direct-to-rust primer.
  • It neutralises the rust, eliminating the need to remove the rust or use a primer before overcoating.
    • - See more at: http://www.plascon.co.za/products/product.asp?SectionID=1&RangeID=13&ProductID=98#sthash.Wc88fB4u.dpuf
  • For interior and exterior use.
  • Apply directly to rusted mild steel as a two-in-one, direct-to-rust primer.
  • It neutralises the rust, eliminating the need to remove the rust or use a primer before overcoating.
    • - See more at: http://www.plascon.co.za/products/product.asp?SectionID=1&RangeID=13&ProductID=98#sthash.Wc88fB4u.dpuf

    Apply Plascon Metalcare Rust Converter & Primer directly to rusted mild steel as a two-in-one, direct-to-rust primer. It neutralises the rust, eliminating the need to remove the rust or use a primer before overcoating.

    Where rust has eaten away the surface of metal you can use a product such as Alcolin FastSteel to repair the damage done. This 2-part epoxy putty is kneaded to mix and then immediately applied to fill in any holes. You need to work quickly as the product has a 3 minute work life and hardens in 5 – 10 minutes. Any sanding should be done once the product has cured sufficiently to solid but not completely hardened.

    Find all the products you need at your local Builders Warehouse.

    Preventative maintenance
    If left untreated, the process of rusting forms acids that eat away more layers of protection and further weakening the structure of metal or steel. Where spots of rust occur, treat this immediately.