Painting your metal products is much easier than you might think, as long as you do the right prep.

How to paint your metal products

 

We’ve talked about the myriad of uses for welded or woven wire mesh and perforated or expanded metal before, but what if you need to paint these materials? It can add a new dimension to a completed project, whether making them stand out from, or to more cohesively fit in with, an environment. Thankfully, painting your metal products isn’t difficult, but there are a few things you should know going in.

Preparation

To start with you’ll want to ask yourself a few questions:

  • What kind of metal are you painting?
  • How does this metal need to be prepped for paint?
  • What are the environmental conditions the paint will need to withstand?

These questions will help you determine what kind of coating you need to use, and what the surface will need before you approach it.

Ferrous metals are those that contain (or are derived) from iron. These materials are far more susceptible to rust, and will begin to do so as soon as they are in contact with moisture. The first thing you should do with ferrous metals is remove any existing rust. Even if your sheet is brand new, it’s worth brushing or sanding the surface once over as a precaution.

Aluminium and galvanised metal will require a thorough wash and rinse to remove oil, dirt, and in the case of galvanised metal, zinc chromate leftover from the galvanising process.

Priming

Ferrous metals need to be primed as soon as you’ve prepped the surface. Because it’s so easy for these materials to rust, it’s best to reduce the time they are exposed to moisture. You’ll need to use a rust-inhibiting primer here, and to stay on the safe side it’s recommended you do two coats. For galvanised metal you should use a corrosion-inhibiting primer because it’s less susceptible to rust.

Aluminium (generally) falls into two camps. If it’s anodised, you’ll only need to make sure it’s clean before painting. If it’s not anodised, you’ll want to make sure any oxidation is removed. From there, you can treat it as essentially ferrous- it must be primed as soon as possible to prevent the surface from being corrupted.

Painting

In terms of top coat, the best bet is to use an exterior latex acrylic paint. This is not the only paint that can be used, but it’s likely it will suit the application of metal quite well, and will last longer than other types. It should be available in either a spray can or in larger quantities if you’d prefer a brush or roller. It’s recommended you use a spray for more complex or detailed profiles.

Direct-To-Metal (DTM) coatings are also available, which basically mix the primer in with the topcoat for direct application. This can work well, but make sure you check that the DTM you’re using will work for your application (both the type of metal and the conditions it will face).

For more information about perforated or expanded metal and woven or welded wire mesh, get in touch with the team at Meshstore today.

Here are our favourite ideas for creative uses of wire mesh and perforated metal.

Ingenious ways to recycle leftover steel panels and mesh

 

When you’re obtaining materials for a project, it’s often better to be safe than sorry. This might mean ordering a little more to make sure you’re covered should the project change slightly, or if you accidentally damage one of the sheets. But what happens if you end up with leftover wire mesh or perforated metal? There are actually a multitude of ingenious uses for leftover metal products from Meshstore – whether your unused sheets will serve a specific purpose or wind up being more of a creative exercise, here are some great ideas for excess metal.

Wire mesh

Woven wire mesh is useful for a whole lot of applications besides the ones we usually talk about, such as industrial flooring and fencing. Here are just a couple of easy ones to start with.

Wire mesh can replace trellis in your garden as material to support the growth of vines and other climbing plants. Since our wire mesh is fairly thick and sturdy, they’ll be strong enough to support grapes, cucumbers, and other heavier plant types.

 

Another interesting use we’ve seen is people using expanded wire mesh as “bulletin board” type wall hangings. The profile of the mesh can be useful for hanging keys, jewellery or even small hand tools. Creating a place to hang knick-knacks is a pretty great way to get your money’s worth out of a small or oddly shaped pieces of extra metal.

Those with artistic leanings could find interesting ways to incorporate wire mesh into their creative processes. The image above is a small sheet of mesh carefully manipulated by artist Elaine Weiner-Reed to be used as support for a plaster sculpture.

Perforated metal

Though our perforated metal sheets are ideally used as flooring, screening, balustrades and beyond, here are a few cool uses from outside the box.

If you have any old shelving in need of a spruce up, those additional sheets could put to good use as cabinet doors or sliding screens on a large shelf similarly to what is pictured above. It provides great functionality and looks amazing.

Perforated Table with A frame legs.

A post shared by Redfox & Wilcox (@redfoxandwilcoxworkshop) on

Why not reinvigorate some of your old outdoor furniture but adding a new table top? While the table and chair above are clearly specially designed, the idea would be easy enough to replicate at a more DIY level.

A post shared by Nafets Remmos (@stefan1165) on

Meshstore definitely doesn’t recommend taking your watch apart, but this time-piece from Swatch is incredibly cool, and a great example of creative use of perforated metal. Think how simply you could overhaul a wall clock to similar similar effect.

These are just a few ideas of how you can reuse extra metal product, but the true applications are limited only by your imagination. While Meshstore is more than happy to provide single sheets for creative projects, we would also understand if you find yourself adding a few extra sheets to your order to get creative this summer. For all your wire mesh and perforated metal needs, Meshstore has you covered.

Designing flooring plans can be a major logistical challenge.

Good, solid flooring is at the foundation of any safe work facility

 

Every business owner wants the same thing from their company’s facilities – a good, safe place where their employees can work productively and not have to worry about anything going wrong. If there are any defects in your company’s work site, it can be a major source of stress and anxiety. No one wants to worry about their people being unsafe.

Every business owner wants the same thing from their facilities – a safe place where their employees can work productively.

Any safety effort should begin with having sturdy flooring for employees to walk on. Your floors are at the foundation of your work site, and you want workers to be able to walk from place to place, throughout your facility, with confidence.

What goes into creating good flooring?

Creating strong industrial flooring requires careful collaboration between a facility’s architects and the builders carrying out the construction project. According to the Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia, the flooring process should begin with an architect choosing the appropriate load and deflection criteria for the facility in question. How much weight and stress will the facility’s floors need to support?

The best flooring plans are flexible, meaning it’s easy to modify the design of a facility later on, should the business’ needs change and additional capacity be required.

Overcoming key challenges in architecture

What does it take to overcome challenges in designing industrial flooring? What happens if a building is a particularly tricky size or shape to floor optimally, or if it’s difficult for business owners to agree to terms with architects and builders on a strategy?

Overcoming building challenges requires solid teamwork.Overcoming building challenges requires solid teamwork.

The Industry Skills Council emphasises that good teamwork is essential for tackling difficult flooring projects. If architects and builders are able to share information well and collaborate on making key decisions about the process, everyone’s job will be easier – even difficult problem-solving exercises can be simplified dramatically.

Of course, it also helps if you begin by using the best possible architectural products.

We can lend a hand at Locker Group

You want your business to have nothing less than the best when it comes to flooring that prioritises safety and resiliency. Whether you’re working on a rural flooring project or building a massive facility for a large co rporation, you want a structure with integrity.

At Locker Group, we can help make that happen. We offer flooring solutions that are highly reliable, yet affordable and low-maintenance. Contact us to learn more about how we can enhance your company’s facilities.

Croydon Aquatic Centre

Project Name:

Croydon Aquatic Centre

Location:

Melbourne

Architect:

Peddlethorp Architects

Application:

Facade

Specification:

Pic Perf

Photography:

Rob Burnett

Download the PDF

Click here 1.2 MB

Scope

The Croydon Leisure & Aquatic Centre is a community based centre designed to offer a multitude of options for health and fitness, while providing an innovative and comfortable environment for swimmers, members and guests.

The aquatic facility has been fully integrated into the existing Croydon Leisure Centre, providing the community with the opportunity to enjoy new and improved water-based recreation activities, as well as aquatic health and fitness services.

The centre was designed by Peddle Thorpe Architects, who engaged Locker Group to assist them in achieving a modern and welcoming external appearance, which integrated the theme of complex. Pic‐Perf® screens for the external façade was the ideal solution.

Progression

Working closely with Peddle Thorpe , Locker Group supplied multiple proofs to allow the designer to visualise the different options available, and to satisfy the specific design requirements. The final design was a montage; spanning over 25 meters which incorporated the Maroondah City Council’s logo, and a range of people utilising the facilities within; swimming, playing tennis or working out in the gym. Photographic images were provided and replicated in fine detail in the facade.

The image proofing process provides a realistic representation of the appearance of the panels prior to manufacture, allowing the client to see the level of detail incorporated through the perforating process. The biggest challenge was curving the aluminum screens to a radius that matched the curved façade while ensuring the images matched and flowed correctly. Accuracy and attention to detail during manufacturing and installation was extremely important.

Outcome

The architect wanted a façade that would provide sunshading for the complex, while also allowing natural light to illuminate the facilities. The final result is a stunning representation of the essence of the Croydon Leisure and Aquatic Centre.

The images across the façade provide an invitation to new visitors, and a positive reinforcement to regular members. Perforated facades can provide a lightweight finish to the face of any building. The Pic‐Perf® panels provide more than a beautiful facade, they reduce the intense glare of direct sunlight, while allowing natural light and ventilation to continue.

Caxton Roma Pedestrian Link

Project Name:

Caxton Roma Pedestrian Link

Location:

Brisbane, QLD

Architect:

EDAW Australia

Application:

Anti-throw screens

Specification:

Pic Perf

Photography:

Rob Burnett, Christopher Frederick Jones

Download the PDF

Click here 1.5 MB

Scope

The Caxton Roma Pedestrian Link was designed in an effort to funnel pedestrian traffic between Suncorp Stadium and Brisbane’s CBD.

The bridge was designed by EDAW Australia, with the concept of a populated space at all times. To achieve this, EDAW required artwork to be integrated into the anti-throw screens, without compromising views of the surrounding environment.

The solution was Locker Group’s Pic-Perf®.

Progression

Working closely with EDAW, Locker Group supplied multiple proofs to satisfy the specific design requirements. Image proofing provides a realistic representation of the panels prior to manufacture, allowing the client to see the detail instilled in the perforating process.

Outcome

This project consisted of 52 individual Pic-Perf® images, and was installed by Beenleigh Steel Fabrications. The typical size of the panels was 4523mm x 1175mm and each one was folded prior to installation.

The changing light during the day, significantly changes the aesthetic of the panels, from within the walkway and when viewed from beyond.

The Pic-Perf® panels not only create a stunning visual element to the project, they also provide shade and security, an inviting safe haven for pedestrians.