Wrought iron gates are beautiful as they are usually painted in at least two colours, with the colours intertwining to reveal threads of gold or silver amidst another bold colour. If you just look around on a site like , you will concur. However, just like any other object exposed to rain and shine, wrought iron gates are not spared from the elements. Whenever your gate has faded, here is how you can paint it yourself:

1. Remove rust

Before you start painting, you’ll need to remove any rust from the gate to ensure a smooth finishing. Use a wire brush or a scraper to remove rust from the gate.

2.  Remove old paint

Without removing the existing paint, the new paint will not hold well onto the surface as well as cause unevenness. Use sandpaper of medium coarseness to remove all the chipped or peeling paint.

3. Wipe the gate

Use a dry rag to wipe the gate clean of any rust and paint debris. Alternatively, you may also use a soft brush as long as no dust accumulates on your gate.

4. Protect nearby items

Any paint job will be a messy one regardless how careful you are. Cover nearby objects, even plants, with cloth or newspapers. You may want to tape the newspapers in place bearing in mind that wind will displace the newspapers. If you are covering your plants, dampen them with a list mist of water before doing so.

5. Apply a coat of primer

Now that you are ready to start the painting works, first apply a coat of primer. This primer serves as an undercoat to minimize the rusting of the gate. Primers are available in two forms – liquid and in aerosol cans. If there are intricate patterns on your gate, the aerosol would be more convenient or else you would find yourself wrestling with the paint brush in hard-to-reach areas. Make sure that you stir the primer well if you are using the liquid form, or shake the aerosol can well.

6. Let the primer dry

Primers usually take 1 to 3 hours to dry completely. This time may differ depending on the weather. The primer must dry completely before you start painting the gate for the best results.

7. Paint the gate

For wrought iron, use rust-inhibitive enamel paint meant for steel or metal. Using the wrong paint will cause the paint to not adhere to the surface well. Again, choose the most convenient form of paint suitable with the designs on your gate. If you are using aerosol paint, hold the can about 3-4 inches away from the gate so prevent too much paint from being sprayed and subsequently dripping and causing dried ‘bumps’ of paint on your gate.